The Bathtub Of The Devil

Even Beelzebub himself likes a good soak!
 

This is available as a signed print (or treat yourself to the original artwork!) in my Ko-Fi shop

World Book Day 2025 at Dallington School

Had a lovely day talking about books, drawing, reading with the kids from Dallington Primary School in Clerkenwell for World Book Day this year! I kicked things off with a whole-school assembly, sharing insights into the world of illustration while the kids challenged me to draw various animals & foodstuffs including a cat eating fishfingers & a capybara eating chocolate (never drawn one before, I was fairly pleased!)

I then conducted draw-alongs with all the classes who drew some great pics from our graphic novel Journey to Pootopia (one pupil also drew a rather brilliant portrait of me too!)

I always love the energy from primary school visits, if you'd like me to come & visit your school please get in touch info@stevemay.biz

A capybara eating chocolate

Some of the pupils' drawings

(a rather wonderful portrait of me drawn by one of the children! : )

 

PUBLICATION DAY - Sammy & the Stolen Paintings

I just received my copy of Sammy & the Stolen Paintings - the second book in the series of the warm and brilliantly funny family comedy told from the perspective of Sammy the sniffer dog – perfect for younger readers aged 7 and up by Charlie P Brooks which was published yesterday January 2nd by Harper Collins Childrens.

'When Sammy uncovers a FAKE forged painting and is dognapped by villain Monsieur de Noir, she needs Best Human Friend, Beanie, Robin the sheepdog and Mogpuss the cat to help her out.

Together the friends must launch a rescue mission to find Sammy in Paris, and recover the REAL painting before it’s too late.'

I had a lot of fun drawing the adventures of Sammy & her friends in these books including some cat / bonnet action*, fiendish villains* & some fun with sheep dip* into the bargain!

*(fun with sheep dip)

 

*'Cat / bonnet action'

*(fiendish villains)

How To Draw Professor Poo & Ploppy from Journey To Pootopia

I'm going to show you how to draw Professor Poo & Ploppy from the new hilarious graphic novel for kids Poo Crew Adventures - Journey To Pootopia by James Turner & me! Join Ploppy and his fearless guide, Professor Poo, as they boldly venture into the Secret Intestines of the Universe to discover answers to the most important Digestion Questions … Why do we chew? Why do we fart? Why do cows have so many stomachs? And … what will happen to Ploppy AFTER he’s been flushed?! If you’ve ever used the toilet, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/journey-to-poo-topia-poo-crew-adventures-james-turner?variant=40642344190030

Breakfast Comic Strips

As an exercise I’ve been drawing automatic 'breakfast comic strips' this week - no preplanning, just seeing what comes out.

I usually have extremely vivid dreams & have been suffering from awful anxiety & dread when I wake up in the mornings so this has just been a way to distract myself & to force myself out of it. No rules, but none of them been allowed to have taken more than about 30 minutes to draw (because I have lots of PROPER work to do!) They're extremely variable in quality but I thought some people would be interested to see them. They probably say a lot about my subconscious & obsessions but I'll leave that for you to work out!

Tuesday 10th September

Wednesday 11th September

Thursday 12th September

Friday 13th September

Mr Dilly Presents - Journey To Pootopia

James Turner & me got to be among one of the 'Magnificent 7' authors for a Mr Dilly Presents event on the 12th September which went out to schools from Canada, Nigeria and the Baleareic Islands! 3,000 kids tuned in during the live show!

Along with authors Swapna Haddow, Anna Fargher, Justin Somper, Lucy Strange & Lisa Williams We got to talk about our new book Journey To Pootopia & some of our influences & favourite childhood books too. I also got to do a Professor Poo drawalong for 3000 kids (& managed a few doodles too!)

You can watch again here

 

'Better Than Batman. Steve May.'

(Illustration from 'Supernan's Day Out' by Phil Earle pub Barrington Stoke)

Is this is the BEST HEADLINE EVER?!?! : )

Thanks so much to LoveReading4Kids for featuring me in their Illustrators Spotlight this month where I describe what '4 year old me' might think of 'fifty something year old me's' life choices, influences & the essential mischief of being an illustrator, including drawing poo for a living for my new graphic novel with James Turner Poo Crew Adventures - Journey to Pootopia

https://tinyurl.com/4bfm4wt4