New Blog

It pains me to say it, but I've actually moved the location of my blog. I used to love this blog, I really did, and I really appreciate everyone who followed me and made comments. But with how busy I tend to be, I found that updating on blogspot just took up far too much of my time, and I basically just ended up not updating anything at all, which, I'm sure you can all agree, is just not cricket. So I've moved my blog over to tumblr, which I find MUCH easier to update and as such, it's been receiving a lot more updates! If you fancy it, please do pop over to this address and follow me there. Thanks a lot, everyone, and see you on the other side!

New Blog

Wild Thing Gets a Dog Published Tomorrow!

Hello hello and a very happy lunch-time to you all (unless, of course, in the very highly-likely case you're not reading this the moment it's published, a very good other-time of day to you).

The amazingly heart-warming, hilarious and down-right wonderful book series I have had the pleasure to illustrate recently, 'WILD THING', written by the incredible Emma Barnes, has the publication of book 2 in the 3 book series tomorrow! The book is titled: 'Wild Thing gets a Dog', and...well, I won't give too much away. But trust me (spoiler alert!): there is a clue in the title. I really cannot recommend this book enough, so much so that the fact that I have just begun illustrating the 3rd (and potentially final) book in the series has me both leaping with glee and holding my head in sadness, I'm going to miss the mischievous and mega-naughty adventures of the ever-wild Josephine.

*Best sales-person-type-voice-thingy* Available from all good book stores as of tomorrow! Here is just one such place.

You know nothing, Jon Snow

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything, so here's a quick bit of Game of Thrones fan art.

Ygritte has always been pretty awesome, I reckon.

I shall return with more art soon!

New Famous Five Releases...April 3rd!

Whoa, where did those months go?! The next two FAMOUS FIVE colour readers, published by Hodder Children's Books, came out yesterday, 'Well Done, Timmy!' and 'A Lazy Afternoon'. We're halfway through the releases now...certainly happens faster than it takes me to illustrate these books!

I'm finishing up the eighth and final book as we speak (hence my usual, disturbingly reliable lack of blog updates...)!

Famous Five Visual Development

CONCEPT ART TIME.

I'm going to just leave these 'Famous Five' preliminary development illustrations here, because, y'know, some people find them interesting, here and there. And stuff.

I did a whole load of these types of illustrations before starting the series properly, jut to try and get used to drawing the characters I designed, getting a feel for how the whole series was going to look and for getting an idea how I was going to render the book to make it look good whilst still being time efficient (I mean, each one of these books have roughly 60 full-colour illustrations in them!).

It's so weird how artwork develops over a project, these characters look so strange to me now, as I reach the end of the series... More to come this week!

Wild Thing!

The 6th of February saw the release of 'Wild Thing', a young readers/adult novel written by the most splendid Emma Barnes, which I had the awesome pleasure of illustrating in glorious black and white. It is the first book in a series of three, and I am not exaggerating when I say how excited I am to get cracking on the next books in this series.

The story is about 'WILD THING' aka Josephine, a messy, raukus, rock-loving, bum-biting naughty sister who is the bane of her sister's life!

Wild Thing was an absolute treat to illustrate, it was children's fiction in top form: hilarious, fast-paced and incredibly moving, and allowed me to draw in my scratchiest, most ink-splattable style, which is only ever a good thing in my book. I also often seem to draw very 'boy' orientated books, so being able to draw a story about two sisters was a massive breath of fresh air and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Wild Thing is published by Scholastic, and is out NOW (go get it, go get it and thank me later!) I do believe Amazon have a 'look inside' thing going on over here too...

Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' Colour Readers

Remember when I said my silence was over? Yeah...I'm really sorry about that. I won't make any more crazy promises, but I will do my utmost to keep this blog ALIIIIIIIIIVE *thunder clap*.

So...I kind of disappeared last year. But, contrary to popular belief, what I have actually been doing, rather than having gone on an epic quest with a rag-tag, un-likely yet extremely compatible group of misfits and mythical creatures to save the world as we know it, I have been drawing books. And lots of them! I'm going reveal them all now, as I am finally allowed to divulge such secretive information.

The first is a project that is pretty special to me. Every once in a while, you get a project to work on that you can't quite believe has fallen in your lap. Enid Blyton, needless to say: is a pretty well-known author. A bit of a legend in the UK children's writing world, some might say. I grew up with my mum and school teachers regaling me with Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven adventures, and as such have had a pretty good knowledge of them from as early as I can remember. Lashings of ginger ale and stuff. Y'know. So to find out I was to be illustrating an eight-book, full-colour series of the Famous Five short stories for Hodder Children's Books was enough to blow me away.

OH EMM GEE FAMOUS FIVE.

I was pretty daunted with this huge project at first: the Famous Five have a massive and dedicated following and many have a clear vision in their heads of what the characters and world should look like, one which I would hate to challenge. Not to mention all of the other amazingly brilliant and knee-shakingly well-known illustrators who have illustrated their own covers/interiors for the stories. But Hodder were AMAZING (and the designer I had working with me: Paula Burgess), they wanted MY spin on the stories, and MY spin on the characters. They wanted me to modernise the visuals: set it in the present day, and breathe a fresh look into the well known adventures, and to look distinctly my own, and not needing to be like anything that had gone before. It's been a massive honour, and I have done my best to do justice and remain 'sensitive' to these beloved stories, whilst adding something that is hopefully a bit new and unexpected. I really hope you like them. And I really hope that didn't come off too soppy or anything *spits on ground like manly cowboy*.

The text remains the Enid Blyton originals, it's only the illustrations that have changed. As I said: there will be eight books in the series, all fully-illustrated and in full colour. It's been a true illustrating MARATHON, and that's why I'm so proud that I can start shouting about it. I think the titles will be coming out roughly every month as of February, but I will keep you posted in that regard!

The first four titles to be released are as follows (unravels large scroll and dons reading glasses):

'Five and a Half Term Adventure',

'George's Hair is too Long',

'Good Old Timmy'

and 'A Lazy Afternoon'.

I will post more about the next books to be released closer to the time (and before this post gets any longer!).

As always: thanks so much for stopping by. Perhaps I shall do the same, now and then. Next week on the next thrilling episode of Blog Update: Emma Barnes' 'Wild Thing'!

Disaster Diaries!

I think, after about a year of silence, I'm finally (and extremely excited to be) able to start revealing the projects I have been working so (flippin') hard on this year! The silence has ended! Jamie SHALL SPEAK.

First up: 'Disaster Diaries' Written by R. McGeddon (aka the brilliant, award-winning Barry Hutchison) and published by Little Brown, and illustrated by none other than...well, me!

It's an hilarious (and I seriously mean hilarious, I had to keep calling people over to read them excerpts...) series of survival handbooks for young readers set in the town of Sitting Duck, following the mis-adventures of school kids Sam, Arty and Emmy as they struggle for survival against a zombie apocalypse, an alien invasion and a mad-scientist mind-control plot to take over the world!!!!! (Over-abundance of exclamation marks show that this is intense business!)

There are currently 3 books in the series: 'Zombies!', 'Aliens!' and 'Brainwashed!'. I'll get up the other covers asap, plus a few tantilising glimpses at the interior artwork too, closer to release...

Basically, this is one of the coolest and most ridiculously fun series I could have worked on, and I couldn't be happier and more thrilled that it's nearly time for the first book, 'Zombies!' to be released in March (fly my little books, fly!!)

Here's an Amazon linky, though I'm sure all manner of wonderful bookshops would serve you just as well...

In the Jungle, the Miiiiighty Jungle...

Corr blimey, is that some artwork I see?! On this blog?!!!!!!! Yes, observational reader: your senses haven't abandoned you, nor your mind left the country: this is indeed an illustration I did (relatively) recently, and have only been able to show it in all of its finery.

It was a concept piece for Hodder Children's Books in the hope of getting me another children's picture book project, but due to timing/schedule issues, it was never to be. Still, I got to draw a lion, so it's a win in my book. And never fear: there are a lot of very exciting children's book projects that I am working frantically on (hence the deathly silence of my blog as of late), all of which will be the most spectacular of releases. More soon!

'Monsters of Medway' at Fuze Festival - 15th of June

This Saturday (the 15th of June, a most special of 15th's), I shall be taking part in comicking madness at the 'Monsters of Medway' activity tent at the Fuze Festival near Chatham, alongside such spectacular comic creators as Gary Northfield, Neill Cameron, Laura Anderson, David O'Connell and Alex Milway! And check out that awesome poster, drawn by the incredible David O'Connell!

There shall be drawing. There shall be monsters. There shall be workshops from us artists as to how to draw comics and characters. And monsters. There shall be drawing show-downs, drawing activities and general comic mayhem, as well as monsters. There shall be books on sale, and there shall be laughter. And excitement. And genuine giddy laughter and frivolity. And monsters. I hope to see you there!

Monsters.

Oxford Children's Comic Festival Round-Up and a quick Catch-Up

My goodness, it's been too long! I've even forgotten how to do half of the coding on blogspot. But I'm back! No, no, applause isn't necessary, but thank you. I've been INSANELY busy, which is great, and has me clicking my heels in joy, but it also means my blog has suffered somewhat from a lack of updates.

What have I been busy doing, I hear you ask? Well, apart from moving house (which I can vouch is one of the most stressful things you can experience in the sheltered, cozy life I lead...), I have completed a new 2-part Cogg and Sprokit adventure, the cover of which you can see above, which begins in this weeks Phoenix Comic. The Phoenix also have a brand new, loverly website which I urge you to check out: it now has a new regular blog of various comic goodies and a shop, where new Phoenix merch is being added all the time (I'm currently planning some Cogg and Sprokit stuff!), and the ability to buy single back issues too! HIGH FIVE!!

Last week I also took part in the first ever, fantastic Oxford Children's Comic Festival, which was an absolutely stupendous day filled with comic workshops by lots of great Phoenix creators, comic stands, drawing tables and everything you could want from a children's comic convention! The event and workshops were completely sold out, so much so that The Phoenix team had to sell morning and afternoon tickets seperately. This really gives hope to th festival becoming a successful annual thing.

I arrived in typical gung-ho fashion. The place was already packed, and I was only 10 minutes late (I know, I know...but there was TRAFFIC!)!

Fellow Phoenix creator Laura Anderson and I discovered that the legends were true: that there really was a holy, sacred set of Phoenix stickers...

I then took part, alongside Phoenix artists Neill Cameron, Sarah McIntyre, Laura Anderson, Matt Baxter, Zak Simmonds-Hurn, Robert Deas, Adam Murphy and some genuinely talented younger artists, including Zoom Rockman, in the huge comic story that was being created in real-time in the courtyard. I had the pleasure of the highest panel in the comic, but luckily had the ever trusty Neill 'Safe Hands' Cameron holding my ladder steady.

The story was thrilling and epic, with all the twists and turns you expect from high-calibre pirate fiction, as I'm sure the photos of the final result above will show.

Go team Phoenix! Here's to next year's event(And thanks to Sarah McIntyre for some of these great photos!)!

Ooo, and this cheeky photo was sent to me of a Foyle's window display, and none-other than 'Mum's the Word' smiling back as us! It's the weirdest and bestest feeling seeing your work on the shelves like this! So - sorry for the MASSIVE blog post, but I had a lot of catching up to do. More to come soon, in, hopefully, a more concise form...

Mum's the Word Publication Day

At long last, the countdown is over!! My debut children's book, 'Mum's the Word', written by the great Timothy Knapman and published by Hodder Children's Books, is out today!

HUZZINGO I hear you cry!

It's been emotional, guys. I hope you've enjoyed the few examples of development work I have posted up over the last week - if you would like to see how the book and artwork ended up looking...you'll have to grap a copy of the book, available here, at places like Amazon (are we allowed to advertise that place?!) and Waterstone's and all other good bookshops and such et al etc etc. Or, the few examples on my website. But yes...what a ride. What excitement. I'm so chuffed with this book, and really hope you all enjoy it. On to the next one, I guess...

See ya soon!

One Day to Go!

One day to go before Mum's the Word is released!

Really?

Yes.

The Development Continues

Some more ink and watercolour try-out pieces, trying to get the looks of the mother and puppy together, and the love they share. Ahh. The look of the dogs changed a bit from these drawings, but you can start to see the characters coming through.

Two sleeps before the release of Mum's the Word!

Mum's the Word - The Revenge

Some more concept art and designs for 'Mum's the Word' for you there. Designs, I say!

Mum's the Word Progressing.

I know I've posted the illustration above before, and that it's on my website, but I thought I'd post it up again in context. This was a sample piece I did for 'Mum's the Word' before we had made the decision for the wolves to become dogs and the wildlands to become homely environments. Goodbye, little wolfies, hello awesome doggies.

This was one of the first 'samples' I did to get to work on the book, 'Mum's the Word', even before the designs in teh previous posts. And you can really tell it's one of the first samples. I mean...whoa. This is...different...to how the final book came out. I was using lots of ink and heavy line here, but we slowly adapted the look of the book to be of soft pencil, for that extra-sensitive touch. Not that I dislike it: it's just I haven't seen it for a long time and had forgotten how different the general look of this sample is to the finished project...it's inevitable, that the style will develop and grow during a project, but still, it's usally a shock when you look back over the progression. I still love using an energetic ink-line, but I realised during this process that it has its place, and perhaps my 'younger' children's book is not that place. You can definitely still see the playfulness and the mega-cutie-power that carried on through to the final book though. Max was growing wings! Or balloons. Do dogs grow balloons? I forget.

Four days until the book is released!!

Mum's the Word Designs mk.II

Here's some more designs for Max the puppy in Mum's the Word. This puppy's got a lot of adventuring to do.

Mum's the Word Designs

And he gets an image in for today, with 5 minutes to spare! Hah - there is no way I forgot that I was meant to be posting some developmental stuff for 'Mum's The Word' every day until its release (on the 7th of February! Repetition - repetition), no way at all.

I have sketchbooks and enough watercolours pages to make more sketchbooks filled with designs for Max the puppy...he originally started life as a wolf character I had in mind quite a few years ago, and slowly became more and more domesticated and, well, puppy like. So we thought - chuck a collar on that wolf, he is now a puppy. A bit like sticking a fork in a potato when it's done. But with a puppy. And no fork. That would just be cruel. We (we, being the wonderful team at Hodder and myself)thought that making the character into a dog, and bringing him into a house environment instead of the wilds, would make the character and his relationship with his mother more recognisable and relatible for the audience, more cozy and familiar. Unless you live out in the wilds. In which case; I'm dreadfully sorry. Maybe next time. It's so weird to see these designs again - it feels like so long ago now that I did them...

Mum's The Word

I do believe I said that this was going to be a good year, and the beginning couldn't get much better than this! My debut picture book, 'Mum's the Word', written by the ever-so-talented Timothy Knapman, will be released on the 7th of February, published by Hodder Children's Books!

Look, it's over here, and also is available all over the online dimensions and in all good bookshops (I've always wanted to say that!), and I really couldn't be more excited.

It's one of those weird things where I finished this book at the beginning of last year, and had to keep quiet about it. A year passes, new projects come and go, and suddenly this blasts back into my life like a fiery ball of awesome excitement! I'm very, very pleased with the way it's come out, I worked so hard and learned so much whilst working on this project, the printing is lovely (and it's in hardback! That's like, un-heard of these days!) and Timothy Knapman's humoruous and touching lyrics are a just so energetic and fun to read.

The books is all about a little puppy (secretly named 'Max', after my own late dog, Max, who was not late when I started this project, more just on time) and his heart-warming relationship with his mum. And believe you me, despite what the illustrations above would tell you - the book does have words in it. Just not on the files on my computer. Sigh. As a celebration of its release, I will post some developmental work onto my blog every day leading up to the release next Thursday, so stay tuned, lords and ladies!