Saturday 15 December 2012

That time of year again...

Wishing everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year!

A grumpy kid who didn't get a visit from santa this year...
Forget Buzz Lightyear - next christmas' must have toy - Green Guff Guy...


Thursday 15 November 2012

Secret London

The 2012 Serco Prize exhibition Secret London has just opened at the London Transport Museum with one of my pieces in it!

My wife and I went along to the private view on Monday and took our son along with us – it’s his favourite museum so I was really pleased to be able to take him. He had the camera for the evening (something to occupy him and keep him out of trouble) and he took these photos before the battery ran out…



There are some better photos at another of the exhibiting artists Benfor’s blog (where you can also see his lovely picture of the shard) and at the Evening Standard’s site.

It’s a great show so if you get the chance to go along it’s really worthwhile (plus you get to climb around on old busses and trains!). It runs until December 10th.

Monday 4 June 2012

Jim

Who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion



There was a Boy whose name was Jim;
His Friends were very good to him.
They gave him Tea, and Cakes, and Jam,
And slices of delicious Ham,
And Chocolate with pink inside
And little Tricycles to ride,
And read him Stories through and through,
And even took him to the Zoo--
But there it was the dreadful Fate
Befell him, which I now relate.

You know--or at least you ought to know,
For I have often told you so--
That Children never are allowed
To leave their Nurses in a Crowd;
Now this was Jim's especial Foible,
He ran away when he was able,
And on this inauspicious day
He slipped his hand and ran away!

He hadn't gone a yard when--Bang!
With open Jaws, a lion sprang,
And hungrily began to eat
The Boy: beginning at his feet.
Now, just imagine how it feels
When first your toes and then your heels,
And then by gradual degrees,
Your shins and ankles, calves and knees,
Are slowly eaten, bit by bit.
No wonder Jim detested it!
No wonder that he shouted "Hi!"

The Honest Keeper heard his cry,
Though very fat he almost ran
To help the little gentleman.
"Ponto!" he ordered as he came
(For Ponto was the Lion's name),
"Ponto!" he cried, with angry Frown,
"Let go, Sir! Down, Sir! Put it down!"
The Lion made a sudden stop,
He let the Dainty Morsel drop,
And slunk reluctant to his Cage,
Snarling with Disappointed Rage.
But when he bent him over Jim,
The Honest Keeper's Eyes were dim.
The Lion having reached his Head,
The Miserable Boy was dead!

When Nurse informed his Parents, they
Were more Concerned than I can say:--
His Mother, as She dried her eyes,
Said, "Well--it gives me no surprise,
He would not do as he was told!"
His Father, who was self-controlled,
Bade all the children round attend
To James's miserable end,
And always keep a-hold of Nurse
For fear of finding something worse.

Hilaire Belloc

Monday 21 May 2012

Victor's Secret

Last Friday I found out that one of my pieces has been selected for Secret London: the Serco Prize for Illustration 2012. It's going to be part of an exhibition at the London Transport Museum on 13 November–10 December and needless to say - I'm right chuffed!

Congratulations to the other illustrators selected for the exhibition - the full list is here.



Friday 4 May 2012

Sweet stuff!

Here’s some recent editorial work for Sugaronline to illustrate their various columns. All created in Fireworks with the tiniest of deadlines – minutes rather than hours – which serves to focus the mind a little bit.







Monday 12 March 2012