It's beginning to look a lot like pudmas

I have some new designs in Sainsbury's this Christmas... some happy little puddings!

Tesco Juvenile designs

Hello readers! My blog may have seemed a bit quiet lately but I've got a few things brewing and also something very exciting to share that I can't share yet... so do please bare with me because I am doing lots of things and will share soon! I sometimes post pictures as I'm going along with work in progress on my Facebook and twitter accounts so do please follow if you don't already :)

I have some new designs in Tesco which I got the samples for yesterday. I'm really happy with them! Being a greetings card designer, you have to be a chameleon and reinvent your style to keep coming up with new looks for different clients... But these designs (the houses & shops in particular) are more true to my natural Josephine style! I gave the characters big heads and big eyes to make them more commercial for the birthday card world...

Screenprinting!

I’ve had a crazy busy time lately, one of my recent developments is that I did a screen printing course at the West Yorkshire Print Workshop. I had only tried it briefly before in college, but not using my own designs, so it was extremely satisfying to make my own illustrations into screen prints and it seemed to really suit my style. I absolutely loved the process and can’t wait to do more!

I have made some sales already, including some prints I donated to the craft sale at my work to raise money for the Macmillan charity. So it’s a very nice feeling to know that my shopfronts illustration will be framed and on some people’s walls soon!

Here are some photos from my weekend at WYPW…

Eric the liontamer

As an off-brief project to develop my children's portfolio, I worked on these illustrations recently for the story of Eric the Liontamer, by Rachel Elliot... I worked in my usual way, drawing everything by hand and then colouring digitally, using textures I've found (such as fabric) and made with paint and printing techniques.

Work in progress..

Here's a little guy I drew recently who's waiting to be coloured, but thought I'd share it while it's at a rough stage...

Asda George designs

I have some new designs in the new Asda George range that I have designed at UK Greetings. Really happy with how nicely the samples have turned out.

Monster love

A friday morning warm up for Daily Doodle... A monster in love :)

Primary School Visit - St John's, Bollington

Last month, I spent a wonderful afternoon at St John's Primary School in Bollington, Cheshire. I was invited to talk to the school assembly about being an illustrator and designer and about my ongoing development of children's book ideas. I was quite nervous at first, but the pupils were as good as gold and they listened very carefully and put their hands up to ask questions or to tell me their own little stories.

After the assembly, it was activity time with years 4, 5 and 6! I took along my little friend to help me... his name is Bobbin. He is a penguin. He has a Facebook page and everything!

Bobbin was so excited for his big adventure, he packed his little bum bag with all kinds of things that a penguin could need... where Bobbin ended up on his adventures was up to the kids! Here is some of their brilliant work, I was so impressed and inspired by their creative ideas!

Lucy & Rich Wedding Invites

Yesterday, it was the wedding of my lovely friends Lucy and Richard. Here are their wedding invitations and save the date magnets, which I illustrated for them. A gorgeous afternoon tea followed the ceremony at The Black Swan in Helmsley, which was the requested theme of the invites, printed on a rustic brown card to suit the relaxed and sweet feel of the whole day...

Daily Doodle WackyWolf

This was my quick little warm up today for Daily Doodle! The theme was Wacky Wolf...
Will share more soon about what I've been up to lately including penguins, school trips and circussy-things...

Emily Sutton Town and Country at YSP

I went on a lovely inspirational trip today to see Emily Sutton's Town and Country exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Emily's work was awe-inspiring, the skilfully drawn tiny details in her illustrations are beautifully combined with her playful, free approach to shape, colour and perspective. Just amazing!

Love and pancakes

It's been a busy old year so far! I've been illustrating wedding invites for a friend (which I will post soon) as well as lots of other odd jobs between working the day job. I am massively excited for pancake day, but unfortunately the UK card market doesn't make pancake day cards.. so here are some Valentine's day designs instead! Featuring my character illustrations, in a Sainsbury's near you now!

Sainsbury's Mum design

One of my cards I spotted in Sainsbury's last week! I'll be posting a few of these as they filter into the stores... It's a range I have developed using characters and scenarios I came up with...