May Festival!

No, not the (Steve) May festival, but lovely to see my Dennis the Menace illustrations on the posters for the Shrewsbury Bookfest !

Hastings Independent Artist Profile

I was extremely flattered (& blushing) by Kate Renwick's lovely artist's profile which was featured in issue 25 of the Hastings Independent.
As some of you might know, I was born in Hastings & spent my childhood & teenage years there & the article was published immediately prior to my band Das Fluff's incredibly enjoyable gig in Hastings on the 20th March.
It was the first time I've played back in Hastings for many years (we'll draw a veil over how many!) so was a particularly special gig to me.

Diary of Dennis the Menace - Canine Carnage cover

Sneak preview of the cover for 'Canine Carnage' the fifth in the very funny Diary of Dennis the Menace series written by Steven Butler & illustrated by me.
Publication date 2nd July 2015

(Wondering if I can swing a free Flying V or Explorer guitar from Gibson for my product placement...hmmm...)

Thursday monster time!

In a long tradition going back at least since I just drew this here's your Thursday monster!

Like monsters? Like facts? Go to here NOW!

World Menace (Book) Day 2015

I've been pleased to illustrate a special edition of Diary of Dennis the Menace written by the very funny Steven Butler especially for World Book Day (or World Menace Day as Dennis has decided to rebrand it!) 

A few weeks ago I also took part in a Puffin Virtually Live event where the audience got two Stevens for the price of one, (myself & Mr Butler!) tips on dressing up as Dennis for school on World Book Day itself & I explain how to draw your very own Gnasher! Lots of fun! 

Here's a sneak preview of Dennis' Blobzilla costume I drew for World Book (I mean Menace) Day...

(design by Mandy Norman)

Monster Facts #13

Monsters don't generally let the 'this is extremely uncomfortable' factor get in the way of a good hiding place.

More Monster Facts? Go here

Bash Street Bandits - Puffin Virtually Live

Had great fun this afternoon drawing for the Puffin Virtually Live event for the publication of the new Diary of Dennis the Menace book at Sadlers Wells with charming Dennis the Menace author Steven Butler & former Blur Peter presenter the lovely Helen Skelton. (ok, it's very childish of me but that's BLUE PETER! So cool!)

I got to demonstrate to the audience the fine art of drawing Dennis' best friend, the one and only Gnasher with some great audience results too! (might be out of a job if I'm not careful!) Here's a couple I managed to get photos of.

Dennis the Menace - Bash Street Bandit!

Somebody out there is OUT-MENACING THE PRANKMASTER GENERAL! Dennis the Menace has to use all his super secret agent detective skills to find this Bash Street Bandit & prove to everybody that he's the most menacing menace of all Beanotown!

The 4th book in the Diary of Dennis the Menace series 'Bash Street Bandit!' written by Steven Butler & illustrated by me is out today (Thursday 5th February)
There's some detective work...

...& a healthy dose of burping & farting

Tiger pants

Nothing as joyful as pants on a tiger in its natural habitat!

Tyrannosaurus slide!

NB Dinosaurs are not too hot on sharing or taking turns (& watch your ice cream!) 

Malevolent menace (with raygun) part 2

This is going to be some lucky kid's present this year (the picture, not the raygun!)
(Dennis the Menace & Gnasher © D C Thomson Ltd)

Pizza time

NB This is an humorous picture for the purpose of amusement. Please refrain from feeding pizza to your pets.

Why witches have black cats...

Bash Street Bandits!

I'm currently in the middle of drawing the inside illustrations for this for this but here's a sneak peek at the cover for the next Diary of Dennis the Menace book 'Bash Street Bandit!' written by Steven Butler & published by Puffin Books & will be in the shops in February 2015!

Dinosaur hiding in ice cream van (slight return)

Where else would you hide if you were a Brontosaurus* at the seaside?

*I know, there's no such thing as a Brontosaurus see previous Apatosaurus post

Disclaimer : Occasionally my detractors take issue with accuracy / plausibility of some of my images & with this one I will hold up my hands & admit that Fab lollies & Sky Rays were probably made by different ice cream firms so might not really co-exist within the same van. I am extremely sorry if anyone is offended*

*apart from creationists who spoil dinosaurs for EVERYONE!

Illustrators for War Child

I'm pleased to be included in  a charity illustration auction organised by the lovely Leigh Hodgkinson to raise money for War Child a charity who provide life-changing support to the most vulnerable children whose families, communities and schools have been torn apart by war.

A group of talented illustrators (most of whom are children's book illustrators) have generously donated their artwork for this cause. Work in this auction ranges from signed prints, original artwork, signed books, and other wonderful items.

You can find out more at the website & you can bid for the artwork here It's for a very good cause - happy bidding!

This is my offer which is an ORIGINAL & SIGNED (yep, I can write my name too!) pen & ink drawing called 'Ketchup?' which you can bid for here

Happy (rainy) Monday!

Seemed apt today somehow, please come back summer!

Cats, trumpets, elephants & more...

These new prints were designed & drawn specifically for a private commission recently - lots of fun to draw & incorporate certain specific references in the artwork to personalise them.
They also happen to have some of my favourite things in them, elephants, cats, penguins, balloons & pizza (in no particular order)

Let there be drums!

Monster Facts #10

Monster Fact : Monsters do not receive mandatory holiday pay & rarely take time off - it is considered wise not to disturb them when they do*

*This also applies to freelance illustrators, crocodiles et al. Dogs, as EVERYBODY knows have Wednesday afternoons off.