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Category: Commissions

  1. New Jigsaw for Autumn 2023

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    I'm delighted to tell you that I have a new 1000 piece jigsaw design available from my fabulous jigsaw publisher Ravensburger. 

    The new jigsaw is called Harbour Life and is inspired by the walrus who visited the coastal towns this summer. It pictures a busy coastal harbour scene with boats and fishermen.a village nestles into the hills and behind are trees, clouds and a hot air balloon. Perfect for the dark nights.

    harbour life

    Although this one is hot from the press the next one is already in the making. Watch this space!

  2. Book cover illustration for ASLS

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    I was delighted earlier this year to be asked to design a book cover for the Scottish Association of Literary Studies for their New Writing Scotland book which is the principal forum for poetry and short fiction in Scotland today. Every year it publishes the very best from both emerging and established writers, and lists many of the leading literary lights of Scotland among its contributors.

    The brief was to design a cover which fitted the title story called "Talking About Lobsters"  The cover would needed to contain the subtitle: New Writing Scotland 34 and the editors’ names: Edited by Gerry Cambridge and Diana Hendry

    The art work had to include fishermen and boats which were particularly suitable to the title. Based on the text of the story from which the volume title was drawn. An image requiring a boat and fishermen at the top and a lobster/lobsters and pots at the bottom, with space in between for the text.

    Space had to be left for the spinewith the finished book cover being 216mm tall x 138mm wide with a 5mm bleed. The image had to be supplied digitally CMYK print ready within 4 weeks time.

    I began by working out a sketch in pencil which was approved with one or two alterations to the spacing.

    ASLS bookcover sketch mock up in pencil

    The next step was to draw the sketch up to twice the actual size of the book cover.  Working at this scale allows for the image to be sharp when it is photographed and reduced to the correct size. Then I began to paint the artwork leaving space for the type.

    Association of Scottish Literary Studiescover art work

    The next step was to work on back of the bookcover and the spine...

    ASLS finished art whole cover

    When the artwork was finished being painted it was photographed.  Then it was ready to be worked on digitally to have the title and other type added. I created a digital guide with the dimensions I had been given to allow for a 5mm bleed for the printer.  This allows them a bit of leeway when they run the finished covers through the print press.

    5 asls artwork with copy mock up

    6 asls final artwork asls cover

    When the visual guides are removed you can see the finished artwork with the copy in place. The digital file is then sent away to be printed. Then a few weeks later a copy of the book arrived in the post! It has some great stories and verse in it if you like reading you can find details of where to get your copies from the Association of Scottish Literary Studies. 

    ASLS Talking About Lobsters final book

    Read and enjoy!

  3. Private Painting Commission

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    finished painting for web

    This was a private commmission for a special birthday and has, I believe, gone down well.  Please contact me if you would like to discuss a commission.  They can be great fun to do and can include your favourite animals and people as welll as places which are captured in a painting.  They are all unique and will last forever!