ABRSM: The New Batch

Here's the second wave of illustration work for the UK's largest music education publisher ABRSM. The Brass Syllabus and Exam Information & Regulations covers get an overhaul in a new colourful style I'm applying to all their publications over the coming months. Design and art direction by Kate Benjamin.

Protipper

I've been blabbing about textures and layer blending again in the Protip section of the latest issue of Advanced Photoshop. Check it.

Hadassah

Here's a chunky editorial job for the centennial issue of Hadassah Magazine featuring a cover portrait of Hadassah founder Henrietta Szold and a few collages looking at the history of the organisation.

In Wales

Recently took a trip to south-east Wales for a long weekend of rolling valleys and coastal diversions. From our spot in Llandeilo we zipped around Carmarthenshire visiting Laugharne, LLansteffan beach and the spectacular moody ruins of Carreg Cennen Castle perched on the Brecon Beacons. Next up was Pembrokeshire and a visit to seaside town Tenby before a bracing coastal walk around St. David's Head to clear the cobwebs. A fine old time despite Liz grumping it out for the photo shoots!

Layne

Here's a drawing of Crispin Glover being offered a less than cold Michelob in the excellent River's Edge. He plays Layne in a typically brilliant batshit crazy performance from the great man. Some highlights can be found here.

The Line King And Sleeping Beauty

Here are a couple of personal collage pieces I've been working on recently. An off-kilter cyber mash-up of retro peeps and hard tech with some nice knitwear thrown in for good measure.

Tree Sense

Here's an illustration in the current issue of New Scientist for a fascinating article on 'Tree Sense' and how trees experience the world around them...before becoming tables.

Kirtan Call

Here's a four page spread I worked on for Yoga Journal in San Francisco tracing the influence of kirtan chanting on music over the last 40 years featuring the likes of Wonder, Glass, Harrison and Boy George!

Destination Solar Sytem

BBC Focus magazine commissioned me to create three double page spread sci-fi vistas for an article on destinations that scientists would most like to explore in our solar system. Those included the The Seven Sisters caverns under Martian surface, Chao Meng-Fu crater on Mercury and Loki Patera lava lake on Io. Had great fun with these as well as racking up a few holiday ideas for the future.

Auto Geek

Here's a wide editorial illustration for Automobile magazine for a report from the Automotive History Conference, the hub(cap) of true car geeks apparently.

John Bonham vs Depeche Mode

My work for Ryan Cox's rock'n'roll inspired collection of poetry A Circus Mind comes to a close with this double-whammy post of Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham and Depeche Mode. I'm looking forward to seeing all the illustrations published later this year along with some great work from Dushan Milic, Julia Minimata, Zela Lobb, Elissa Parente and Jacqui Oakley. Will keep you posted.

New Prints Available

For all you lucky wall-owning folks out there! New high quality prints are available up at the online store. Ooohhh.

The Digital Edge

A new commission for Nominet Trust and their latest provocation paper on how digital technology can support young people...in two colourways no less.

Paul Simon

Here's another portrait for A Circus Mind, a young Paul Simon. Let's call him Al shall we.

London Scene

London's so hot right now! (weather aside). Here are a few Instagram-ified snaps I've take from around town recently.

Pippin Time

For my wife's birthday recently we took off for another glampy getaway to South Devon to stay in a charming gypsy caravan going by the name of Pippin. It was placed in a lovely orchard where we could kick back with a drink, cook on the open fire, chat to the pheasants and even take a dip in a hot tub (minus time machine capabilities) tucked away in a corner of the field. In the day we toured the local towns and beaches, including a laid-back Totnes, Salcombe and Bigbury-on-Sea with it's sea tractor to murder-central Burgh Island, the setting for a couple of Agatha Christie novels.

ABRSM Piano

This year I've begun work with ABRSM, the UK's leading music education publisher, and creative director Kate Benjamin on a rebrand of all their core publications to be distributed worldwide. I'll be illustrating the covers for all of their instrument books over the next year or so and the first to roll out are this colourful bunch for the piano.

Enzo Ferrari Museum

Here's a portrait of Enzo Ferrari for the newly opened Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, Italy. The museum sits in a beautifully designed, very yellow, building by Future Systems. The image has been donated for a limited edition signed print run to raise funds for the victims of the recent earthquakes in the region. Thanks to the guys at Bunker.

Tech-ollage

Here's a recent collage illustration for PC World Magazine showcasing all the latest gizmos.

Rolling Stones '69

The latest portrait for A Circus Mind of an obscure little band called The Rolling Stones in LA circa 1969. Anyone?