Since I was a child I have loved to lose myself in the rich, illuminating details of portraits. Now, as an illustrator, I feel grateful for each opportunity to create one. This illustration of Queen Victoria for Westminster Abbey was wonderful to draw, from the folds of her velvet coronation robes and the delicacy of her satin and lace dress, to Victoria herself, with her sloping shoulders, glossy plaits and rounded cheeks.
A most curious mystery is afoot at Wells Cathedral... Mythical creatures have escaped from an ancient book held in the Cathedral's medieval library! Bold adventurers are invited to track them down and welcome them into the world this summer. It was wonderful fun to be part of this mystery-making!
From draft to finished illustration: I have loved creating this drawing of Elizabeth for Westminster Abbey. Based on her wonderful Coronation Portrait, this is my fifth Elizabeth the First! Drawn by hand, as always, and built up in a few hundred layers over several days.
There are almost 1,500 monuments in Bath Abbey—one of the largest collections of its kind in the UK. Through its Memorials project, the Abbey is inviting an exploration of this unique collection and the stories therein. I am greatly enjoying sketching some of the individuals from these stories—getting to know them a little and indulging my love of drawing clothing from different periods in history!
A brand new museum (with a brand new brand!) opens today at Bristol Dockyards—the recently reimagined home of SS Great Britain. I had great fun illustrating their summer trail, Ships and Giggles, which promises games, adventures, challenges, and pies!
First drawing of royalty this year! It is always a pleasure to draw Elizabeth I, and I look forward to bringing colour to this draft.
I am very excited to hear that Mason has arrived at York Minster, freshly attired in dragon garb, and is ready to venture beyond its walls! Many thanks to the fantastic team there for their work in making this happen.
Mythical Creatures opens today at Wells Cathedral! I am grateful to have been part of this fantastic project: drawing maps and mythical creatures, and working with the brilliant team there. I hope the trail brings joy to many brave adventurers and guardians of the imagination, both young and old!
I’m working on some very enjoyable projects at the moment, but on Queen Victoria’s birthday it is good to remember this illustration of the young monarch, created for Westminster Abbey’s Virtual Coronation Club three years ago. I have worked with Westminster Abbey for a decade, and it has always been a great pleasure to create with them.
The Eboracum Roman Festival returns this weekend, with a series of events and activities across the city. Underneath York Minster lie the remains of an ancient Roman army barracks, and Mason Mouse is ready to enjoy some Roman-themed fun at the Cathedral throughout May half-term.
The development of a draft for my latest project with Bath Abbey. I’m having fun sketching my way through five centuries!
Building castles takes time… I draw by hand, always, with each drawing taking hours or even days to complete. I then build up layers of colour and tone, using a combination of coloured pencils and digital colours. Some finished illustrations comprise hundreds of layers!
Draft drawings from March, when I found myself somewhere in the C11th/C12th sketching for Ely Museum's forthcoming castles exhibition. It was a joy to work with them!
This week I’ve had great fun creating illustrations for Westminster Abbey’s forthcoming Parrots and Pirates activity day. In this swashbuckling adventure, families will set sail on a quest to explore the Abbey's connections with the high seas!
Lancelot Andrewes (1555 – 1626), Elizabethan and Jacobean preacher and bishop, who was nicknamed stella predicantium ("star of preachers"). Remembered for his piety and scholarship, Andrewes had a remarkable memory and was reportedly fluent in 15 modern and 6 ancient languages! This illustration was created for the Sun, Moon, Stars, and More trail at Winchester Cathedral, which visitors can explore until March 1st.
Aerospace (and superhero!) engineer Mary Jackson (1921 – 2005) was NASA's first black female engineer. In addition to her remarkable achievements in engineering and mathematics, Jackson also worked to influence the promotion of women in NASA’s science, engineering, and mathematics careers. The Washington, D.C. headquarters of NASA was renamed the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters in 2021 to honour her life and work.
The Superhero Engineers have landed at SS Great Britain for some half-term fun!
Delighted to hear Tessa Campbell Fraser's Whales at Winchester Cathedral won Best Event at the Cultural Enterprises Awards. This exhibition of monumental sculptures highlighted our relationship with oceans and whales, transforming the Cathedral into an underwater themed, multisensory environment. I had wonderful fun working on Ocean Commotion, the interactive family trail that accompanied the exhibition.
Here’s Ada Lovelace with her computer algorithm, Note G, and the plan for Charles Babbage's Great Calculating Engine. Lovelace, who had a remarkably creative and mathematical mind, was one of the first people to imagine what computers could do. Working with her friend Babbage, she wrote notes describing how his “Analytical Engine” could follow instructions. Some now see this as the world’s first computer program! Superhero Engineers opens at SS Great Britain on February 14th.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was one of the most ingenious figures in engineering history, combining creativity with bold and daring ideas. His creations included the SS Great Britain - the world's first propeller-driven, iron-hulled ship. Visitors to the SS Great Britain can soon embark on a new voyage of discovery, learning about Brunel and other engineers as part of a trail that I illustrated. It was great fun to draw them all! The Superhero Engineers trail begins February 14th and will run until March 22nd.
