It's been a summer of Georgians and dragons so far, the latter being part of some new Mason Mouse illustrations I've been working on for York Minster. Mason will be sharing many adventures with families at the Cathedral this summer, and I look forward to sharing illustrations of Mason's latest quest!
Summer at Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral's summer trail opens (with a bang!) today, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. If you're in the area, pop along for some fun!
Jane Austen
2025 marks the 250th year since Jane Austen’s birth, and I am glad to be part of the events celebrating her life. I’ve designed and illustrated a family trail for Winchester Cathedral, where the author was buried after spending the final weeks of her life living with her sister Cassandra. The pair were very close and loved to do creative things together, like drawing and writing. The family trail opens on July 25th and includes fun activities such as silhouette making, like this one Cassandra has made of Jane!
Search and Rescue!
Dating from around 1500, the wall paintings in Winchester Cathedral's Lady Chapel depict miracles and legends associated with Mary, including a ship being brought to safety. This wonderful ship formed the basis of a search and rescue activity for the cathedral's Ocean Commotion trail, in which visitors explore the chapel and find characters lost in its woodwork. It was great fun to take a 500-year-old ship to sea!
Captain Henry Pearson
From sketch to final artwork: Henry Pearson, whose story is told in Winchester Cathedral's Ocean Commotion family trail. Pearson is remembered in the cathedral for safely steering HMS Calliope out of a devastating hurricane in Samoa in 1889, in which over 150 people lost their lives. The Navigating Officer worked in virtually zero visibility and winds reaching over 100 miles per hour, and he was wearing his pyjamas at the time! It was good to sketch the movement in this drawing. I am glad Pearson and his shipmates are remembered. The Ocean Commotion trail will run at Winchester Cathedral until February 26th.
York Minster's Great East Window
Mason Mouse has taken a trip into York Minster's Great East Window! Executed in 1405-08, the window is a magnificent masterpiece and the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in Britain. It was a great pleasure to draw from it and spend hours exploring its wonderful details (I even found the engravings of a Burrows plumber/glazier from 1862!). Yesterday I met with the team at York Minster to learn about a new project, which I will enjoy developing over the coming months. It is always such fun to spend time with Mason.
Ocean Commotion at Winchester Cathedral
Illustrations and draft sketches for Winchester Cathedral's Ocean Commotion family trail, along with two wonderful little mermaids that can be found hiding in the cathedral's north transept and south aisle. It was a delight to draw from them! Ocean Commotion opens tomorrow, and will run alongside Tessa Campbell Fraser's exhibition Whales.
Angels
I love to draw angels! They are always a joy to sketch; their peacefulness, beauty, lightness. This week I’ve had the pleasure of creating these illustrations for Westminster Abbey, drawing inspiration as always from the beautiful treasures therein. Tomorrow the Abbey will host an extra-special Family Day, filled with festive music and stories, for which I enjoyed making an angel craft activity.
Christmas Tree Festival 2024
Today sees the start of the Christmas Tree Festival at York Minster, with 70 trees inside the cathedral's Nave, Chapter House and Lady Chapel. I love to imagine Mason Mouse helped hang the decorations!
A New Family Trail for Bath Abbey
Since it's National Illustration Day (thanks to the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration) I thought I'd share this new family trail I created earlier in the year with Bath Abbey. Designed by ABG Design, the trail follows the adventures of Alex the angel as they explore the Abbey and discover its many hidden treasures.
A Unicorn for Westminster Abbey
As Christmas approaches I've been drawing angels for Westminster Abbey. Back in late summer I had great fun creating a unicorn character for the Abbey, drawing inspiration from the beautiful (and numerous!) coats of arms there.
Mason Mouse
This year I’ve had the pleasure of creating Mason Mouse with York Minster. Mason will welcome families, school groups and young folks to the cathedral for years to come, sharing their adventures and discoveries. This weekend saw the opening of Phoenix, a sound and light projection commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1984 fire at York Minster. Drawing Mason’s 1980s firefighter uniform was great fun!
Creatures Takeover trail for Winchester Cathedral
As autumn approaches I have been working on Christmas illustrations, but for anyone in the area there is still time to experience Winchester Cathedral's Creatures Takeover Summer Trail. It was a joy to work on this project, getting to know characters from the past and present who have played a part in the cathedral's story. Design by Journal.
The Bath Old English Gospels
From draft sketch to final artwork: the Last Supper, part of a series created for AY-PE to feature in an interactive exploring The Bath Old English Gospels at Bath Abbey's new Discovery Centre.
Bath Abbey
Illustrating and illuminating stories for Bath Abbey's new Discovery Centre. For this drawing of Bath's Norman Cathedral I enjoyed taking inspiration from medieval manuscripts, the Abbey's stained glass windows, and a C13th tiled floor discovered during recent renovation works.
Westminster Abbey's Coronation Club
Brilliant to see my drawings brought to life in this trailer for Westminster Abbey's Coronation Club. I have loved creating new illustrations for the project, which launches soon:
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/coronations-for-young-people/coronation-club
westminster-abbey.org/coronationclub
Bath Abbey Exhibition Illustrations
For the past year I've been working with Bath Abbey to create illustrations for a permanent exhibition in its new Discovery Centre, exploring the Abbey's history through stories. This illustration is a particular favourite; Rebuilding the Church. In the late C16th and early C17th, Elizabeth I and hundreds of other supporters - from farmers and fishmongers to sailors and glaziers - worked together to save the church after its closure by Henry VIII had left it in ruins.
Representing the final phase of the Abbey's decade-long Footprint Project, the Discovery Centre is now open.
The Adventures of Reggie the Red Blood Cell
I had loads of fun illustrating The Adventures of Reggie the Red Blood Cell, an eBook for Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company. Reggie, a curious red blood cell, journeys around the body and explores how the organs work together to keep us healthy. You can check out the eBook here.
Some Festive Fun Between Deadlines...
I made this illustration for the Friends of St. Paul’s School Christmas Window Trail back in September but it’s never too early, right?
Thank You (Again!)
The summer holidays have arrived, and what a year it’s been! The teachers and staff at our son’s school have done a fantastic job throughout. I created this as a small gesture of our gratitude. Thank you teachers everywhere!