Portrait Illustration

Hello! I just wanted to come and show you the illustration I'm working on at the moment. I've been wanting to do some self-initiated portrait work for some time and so have finally began!

One thing I really love is jewellery and intricately detailed illustration, so this piece has been an absolute dream, combining my love of fashion and portrait illustration. It's taking some time but I'm enjoying it.

Below is some of the detail when the line work is taken away. I actually really like how this looks; I may remove the lines when I'm done! I'll keep you updated. You can follow me on twitter, I'll be posting work in progress pictures on there! Have a lovely weekend!

An Illustrated Gift

Hello everybody! Sorry it's been a bit slow here recently!

I've just finished my latest custom portrait illustration. I was commissioned by the lovely Emma for a second time, this time to illustrate her best friends to give as a wedding present.

 What an amazing task and responsibility! I loved illustrating this piece, especially that dress! There's a close up of some of the detail below. I actually really love more intricate work like this. As always, I think I prefer this piece in print form. I'll try to update this with a printed picture soon! I'll be back with more work very soon! Have a lovely week in the meantime!

Rare Bird Interning

 Well my time at Rare Bird has come to an end. It's been such a wonderful experience, seeing behind the scenes and learning what goes on day to day in an illustration agency. The second week consisted of blogging, organising and uploading images, making homepage amendments, portfolio building and creating PDF pages.

I loved my time here and would return in an instance. I think working part time in an agency would be the perfect sideline as an illustrator. Not only was I surrounded by incredible illustration that has inspired me to produce some self initiated portraits, but interning here has given me real insight into how an agency works. Maybe I will be back soon... Here is some of my work from the week (including front page editing and blogging)

I really enjoyed (yes, I'm sad...) cropping and organising images to go on the front page and be used as thumbnails throughout the illustrators' pages. I guess attention to detail is an important part of life as an illustrator!

 

I absolutely love the above image from illustrator Paul X. Johnson. Working at Rare Bird has allowed me to familiarise myself with the other illustrators' work and Paul is a definite favourite. His work is both striking and inspiring. I especially love this cover for Little White Lies.

Blogging about my own new work was a little bizarre, but it was great to get my hands on a copy of the recently published magazine. Below is a post about the promotional work we undertook in the previous week.

What do you think of my illustration in context? (Below) It's one of the most exciting parts of a commission, seeing the work published and owning a copy!

Well, as I quickly mentioned earlier, next week I will be working on a new project. It will be portraits based on some familiar faces. I'm excited & can't wait to share them with you! Have a lovely weekend, we're hoping to make a spontaneous camping trip. Yay!

Midwives Magazine Cover

I'm really excited to be able to share my latest piece of work, a commercial commission brought to me by my agent, Rare Bird. I was asked to illustrate the front cover (yes, front cover!) of the latest issue of Midwives Magazine, the magazine for The Royal College of Midwives. The illustration was based on an article looking at the issue of women not being able to give birth in the way they chose and feeling "locked out" of natural home births. I loved the brief, creating a beautiful home birth scene of a new family. It was a little scary, but perfect for my style. I was helped greatly and given great freedom with the piece. I hope you like my illustration!

I started with the central illustration but loved bringing it all together with the door and detailed features, such as the screws. I wanted to add colour to the illustration, so decided to do this using the baby's blanket. I found the most perfect blanket on Little Woollie's blog. This beautifully crocheted blanket was the inspiration for my illustrated version. I love the colour and patterns and really enjoyed reading about the process and seeing the initial sketches too. Thank you Julie for allowing me to use your blanket in my work!

And below is how the piece looks in context. I should be receiving my own copy soon, so I'll take some pictures when that arrives. I still can't quite believe that my illustration is on the cover of a magazine for all to see. I love that it's being used for such an important topic too. Midwives do such an amazing job, I'm so proud to be in this magazine!

I'll be back with more work soon. Enjoy the rest of your week in the meantime! :)

Rare Bird London

Well, as you may know, I have been with my new illustration agency, Rare Bird, for a few months now. Kelly Fysh, an illustration agent with 11 years experience, started up the agency on her own and so far I am very happy to be involved in her new venture. She's wonderful to work with and my first job was fantastic. (It isn't live yet, but I will blog about it when it is!) 

I've been very lucky to intern with Kelly this week and have loved seeing behind the scenes. So far I've helped with the first big postal promotion campaign, sending out limited edition postcard and magazine packs to editorial, advertising and marketing agencies and compiling the artist portfolios. It's been great seeing how it all works and especially wonderful to see so much beautiful artwork and hear about ongoing projects. I will be back fro a second week the week after next, this time I will be working on the website, blog, newsletters and more portfolio work. Exciting! I will also take some more photographs that we can share on Rare Bird's twitter feed.

Here's some photos form the week...

Magazine cover illustration by Bożka.

And I just want to share some of my favourite illustrations from some of the other illustrators also on Rare Birds' books. I think you'll like them too!

The first (above) llustration is by Melbs. I love the energy and colour in his work.

The two illustrations above are by Ellie Tzoni. I love the subtlety, colour and shape in her work.

 I love the humour and character in Clayton Junior's illustrations, as well as his bold use of colour.

 I really like the use of colour in this piece by Imeus. I love the range of illustrations in his portfolio. Beautiful work!

I'm sure you'll agree Laura Oakes' work is absolutely stunning. I love the colour and line work. Amazing!

Gal Shkedi's work is full of humour and beautiful character work. I especially love this piece!

Love this illustration by Miss Swanne. Colourful, bold and fun!

Beautiful floral and decorative illustrations by Bożka. She has a really unique style which I love.

I love how dark and striking Paul X. Johnson's illustrations are. They create such a dramatic, powerful mood which fascinates and draws in the viewer.

The final illustration is by Patrick O'Leary. His work is bright, exciting, colourful and fun. I love it!

Definitely go and take a look at the Rare Bird London website. It's full of inspirational illustrators and exciting and beautiful illustrations. I'll let you know how the second week goes and bring you more work updates soon!

Hello!

Hello all! Sorry I've been a little quiet on the blogging front - I've just returned from a weeks holiday in Cornwall. I'll come back to that in a moment!

I'll be blogging about some new work soon, I'm really excited to share it with you! I received the commission through my agent a few weeks ago. It will be published (a little clue for you!) soon and then I can share it with you. I wasn't sure how having an agent would work out, but so far, so very good! It's given me such a confidence boost in my work too. I'm feeling very positive and looking forward to a new working week! (Although that isn't stopping me wishing i was still on holiday!) I've also got a new personal commission to share soon too.

So back to the holiday! We stayed at a really beautiful and friendly campsite close to the beautiful fishing village of Mevagissey (in mid Cornwall). I used to come here with my family as a child and couldn't wait to come back and show Mat too. We had a great time. The weather was a little disappointing with rain and wind, however most days were cloudy but calm and we did manage to go swimming in the outdoor pool most days and even got sun burnt one day! So, we were lucky compared to the constant rain recently! While we were in Cornwall, we visited other areas too, including Lands End (got to once, i guess) and St Ives. St Ives is truly beautiful and one we'll definitely be going back to soon! Most of our holiday was spend eating cream teas, ice creams and fish shop chips! Lots of reading, relaxing and playing cards as well, the perfect week away just the two of us. It was actually our fist proper holiday just with us. Before we've gone with friends or just for weekends away. This was wonderful! And on the way back we visited my Grandad in Devon who Mat had never met. It was the perfect end the to the week.

On Saturday, it was our six year anniversary!! It was partly this reason that we decided to go away last week, the perfect build up and celebration to our anniversary. We had so much wonderful quality time and I find that with work, we don't get to really talk properly at home, so all this time with just us, all day was amazing. I love him so much and a little more each day. And, if all goes to plan, we will be married this time in two years! Exciting :) I got a Megan Claire sentiments card to give to Mat. I love it! Means nothing to others, but the world to us! Thank you Megan, he loved it!

I'll be back soon with my new work! Have a lovely week and enjoy this beautiful warm weather!

Work in Progress...

I just wanted to bring you a little update on the flower illustration I'm working on. I'm very happy with how it's coming along but work has halted due to an exciting commercial illustration I have just been commissioned to do this week. I'll let you know about that when it's done and published! I love the subject though, it's just the direction I'm enjoying at the moment :)

 I would love to hear your thoughts on this illustration. It will be ready shortly and as soon as it is, it will be available as a limited edition print. There are other prints available in my Etsy shop at the moment. Or Folksy, if you prefer!

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before, but I am now signed to Rare Bird, an illustration and design agency. There are some amazing people on there and I am very excited and happy to be a part of it! :)

Evie - pet portrait illustration

 I was delighted when Abby Wiltshire commissioned me to illustrate a picture of her lovely dog, Evie. She's absolutely gorgeous and although I was a little terrified about drawing all that fluffiness, I'm very happy with the results. I hope you like it too!

Don't forget, if you would like your own pet portrait or portrait illustration, you can order one here. And if you'd just like a print, you can get one in my shop too! :) Below is a few shots of my work in progress with this piece.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! :)