I first saw this floppy eared dog of Jeremy Nortons as a banner on an art site on facebook and it captured my attention straight away. I then started researching into the wealth of fine art paintings, Prints and characters that he creates. Discovering a whole world of amazing work, I got in touch to find out a little more.
From these playful characters to some lively, colourful paintings.
I see that you’ve included a few book covers on your site. What plans do you have for the future or are there any remaining areas that you would still like to work in. (children’s picture books etc ?)
If you already long for more of Jeremy’s work, check out his site.
Another ‘new to me’ and very interesting artist was also featured at The Hepworth when I went a few weeks ago.
Castleford-born Albert Wainwright (1893 – 1943) was a gifted artist, designer and illustrator. A school friend of Henry Moore, he achieved but a fraction of Moore’s acclaim during his lifetime. Despite only living to the age of forty five, he produced an astounding body of work, remarkable for it’s inventiveness and intuitive feeling for line and form.
Examples of his illustrative work on display reveal a brilliant draftsmen, who assimilated a wide range of influences. These include decorative flourishes of art nouveau, the expressive intensity of the Viennese Secessionists and the visionary drawings of Aubrey Beardsley.
A keep portraitist, Wainwright’s models were often schoolchildren that he taught, or actors and actresses of his acquaintance. He would usually set the scene with props and clothing to which he gave as much attention as the model. The jewel-like colours and fluid lines of these watercolours reveal his love of Japanese art. The heavily stylised facial features conform to an androgynous ideal of beauty that was popular at the time.
Included in the display are several sketchbooks that record his travels abroad and his particular love of Germany. His sketches from 1927 – 38 bear witness to the great social political and economic changes in Europe at that time.
The Yorkshire Landscape was also a great source of inspiration to Wainwright. From 1930 until his death he spent every summer at Robin Hood’s Bay, from which stemmed a body of coastal views, life studies and imaginative compositions. Some of the finest are on display at the exhibition, like these.
This exhibition, is the first of Wainwright’s work in Yorkshire in over thirty years. It sheds further light on this talented and much neglected artist. The exhibition is on until May 18th 2014.
Three catch ups and very newsworthy items for you all today.
Angie Lewin has been working with Wiltshire potter John Julian Design to produce her own range of stylish tableware.
Her porcelain plates are available in two designs, Scarista and Meadow (each in two colour ways) – hand jollied and hand stencilled. The plates are very durable – oven proof and won’t fade in the dishwasher. Produced as a limited edition of 200 sets of each design, a small quantity of each will be also be available individually. Priced at £149.00 for a set of six plates or £28.00 individually (excluding postage and packing). You can find out more about how to buy them here. There’s also some rather lovely and summery Tote bags on the St Judes site.
If you’re in the London area, then there is a forthcoming exhibition of recent works by Angie Lewin and Alex Malcolmson from Thursday 15th May until Saturday 24th May 2014, at The Town House, 5 Fournier Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6QE. The exhibition takes place in an intimate gallery space hidden behind The Town House on Fournier Street in the heart of Spitalfields. The building dates from 1720 where silk weavers originally worked and plied their trade. Angie will be exhibiting a range of her limited edition prints – linocuts, wood engravings, screen prints and lithographs – whilst Alex will present a series of new box constructions, mixed media collages and three dimensional works.
Next ……my very talented school friend Sarah, has recently launched her blog, talking about her ceramics and the trials and tribulations of buying an old kiln and making sense of it’s settings etc without the aid of a manual !
Called simply Sllipblog (the extra ‘l’ is for Sarah’s initials, in case you were wondering) I’ll be looking forward to viewing more of Sarah’s humourous and detailed ceramics and seeing how her work develops. If any of my readers can offer any good kiln advice, please contact sarah here.
Sarah’s work will be featured in the Northern Potters Association exhibition which is on at the beautiful Didsbury Parsonage Trust on the last Bank holiday of May. Do call in if you’re in the Manchester area and see what creative work is on show.
Thirdly, two exhibitions featuring the wonderful work of fellow printer Laura Weston.
The first as it states above, is part of Oxton Secret Garden and open from 10am til 5pm on May 11th. The second will be at the sunny Southbank Printmakers Gallery between 19th May and the 1st June. Follow the links for more information.
Finally it was great yesterday to see the birds enjoying a downpour outside my studio window. The whole thing only lasted 10 minutes, but they were very excited and twittery afterwards : ) Happy tweeting to one and all !
Angela Keoghan Illustration from New Zealand
Angela Keoghan is based in New Zealand and is passionate about Illustration as a form of storytelling.
Angela is an award winning illustrator – In 2012 she won the award (Tui) for Best Album Cover at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards and was a finalist in 2011.
She creates illustrations for a variety of areas including editorial, advertising and publishing.
She is represented globally by Eastwing, a UK based agency representing some of the finest talent in the illustration industry. Her work can be found on the walls of cafes in Hong Kong and New Zealand, on pages of magazines in NZ and Europe and on many band album covers.
Angela uses a variety of digital and organic medias to create her whimsical style illustrations. Her work is inspired by exploration, travel, nature, old photographs and vintage children’s illustration.
Here are some of her card and CD covers.
Some of her personal work here, exploring the idea of giants.
She regularly exhibits in both group and solo shows. For information have a look on her blog.
Also check out her lovely products over on August Avenue and there’s a great Q&A session at Fancy design blog. Keep up the fab work Angela.
Hello all… well I’m back before you even had a chance to miss me lol. Fortunately (and I hope I’m not speaking too soon) the op went well and I was home recovering before I knew it, all done in under 3 hours ! Also it’s not too difficult to work at the mac again, so business as usual, hurrah !
Last weekend I did another of the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Events which appear as “Little Northern” Fairs. It was a beautiful sunny sunday in Altrincham and the setting, people and events were all great.
This was how my stand was laid out.
My new prints are available here on the Fishink website. Please have a look as there’s something to suit everyone, commissions available too ! I’ve have a range of Craig and Tone ceramics available, with mugs, vases, plates, bowls and jugs available. Email me if you’d like photos or prices of anything in particular.
One of the friendly faces I was very pleased to see again, was Dry Point and Collagraph artist Louise Jannetta who’s work has a variety of different qualities and themes running through it. Nature and architecture are just two amongst many.
Further on there were some rather fetching ceramics with a retro feel from Daventry based potter Peter Cosentino. These landscape tiles incorporate the mocha technique to produce the row of trees in addition to the use of slips and coloured oxides.
The landscapes, amphibian / fishscale bowls have numerous strips of clay joined together and then at least 5 different glazes placed over the top. I think they are very reasonable priced at just £15 each !
One of my long time favourite illustrators Ruth Green was there, we got chatting about pets and found out that we both have lurchers who look pretty identical, same colouration and all ! Also some lovely work from a relatively new source, textile designer and Manchester based Sally Newall. Again a beautiful hand in her designs and artwork, it will be interesting to see how her work develops.
An unusual and whimsical stall came from Leanne Owen who runs fauxdoe Creations. Wonderfully constructed Fabric Taxidermy Trophy Heads, using quality fabrics from the likes of Harris Tweed, they are all quirky individuals that would add a bit of fun to any home.
My ‘next door stall neighbour’ for the day was jewellery designer Suzanne Claire who kept me smiling telling me antics that her dog gets up to (it was a dog swooping story kinda day !) Her lovely jewellery was french crocheted ( I think I’ve got that right) using different thicknesses of silver wire and other metals. The chain is also pushed into softened silver to create these lovely stud earrings you see below. Also using sewing and beading techniques, suzanne makes everything by hand in her studio.
Lastly, but definitely one of my favourites of the day, the intricate and beautifully designed embroideries by Beverley Holmes-Wright. I loved her soft muted colours and the wonderful and personal interpretations of meadow flowers and seed headed florals. Who would have thought that stars would make such eye catching stems !
Beverley and I spoke about doing some collaborative work together turning some of her flowers into repeat patterns, which is a service I offer to many businesses. Watch this space for some floral inspired results !
All in all a great day. Not a brilliant for sales, but you always take each show as it comes, and there was fierce competition with Liverpool playing Chelsea, an outdoor art market on in the village and of course the lure of a sunny day ! Competition indeed. Thanks to all who allowed me to chat and photograph their work and I look forward to meeting you all again soon.
Joe McLaren Bold and Beautiful Illustrations
Before I introduce you to todays artist, I’d just like to mention that I’m going to be away from my blog possibly for the next two weeks whilst having a small op. I’ll be back to visually entertain you when time and energy re allows but in the meantime, please feel free to browse through the back catalogue of posts on my site and visit some of the amazing artists links you can find on here too. All being well, I hope to see you all again before you know it : ) 
Moving swiftly on… Joe McLaren is an amazing artist. I’ve admired his work for quite a few years now and love his bold, scraperboard feel and it’s quirky, humourous style. Increasingly I’ve noticed ‘him’ creeping into bookshops (on book covers, that is) and through a wide variety of commissions online. I contacted Joe, to share with you, my Fishink friends, a little more about the man behind the work.
Please tell me a little about your beginnings as an illustrator.
There’s a familiar bold, defined style to your work. Is this something that you ‘ strive to include’ or would you feel it’s more of a natural way of working for you ?
Much of that comes from the medium I work in: scraperboard. It’s inherently bold- there is pure black and pure white and so it invites sureness of line and clarity. Partly as well I think it comes from speed. I’m used to working quickly, after having worked for newspapers so much, where a 2-hour deadline is not unheard of. Panic is a great editor, and doubt becomes a luxury.
There’s also a friendly, subtle element of humour in your illustrations. Is this something you feel is an important addition ?
Friendliness is key I think, or at least warmth of some kind. Part of the function of illustration is to invite a reader to engage with a body of text. Text, until you take the time and trouble to read it is just coded information, so an illustration is like a friendly human hand reaching out to draw you in. What a great interpretation ! 
Who would you include in a list of people who have either had some influence on your work and style ? Also given the choice is there anyone (alive or not) who you would most like to spend a day with ?
It’s incredibly hard to try and unpick all the things that have had an influence on the way I work. I can’t deny that Edward Bawden and Eric Fraser have been important to developing the way I work. As for someone to spend a day with, I have to be honest and say that I’d love another day with my brother who passed away a couple of years ago.
What percentage of your work would you say is now commission based and how much is created out of your interest for a subject or perhaps a desire to capture a subject ?
At the moment, it’s all commission based. I’m afraid I can’t really afford to commission myself at the moment! Having said that I am hoping to have a small exhibition of my own work next year, so I am starting t think about landscapes, and perhaps the odd painting, which is exciting.
What was your most /least fav commission and why ?
My favourite was this one for David Pearson and Penguin….
To get the rotating toad, I bought a large but surprisingly accurately sculpted rubber halloween toad, and placed it on a lazy susan, and photographed it at different angles. I think it turned out well, it was a real joy to work on and working with David is always a pleasure. 
How do you go about researching a topic.. google… photographs…personal sketches on site etc ? How important is a stetchbook to your work ? Do you have a range of materials that you prefer to work with the most ? If so what are they ?
Most jobs do start with picture research. I have a huge collection of books, but nothing beats Google images if you need to remind yourself right away exactly what the plumage on a mallard looks like or something. The things I illustrate are so varied that actual drawing from life tends not to be appropriate or would take too long, but I would like to do more. I do have a sketchbook, and it tends to get cluttered up with all sorts of other things besides work, like shopping lists etc. 
What are your future plans ? areas you’d still like to move into ?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m hoping to produce some landscape work soon for an exhibition, and I have about 12 different ideas for children’s books at different stages of development which I hope I’ll have time to finish sometime. 
I noticed that you had created some more colourful work with churches and birds in gardens (a little watercoloury in feel). Was this created to move away from the bold line work you’re so well known for , or just a personal project or commission where you fancied a different approach to your more usual style ?
I did produce quite a lot of stuff like that in the mid ’00s when I used to share an annual open house exhibition in Brighton with another illustrator, Oliver Hydes. That was before I’d really discovered scraperboard, and it was the scraperboard that clients started asking for, so the other style did fall away a bit. 
Your work is already a ‘ familiar face’ gracing numerous covers in the bookshops on the street and online. Did it take a long time for this area to develop, are there any particular books that you’d love to design the covers for ?
I’ve been doing book covers since 2008, which was the same year I went full-time as a freelance illustrator, and it’s been the bulk of what I’ve done since. I’ve already illustrated an edition of Alice in Wonderland for White’s Books, which was a dream come true, and I’ve just finished lots and lots of special edition covers for the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, which would have floored the 13 -year-old me! I was fully paid up member of the fan club then. I’d love to do an illustrated book about Robin Hood or King Arthur.
I recently covered the work of Paul Bommer, who has also done some work with the ‘gentle author’ on his Spittlefields site. I wonder if you were familiar with his work, as I feel there are similarities with your illustrations too. It seems you both have a desire to draw old England and are inspired by the likes of Edward Bawden etc (and who wouldn’t be lol).
I love Paul Bommer’s work! It does recall some of the same things as some of my work, but he has this really lovely way with tone and density and humour that really reminds me of the work of John Vernon Lord, who was one of my favourite illustrators. Thanks so much Joe for your time in answering these questions and by doing so, you give us much more of an insight into what makes you the artist we find here today. Superb work and good luck with the gallery exhibition you mentioned earlier and your new role as a dad too : ) Do keep us posted re the details of the exhibition and thanks again for your honest insights.
Russel Davidson and Vyacheslav Mishchenko Nature in detail.
I was visiting my folks last week and did a small detour to rediscover Birkenhead Park and take in their visitor centre. Exhibiting there with an amazing photography exhibition was Russel Davidson
You really do need to see Russel’s work first hand to appreciate the detail in his work and his large photographic prints start from around £50… and that’s framed !!
I love the shapes in this one below, the Nuthatch who’s nuts about nuts !
How beautiful to really appreciate the colours and textures in these kingfisher images too. Russel has a great eye.
I must say that my fav series are the Owl’s shot in many destinations and at many different times of the year. Stunning.
Even the colours surrounding this fluffy Barn Owl are wonderful.
Great work Russel, do pop over to his site and pick up a beautiful print, only £15 for an A3 sized ! A real bargain.
Secondly, I also love the detailed, rather fairytale work of Ukrainian photographer Vyacheslav Mishchenko who for me, puts the minute kingdom of snails, ants and ladybirds into a whole new perspective.
His work is taken in such beautiful light, that it enhances the natural colours and these snails (not usually one of my favourite creatures) come alive with charm, personality and character in the warm glow. The positions they get themselves into are often quite comical and acrobatic !
What a stunning shot (above) of this snail on his tiny raft with a honey dewed umbrella, all ready to set sail on his adventures… or so I imagine : )
I marvel at the hours spent, getting these amazing shots from nature and the body of high quality work that Vyacheslav Mishchenko continues to release. Beautiful delicate and soothing work. Both peaceful, charming and calming.
I’ve been busy creating some new original artwork for a forthcoming event I’m doing with the The Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Altrincham on sunday.
These are all hand-made designs that are part collage and part painted with black ink. They measure 7 x 5 inches and presently selling for £15 each (plus £5 P&P worldwide). If you’re interested, have a look on my Fishink website and see what is available. Or please drop me a line (craig@fishink.co.uk) and I can arrange to create one as a commission for you, I can even send it onto another address as a birthday or surprise present. They are illustrated onto mount board and have a smart bevelled edge, so would stand nicely on a shelf or could also be framed.
Lots of ideas here for different occasions.
The event will be taking place this Sunday (27th April 2014) at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Marlborough Rd, Hale, WA14 2RS 10am-5pm. Please spread the word and come and say hello.
I’ll also be showing a brand new range of Art Prints which are now available on my website. For a cool £25 you can choose either a coiffured lion or a happy hippo
Or from one of these carefree pooches !
Many many thanks to my heroic partner who has braved hours of work (and my fussing) creating new pages and changes on my website. A Fishink gold star is definitely coming your way : ) Please tell your friends and help promote the Fishink range. If you’re around Manchester / Cheshire on Sunday do drop in the Craft Fair and say hello.
Many thanks to everyone who is already following me on facebook, twitter @wwwfishinkcouk or here on my blog. I appreciate all your likes, shares and comments, do keep in touch.
Lesley Barnes An Illustrator with a wealth of beautiful work
Firstly Lesley can I ask how ‘young’ you are, I saw a photo and you don’t look old enough to have all the wonderful experience you’ve had to date lol How long have you been interested in illustration and where did it all start ?
I have been extremely lucky, as I have had many really special projects to work on. It’s impossible to chose just one as a favourite! I did just get to work on illustrating the history of Italian fashion for the V&A to accompany their exhibition ‘The Glamour of Italian Fashion’. My illustrations are now available to buy from the V&A shop on a huge variety of products!
Another ‘dream’ commission was working on the posters for the Museum of Childhood. The Museum of Childhood is a very special place for me and is always a source of inspiration. More here.
Lesley has undertaken such a huge and varied range of work, that there’s a whole wealth of it on her website. Here’s a little advertising and promotional work.
Wonderful contemporary-retro work here too. I’m loving this tiger.
If you could spend a day with any artist / illustrator / designer etc who would you choose ?
My friend Thereza Rowe. She is an amazing illustrator and a special person. It’s not often you meet someone you just feel a connection to (her work as well as her personality) and it’s a very special feeling when it happens! We are working on a little collaboration at the moment.
‘The music video I made for Belle and Sebastian was also a really special project!‘
Lesley has a great eye when it comes to colour and repeat patterns too. Look at these sparkling designs.
Are there any new areas that you would like to take your work into, or perhaps to spend more time working within a discipline that you’ve worked in already, i.e. children’s book, stationery etc ?
At the moment I’m working on some ideas for childrens books. This is an area I have always wanted to be involved in as it was picturebooks that I read when I was little which have made me love illustration and storytelling all my life.
I’m was part of a scheme called ‘picturehooks’. The scheme set me up with a picturebook ‘mentor ‘ for a year to work on an idea. I was paired with the brilliant Ross Collins and we came up with the story Jill and Dragon.
I notice in your work a love of knights, horses, castles, dragons and patterns. Did your style come together naturally over a long period of time or has it been strongly influenced by a particular countries culture ? It looks like Ancient Greek meets Scandinavia ! : ) Beautiful.
I think my love of horses came from my older cousin. When we were kids she used to draw and write all these amazing ‘pony’ novels…and inspired by her I just started drawing horses of every shape and size. I still draw a horse most days…it’s the thing I find most natural to do.
It’s funny you should mention Greek Myths because I have been fascinated with them since I was a kid – the stories are brilliant and I love the fact that myths (and indeed folktales and legends) come with multiple retellings and variations and are thus really open for interpretation. This makes them especially wonderful as a source of inspiration for illustration.
What a lot of awe-inspiring illustrations. Thanks for contributing to this post Lesley and the best of luck with your future work.
Nancy Nicholson Embroidering nature
For a while now I’ve admired the work of Nancy Nicholson. She has established a reputation for her work in textiles, whilst more recently has been designing in paper and card.
Her recent range of interactive stationery and sew kits use her own designs as well as taking inspiration from her late mother Joan Nicholson’s work, who was a leading figure in the revival of stitch crafts from the 50s through to the 70s. Whilst Nancy’s father Roger Nicholson was best known as a professor of fine art textiles at the Royal College of Art, but who also painted intensively and privately, and whose work is now increasingly collected. You can find out more over at Quad Royal.
I got in touch with Nancy to discover more about her work. I love the colours and balance in these screen prints and drawings.
What is your story as an artist, how did you start and what training led you to this point ? I grew up in a very bohemian environment. Pretty much left to my own devises, but my mother encouraged me to make things from a very early age. Sorting out her brightly coloured pins and button box, making little garments for tiny little dolls, little bits of fabric and thread treasures for a small girl. I remember making a whole nativity out of paper and sitting up in bed till the whole night to finish it ! I went to Maidstone Art College and studied Graphic Design, but was allowed to work in other disciplines. as textiles was not a subject they had then … I later went on to study Textiles at Royal College of Art. 
How do you start designing… sketchbooks, research, library, internet etc ? Sketchbook first, usually in bed with tea, early morning. Then I scan those images into the computer and work them in Illustrator until I have the design right. Sketchbook work is very indulgent for me and I have two, one for just play and one with working drawings and notes.
There’s a great colour scheme that runs throughout your work, sketchbook etc is this intentional or are you just using a pallet of colours that you select subconsciously ? I love colour, who doesn’t, and I am aware that my palette is very distinctive. It is very hard to break away from a comforting family of colours, but the next new kits will challenge my default setting! In terms of consistency I do think it is important to have a recognizable “story”, and to keep a thread running through your work in terms of colour. Of course it is then easy to move within those restraints. 
Who are your inspirations / blogs you follow and designers you’d like to meet or perhaps work with ? I have many starting points and obsessions, but I have always loved folk art, both textile and illustrations, Russian children’s books, my mother and father, Joan and Roger Nicholson both textile designers, have always been enormously influential to me. I have a vast archive of images and collections of books on everything textile, folk embroidery, costume, toys, typography, graphics past and present, illustration …. Where to stop? 
Nancy’s sewkits are a beauty to behold. I’m even tempted by mister cat ! Where did the idea for your wonderful kits stem from and are there plans for a future empire of cats, birds and teapots ? : ) I initially launched my Interactive pop out cards in 2012 and they did quite well, and I am still hoping to produce my paper products. At the time I was creating my one-off intricate machine embroideries, which was the style of work I have been doing for a good 10 years, selling at exhibitions and to private collectors, but it occurred to me that I could make simpler hand embroidery kits of the images for people to make the designs up themselves. So I designed the Cat and Bird and they were so popular I moved on to design the Lovebirds and Teapot last year. I am just about to launch two large cushion designs, two 3d stuffed birds, and a range of stitch cards, all ready by the end of May. Very exciting …. There are plans to bring out some more designs which will be flower based designs by Christmas 2014. I have quite a few downloadable kits online and would love to develop these further, but my customers still prefer a real kit at the moment. 
Her drawings have also led to colouring books. 
Feast your eyes on these wonderfully rich and detailed embroidered pieces. The word ‘sumptuous’ comes to mind : ) 
Plans for the future ? where to next ? I have been lucky enough to be part of a business course since October (School for Creative Start ups) and we are showcasing our new businesses at Selfridges Hotel ….. I am really hoping to expand and sell to larger retailers, and to develop my designs to many areas of the homes market, but focusing on good design and craft. I would love to extend my designs into fabrics and paper goods also, meet new people and aspire to greatness generally. Come along to the Make Good Festival at 30 May – 1 June 2014 at Old Selfridges Hotel, London. It looks great Nancy, pity it’s a little far for me to get to, I’m sure some of my London based readers will check it out though. Do have a great festival and thanks again for taking part in my blog. We’re still not finished as I’ve been saving the best til last, aren’t these bird embroideries simply stunning ? 
You can follow more of Nancy’s thoughts and projects over on her Blog here. 
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