Yorkshire Map print now available!

My Yorkshire map is now available as a print! I illustrated this for A Very Yorkshire Colouring Book last year and decided to try it as an A4 print. It’s been doing really well so far in my stockists so I hope to get more made soon. It's available to buy on my etsy shop here.

Featuring the moors, the dales, the cities, as many towns as I could fit, some sheep, some bridges, boats on the coast and special statues! There are 4 new Yorkshire prints all together, visit my Etsy shop to see if you can spot ‘em!

NEW: A Very Yorkshire Colouring Book

Brand new for Christmas 2023! Following the success of my Sheffield Colouring Book, A Very Yorkshire Colouring Book is here to spread joy and celebrate beautiful Yorkshire! Featuring city scenes, seaside favourites, famous faces and relaxing countryside, there's a colouring page to suit your every mood.

A perfect Christmas stocking filler for the Yorkshire born and breds, the dwellers, expats and visitors. It is available to buy on my Etsy shop here.

Pop up shop in The Civic, Barnsley

This year has been such an exciting one and I had a crazily busy Summer! So I’m being very useful now and showing you some exhibitions that my work was in, even though they are now over, because I’m very helpful like that! But I did share on my twitter, Facebook and instagram, so hopefully you didn’t miss them.

One of the exciting things was my ‘pop up shop’ artist showcase at The Civic, Barnsley.

Sheffield Town Hall Limited Edition Screenprint

Barnsley Town Hall and Yorkshire Terraces digital prints

The Civic reopened as a theatre and art space in 2009, after being closed for over ten years. My main memory before that was from when I performed in a dance show there as a very small child. My dance partner kindly jilted me as we were about to go on stage. Not knowing what to do, I ended up standing still with my back to the audience.* It was good to create a much nicer memory of the Civic in my adult life by showing my work here!

The curators at The Civic did a fabulous job of displaying my work…

Selection of mugs, prints, postcards, zine and colouring book,
available on my etsy shop.

Hand printed tote bags and selection of prints
including Sharrow Vale Road Screenprint

*My skills at thinking on my feet have improved greatly since my days of being a tap-dancing tot. In fact, I believe I am good at it, both in my career and in my freestyle dance moves (I left the choreographed dance world behind me soon after the incident).

APG

Another show for my work this summer was in the Up There exhibition at APG Works gallery in Sheffield. My Sheffield Town Hall piece was selected to be displayed – here is me and my print at the preview evening!

You can still buy the Sheffield Town Hall screen print on my etsy shop.

My illustrations and gifts at Calver Gallery, Bradford

This summer, I exhibited a selection of my pieces at the Calver Gallery at South Square Centre in Thornton, Bradford. A range of my screenprints were chosen along with my mugs, colouring book and Cantastic Cookbook zine as part of their Made:Yorkshire exhibition.





I am delighted to say that even though the exhibition has now ended, the Calver Gallery has remained a stockist - they have kept my pieces on display and are still available to buy.

South Square Centre is well worth a visit, it has a lovely gallery, shop and cafe in a very cute, historic building; in the village where the Brontes were born. Some of the other artists in this Yorkshire themed exhibition - whose work is seen alongside mine in these photos - were Sam Groom, Katch Skinner, Sonal Mistry and Maggie Magoo Designs. All of which are extremely talented and I was very proud to be showing with them.

Happy bloggy birthday... six years on and a bit of creative reflection

I had a very spooky moment yesterday... well, a tiny bit spooky. Ok, not spooky at all but a massive coincidence! I had been thinking about blog post ideas and it popped into my head that I should look at what date it was when I started my blog, as it might be nice to look back at how much has happened since then. I looked and would you believe it, today is the anniversary of my first ever post.

My first post was made on the 14th June 2011. I was preparing for my degree show at the University of Huddersfield and was soon to go to Hallmark for two weeks, on a work placement. The work placement was a real kick start, as I was kept in as a freelancer after the placement and it set me along a path of being able to pay to live by doing something I loved, which was the first and most important goal!

I really don't encourage you to trawl through my old posts, they were random and a little cringey as I still finding my way - I was experimenting with styles and ideas that didn't always flow very well. Luckily this wasn't a problem for the greetings industry - the more styles I could do the better - and it has been fun to keep practising at this into my current position at UK Greetings. After taking a permanent position and in the meantime, completing an MA, the style of my 'own work' was still unformed, though looking back now, there were elements there that have become clear staples in my work today.

The project that made me realise just how much I loved
illustrating houses, tiles and bricks!
2011

A crazy colourful illustration from my earlier BA portfolio,
still with little houses and shops in there.
2010

My freelance career had turned into my employed career, so when I finished my MA in October 2014, there became a vacancy in my life again for 'my own stuff'. After a year of going back and forth with a few children's book agents - trying things, making changes, waiting to hear back - nothing was happening and I was feeling a bit lost. I had added to my portfolio but still felt unsure of what style was working best. But things finally started to fall into place... when I decided to stop trying.

Pieces I made for my children's book portfolio,
between finishing my MA and starting my business.
2015

DISCLAIMER
I must say that the phrase 'I decided to stop trying' should not be taken lightly. I don't recommend that anyone does this in most senses of the term. Especially teenagers and new graduates. I definitely don't mean 'stop trying, sit back and do nothing, I'm sure it will all work out'. This was about my style and I felt like I had enough experience and commercial eye to take a chill pill and let my drawings lead the way.

I had booked to do a screen printing course in September 2015 and eventually decided to draw some shopfronts to print from. I knew I had always loved drawing houses and shops and they had always appeared in my drawings at different points. It felt pretty unrelated to my children's book portfolio, so it was a relaxed break from the pressure I'd been putting on myself to get published. I really didn't know where it might take me, but after a little reassurance from some supportive friends that people might buy my drawings for their walls, I kept on drawing. My 'stopping trying' idea was literally to just draw the things I liked to draw and take a break from trying to get published, with the loose thought that I could make prints of my drawings and see if people buy them.

I kind of did a full circle after drawing buildings at uni in fineliners,
eventually coming back to doing what I love.
'Town' illustration, 2015

A print from my screen printing course at WYPW
I took some deep breaths and just drew shops.
2015

This was all definitely a turning point, not just for my work, but for my own interpretation of creativity. Things fell into place as I let go of the end goals and made way for an organic process. I have built up a pretty big collection of work now - which I take to art markets and print fairs - but even with the amount of planning that takes, I am loving not knowing what it will lead to or what I might be working on this time next year.

Screen printed tote bags

A Colouring Book of Houses and Shops

Illustrated mugs, totes and colouring books from my etsy shop.
My little collection is building...
Do what you like doing and it will come together on it's own.

Some exciting things that have come up so far have been having my own pop up shop/artist showcase in The Civic, Barnsley; being asked to show work in an exhibition of Yorkshire artists and makers (details to follow soon) and selling at some lovely markets like Etsy Made Local and Peddler Market in Sheffield.

I've found my own way to get my work out there, feeling long since freed of the notion that I needed to be published. I get to communicate directly with all my customers, which is a joy every time. As for my 'style', it naturally formed itself quite quickly once I relaxed and just kept drawing. I wasn't going to stress anymore - I'm doing it for fun, because I love it.

Sheffield Town Hall screenprint in tonal blue and pink

The added process of screenprinting and my love for it
shaped a purpose and place for my drawings

Well I think that was suitably deep and reflective for a six-year-on post. Hope it wasn't too fluffy! Thankyou very much to anyone who reads my blog. Let's call a spade a spade - there's been some silly times and some boring times. But I think it's got more interesting lately and my blog finally has a purpose. Here's to the next six! (Or four rather... 'ten years on' would be way more catchy).

Bridlington Contemporary Art Gallery

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of Bridlington Contemporary. Supported by East Street Arts, an old Cooperative supermarket has been converted to the new exhibition space and studio of contemporary artists, Nigel Folds and Vivien Stamford.

Lots of the supermarket features remain, including fridges and checkouts, used as stands for Nigel's canvases - they were my favourite bit! These quirky features and the sheer size of the space provide an exciting and inspirational backdrop for the artwork.

On show is 'Garden of Signs' by Nigel Folds and 'Sea Cloths and other pieces' by textile artist, Vivien Stamford, until the 14th March. A wonderful venture for the artists and community, it is well worth a visit for the curious, as well as art lovers. Plus, you can have lots of seaside fun while you're there, like I did... 2p machines, donuts, fish and chips, a haunted house, I crammed in all the novelty coastal delights and couldn't have wished for more!

Find out more about the gallery here, where you can view photos of the transformation progress, from it's original state as an supermarket to a contemporary and inspirational space.

Painted canvases propped up on checkouts

The big open space exciting lots of people

Artwork and supermarket fridges living joyfully beside eachother

The old stock room provides a separate space (and more to explore)

Nigel's materials and work in progress to be seen alongside finished artwork.

The Saltaire Review magazine cover illustration

I was really happy to be asked recently to design a front cover for the August/September edition of the Saltaire Review magazine, using my illustrations of Saltaire shops and houses. I was also asked if they could feature an interview with me... I hope the readers found it interesting! Below is the full interview and you can view the magazine online here.

Don't forget you can keep up with all my adventures through whichever social media stream you prefer! I am on twitter, instagram and Facebook. I have also started publishing newsletters, please click here if you would like to join my mailing list.

How would you describe your artwork?

I often get told my work is quirky, cute, very detailed and neat. My passion for children’s literature comes across in a storytelling nature to my drawings, along with a love for graphic detail. Combining real life documentation with my imagination, the way I work probably reflects the way I live and see the world – appreciating the joys of what’s in front of me while also spending a lot of time in a different, daydreamy place!  

Do you have a preferred style or medium?

Fineliners have been integral to the way I work since I was a small child! I use them in different thicknesses and love drawing tiny details with the smallest nib I can find. I like to draw in pencil too, which can suit more emotive subjects like people and animals and can be very versatile once it’s scanned in. I then scan in and usually colour digitally, but I have also started screen printing, which is a process I fell in love with as soon as I tried it.

When did you decide you wanted to become a full time artist? 

I always wanted to work in a creative job and tried a few avenues when I first left school. I started studying fashion at university before eventually realising all I wanted to do was draw. I transferred to an Illustration degree and never looked back!

Who are your biggest influences?

Looking at other artists, my main inspiration has always been children’s books. I am inspired in different ways by Shirley Hughes, Richard Scarry and Janet and Alan Ahlberg, to name just a few. My university lecturers were very influential in the start of my practice and most importantly, my supportive - and creative - family. My Dad was a skilled joiner who could make anything out of wood and my Mum is a fine artist, so I now see traits from both in my design approach to art.

What inspires your work?

My main inspiration is my happy and colourful childhood. With four older brothers and sisters, our house was always vibrant and busy and my parents were brilliant at keeping us entertained. Our home was the perfect backdrop for my imagination to flourish as we played and drew and made things. Maybe that somehow links to my other inspiration which (you can probably tell from my work!) is architecture. I get excited at the sight of characterful houses and shops and want to draw as many as I can! I go through stages of working out, spontaneity and repetition when I am drawing buildings. Each stage feels fresh when I get to it and then therapeutic in the process.

What's your relationship with Saltaire?

I lived in Leeds for five years and used to visit Saltaire regularly after first discovering the arts trail in 2009. I can spend ages looking at children’s books in Salts Mill and used to drive over specially for that. In May this year, I showed my work for the first time in the open houses of the Arts Trail and it was a great weekend. I made a trip over when I found out I’d been accepted and took photos of some of the lovely old buildings to draw and make prints of. It was really good to see firsthand what people thought to my work.  

What are you working on at the moment and what are your plans for the future?

I had just started screen printing before breaking my right (drawing) hand in a car accident earlier this year. It has been a long process and I am still having physiotherapy, but my hand is finally feeling much better and ready to get back to printing. So that is my focus at the moment. I always have ideas for children’s books ticking over too (I have a masters in children’s book illustration) - I like to write my own stories as well as illustrate them. I have also been working on some commissions, including house portraits - which I will be updating my social media streams with as they progress.

Where can we find more of your work?

I have very recently set up an online shop on etsy, where some of my prints are for sale. I will be adding more screen prints here along with some other ideas I’ve been developing for products... https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JosephineDellow

The time I broke my right hand

I thought it was about time I did a little catch up post, it's been a while and I've got a few gaps to fill! If you have a scroll down, you'll see I fell in love with screen printing back in September 2015. I couldn't wait to become a member and start producing lots of prints. After that, I was kept busy after finding out I'd been selected as one of five artists/writers to present our work at a children's book conference in November. Soon enough it was a new year and so I knew my plan for this year was to become of member of West Yorkshire Print Workshop where I did my course and start selling my prints.

Throughout January, I worked on some new drawings to make prints from and I arranged my induction at WYPW. The friday before my induction, I excitedly paid my membership and had spent the weekend making lots of different colour layers to print linework over, as well as some prints with printed block colour. I had lots planned and was so excited about the prints I was going to make!

The following Monday, (the 8th of February and the day before my induction), I set off for work as usual and (to get to the point) I had a nasty car accident. My car was written off, I was clearly very lucky to not be more injured, but I broke two bones in my right hand. And yes, I am right handed. So as you can imagine, since you are reading an illustrator's blog, it's been a stressful few months. My hand has taken such a long time to heal and the progress so barely noticeable day-to-day. There has been tearful moments infront of frustratingly vague doctors and lots of worry about whether my drawing would be effected. But it hasn't, it's still painful and I have to take lots of breaks, but I can draw again and just as small and detailed! Sometime's a bit more wibbly still and it takes me a bit longer but I am still going through physio and believing that painlessness is yet to come.

Here is a picture of me looking happy that I'd broken my hand. I wasn't! I was happy because I still went to the 6 music festival in Bristol the weekend after the hand break! I was granted a disabled wristband and got to watch Foals in a safe little spot.

I tried to embrace left handed life and did try some drawing with my left hand...

After having a cast on for several weeks, my poor little hand was in agony when the cast came off and I felt like I was back to day one. That week was probably the hardest, I'd never been in pain like it and was full of worry for my career. Anyway, after a few days, the pain eventually started to ease and as I worked through my hand exercises and practised picking things up, I managed to hold a pen and did this:

Knowing that my hand could still do what my brain was telling it to was a lovely feeling! It was the third week in March when my pot came off and about a month later, I started to draw again. Just after my accident, I found out I had been accepted to show my work in the Saltaire Arts Trail. I had no idea how my hand would be but it seemed like a long way off, so I thought it would be a good way to hit the ground running when I got back to using my hand again. And it has been, so far! I've been working really hard to get all my drawings made into prints and packaged up, along with framing my artwork and a million other little prep jobs. It's been very exhausting and quite hard but also really fun! The Arts Trail is this weekend, so now that my frames and prints are packed up and my living room looks like a paper-bomb has exploded, one of my last jobs was to update my blog with the story of the time I broke my right hand. Here's to my right hand and hopefully our happy future together!

This is one of my new pieces especially for Saltaire, I will share more after the arts trail.