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?
National Writing Day
To celebrate National Writing Day I visited The Mount School York. My first school visit since last March! We talked about books, writing, drawing and what makes us happy. The pupils were so inspiring - they created loads of amazing artwork. Well done everyone, what a fun morning!
A Trip Underground
Playing with palette, place and people.
Light in the Night
I’ve spent a couple of evenings playing with light and colour, experimenting with painting in Photoshop.
Character Development
Here’s a little bit of recent character development, created digitally in Photoshop. It’s always loads of fun getting to know a new character!
Piratey Character Development
Here’s a little character I developed a few months ago, having fun with a limited colour palette. Like me, she’s a fan of stripes!
The Hachette Children's Novel Award 2020
I’m very happy to announce that I was shortlisted for the Hachette Children’s Novel Award 2020 in partnership with New Writing North (part of the Northern Writers’ Awards). I didn’t win, but it was a wonderful thrill to make the shortlist!
Character Illustrations for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
A few months ago I had the pleasure of working with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust again, this time illustrating characters for a quiz to find out which Shakespearean character you most resemble.
There are some pretty dark and interesting characters - Game of Thrones has nothing on the Bard!
Why not take the quiz yourself. Apparently I'm Cleopatra!
https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=157528368620
Sample Illustration
Here's a detail from a sample illustration that I recently completed. The chaotic kitchen was so much fun to draw!
New Children's Range for Westminster Abbey
This project was SO much fun; illustrating kings and queens of the past for a new children’s range available from Westminster Abbey’s shop. If you fancy temporary tattoos, t-shirts, iron-on patches or even a micro jigsaw with my illustrations on, you can find them here.
Family Trail for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries
Better late than never... Here's the finished family trail that I illustrated in summer 2018 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey, once again working with their fabulous Learning team. It was beautifully designed by Cartlidge Levene and is modelled by my four-year-old son, who was paid a fee of one chocolate coin for his work. (Photos by my better half, Gareth Brew.)
Westminster Abbey Family Day, October 2019
Here's a lovely project that I designed and illustrated for Westminster Abbey's family day back in October, marking 750 years since the consecration of Henry III’s Abbey Church. Working with the Abbey's brilliant Learning team, we highlighted various members of staff and their roles, encouraging visitors to engage with the Abbey as a living church.