Sunnier days

A little update...

Feet up Friday

Morning all, and Happy Friday! So, Marcel thinks it’s a sunny day so everyone should put their feet (or paws) up and relax...it’s Friday!

P.S. This sketch was also my contribution to this weeks 'Doggie Doodle Friday' by Dog Sniffer.

A Busy Busy Day

Phew! What a busy day. Lots and lots and lots of drawing done, very tired paws now. 

Hopefully will post some of the drawings tomorrow for a sneak peak! Here’s one for now...

Gulp

Hmmm, today, Marcel...

A Brighter Tuesday

Marcel would like to report that Tuesday has been a much happier day, and that he bought three shiny brand new things today!

A Moody Monday

Marcel would like to report that he has had a rubbish monday and that he should have stayed in bed.

Marcel takes over!

Ok so Marcel has ever so kindly informed me that I am totally useless at updating this blog, so from now on he has taken over. Any updates, features and daily scribblings will be brought to you by the cheeky little mouse Marcel (until further notice).

So to start off he wants to share some of his sunday events with you...

J'aime la France

Bonjour tout le monde! 

Well, I have always had a love for France (Paris in particular) but my love of all french things seems to have kicked in again lately (it tends to fluctuate somewhat). My beret has somehow reappeared, the croissants are out at breakfast and lunchtime has me longing for 'L’escargot et un verre de vin rouge’.

Perhaps not the most accessible or practical lunch whilst working.  

So, instead I have turned to scribbling french-type-things...hence the very quick little sketch from my sketchbook of 'le petit fille Madeleine’ and her cat.

Really I am also writing to say my apologies for not having written on here again for a while. I’ve been busy with greetings cards, educational illustrations, a great little picture book about a heroic dog and some bouncing little characters for another set of baby books. As its all work in progress I can’t really show any of it yet...but I will try to post more often! I promise...or shall i say "je promets”.

Shake, Rattle....and read!

MORE samples have been sent to me, yay! This time they are from the lovely people at Igloo Books.

At the end of last year I illustrated two very fun board books called ‘Little Shakers’. They are reasonably small books ideal for babies and very young readers. Each has a handle and a large rattle in the middle so the child can shake and rattle the book as they follow the story and it’s characters. They’re not in my usual inky line style of drawing, but instead in my younger softer style.

Here’s a few pictures if you fancy a peek...

and to the farm...

Rudy The Robot arrives!

Last year I illustrated three little educational books for a Korean company and was very happy to receive some sample copies today. They books are to aid children with the phonetics of words with a focus on pronouncing certain letters, and all feature a fun little character called Rudy The Robot.

All three of the books

'Rudy The Red Robot' focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter R...

Interior spread

‘Rudy Cooks with Cathy’ focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter C...

And finally ‘Rudy Helps The Baby Wolf’ focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter W...

It was a year ago that I illustrated these books and its interesting to see how my illustrations have changed, developed and hopefully improved over the year.

None the less it’s great to see the work in print!

Sniff sniff woof woof

Just a little contribution this week to ‘Doggy Doodle Friday’ at the lovely Book Sniffer...

Happy Friday to all!

A recent inking...

As usual I am a busy bee with all sorts of work (including Adult book covers, Greetings cards and fun new Picture books) therefore my blog has been neglected again. 

But for now here’s a little snippet of one of the characters who featured on my most recent set of greetings cards that I was commissioned to design. What a happy little chappy...and he’s making me want cake!

Current workings...

Just a little sketch of one of the characters I am illustrating as part of the project for Oxford University Press. Just at the very early pencil sketches stage at the moment...and this is Amy...

Out with the old and in with the new...

Sorry its been soooooo long since I’ve written on here. I was just stupendously busy trying to complete the colour artwork for a very BIG project with the lovely people at Igloo Books. But I am extremely happy to say I met the deadline last Monday and it was all handed in...hurraaaaayyyyy!

For now here are a few snippets I thought I’d share of the last project. The real versions are not black and white but for now I can only really show these samples. 

Click each to enlarge

So since then I have had a few very-much-needed days away from the drawing board and reminded myself what fresh air tasted like...very yummy indeed.

And now this week I have returned to my pens, pencils and inks to start two new projects, one for Oxford University Press and another for Harper Collins (very cute doggy story...yay!). So its back to the sketching for me...

Lost...

On my trip to stock up my sugar supply today (n.b. extra large amounts are needed at the moment to keep me going on these long working days) I spotted this rather glum bunny sat on the wall. He looked so sad and had clearly lost his home. I considered re-homing him myself, but instead held out hope that his happy owner would come and save him at some point soon.

I couldn’t resist drawing him.

I hope he finds his way home...

A little over-indulged...

Hmmmm...

I worked all over the Easter weekend and seeing as I was deprived of the beautiful sunshine I decided chocolate was the only thing to help get me through it...but I think perhaps it was just too many chocolate eggs for me... Easter left me feeling a little sick!

Happy Easter!

Happy Happy Easter to everyone! I hope its a chocolate filled one for all...certainly is for me.

Sleeeeeepy...

All this work is making Marcel and I very very sleepy...zzzzzzzzzzz

Lollipop Designs

A few years ago I embarked on a work placement with the successful and award winning stationery company Lollipop Designs.  Since then they have expanded massively and now have their own range of design-led gifts, stationery and homewares. The lovely designer Rachel Le Mesurier is the genius behind this fabulous UK company, and their beautiful products can be purchased in many boutiques across the world – including Bonpoint, the V&A shop, Elias & Grace, Tate Gallery shops and Cowley Manor to name just a few. Oh and of course on their website too - http://www.lollipopdesigns.co.uk/

I couldn't help but see the designs I illustrated whilst with them are still available to purchase - very pleased! As part of their Social Stationery range these are children's party invitations and thank you cards sets which are all printed in the UK on luxurious 100% recycled card.

I hope you enjoy looking at their website and products as much as I do!

Easter Cards in the shops!

WHSmith have more of my cards in store...and this time they’re for Easter! They are little packs of five cards, either featuring an Easter Chick, Easter Bunny or simply an Easter Egg.

Happy Easter everyone!

Searching for Sammy’s Stripes...

A while ago I posted the preview to the book I illustrated for Caterpillar Books called 'Lily’s Lost Spots’. Well, firstly it’s had a cover re-vamp, and secondly, the second of these ‘Lots to Spot’ books is now on their website too. It’s titled ’Sammy’s Stripes’ and is all about and young tiger called Sammy who is searching for his stripy friend Tom, and along the way he meets lots of stripy animal friends!



I’m still not sure when the release date is for these books, but you can preview them here: http://www.caterpillarbooks.com/index.php?dest=1&template=catalogue&count=37

My Greeting Cards in WHSmith!

I popped into my local WH Smiths on saturday and was very happy to see my greeting card designs in there. I was commissioned by WHSmith last year to illustrate and design a delicate feminine range of cards exclusively for WHSmith, of which approximately 30 designs in total went to print. It’s great to see them finally in the shops!

A Royal Pooch

Lots of Princesses, Princes and royal sorts in my work at the moment...and here’s a friendly little royal pooch that features in the publication...

Heads Up

My agents, Advocate, have created a book containing an illustrated sample of a book character from a selection of Artists, predominantly as a promotional and marketing tool for all of us artists and themselves Advocate. And I am very pleased to say in I am featured in it, and was very excited to receive a copy today. It’s an enchanting little book containing so many wonderful illustrations.

Here’s a peek at mine (please excuse the poor photography!)...

Daydream Doodle Book Samples

Today I received my samples of the Daydream Doodle Book I illustrated for the lovely people at Autumn Publishing. It’s an Easter activity book with the idea that you finish off the illustrations I have started...just a bit of Easter fun really!







 



and the cover (just in case you want to look out for it) is a Tesco design...as it’s a product only available in Tescos!...



...so, it’s a bit early, but I’ll say it anyway, HAPPY EASTER!

My Enamelling - a forthcoming exhibition

Sorry I haven't updated for so long...I am completely and utterly overloaded with work so have had no time really to write on here. However, I have managed to take a few minutes to add a new page of my enamelling work (click the link to the page at the top or here http://kimberleyscott.wordpress.com/enamelling/).

I am excited to be participating in a new exhibition which is starting next Friday at ‘Craft in the Bay’ in Wales. Click here to see the link to their website if you fancy a nosy...

http://www.makersguildinwales.org.uk/exhibitions/details/88-the-printed-surface

Cinderella - with a twist!

 

How exciting!  Last year I illustrated a quirky interpretation of the classic fairytale Cinderella for the wonderful book publishers Simon and Schuster.

Their synopsis: "The classic fairy tale Cinderella is retold with a silly twist in this playful, interactive format that's sure to keep little ones laughing. Readers can turn the wheel on each page of this paper-over-board title to choose the correct words needed to complete the scene and further the story. Once the "right" word is displayed, the art on the wheel completes the image. Silly options will entertain and guide readers to choose the correct word and image.”

And guess what...its available to order now! If you fancy a peek (or even ordering one) you can see it on Simon and Schusters website:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Cinderella/Tina-Gallo/Little-Simon-Sillies/9781442421066

or at Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinderella-Wheel-Y-Silly-Little-Sillies/dp/1442421061/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295964995&sr=1-1

Happy New Year to all!

Happy New Year to everyone! Let’s hope 2011 is a successful and happy year for all.x