Matt Millz on BBC Breakfast

Inspired by letters from kids who want to follow in his footsteps @HarryHill's written about a boy who wants to be a stand-up comedian 📖 🎤 pic.twitter.com/J6IjJtWldq

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) October 12, 2017

Harry Hill reading from his new book Matt Millz on BBC Breakfast today with lashings of lovely illustrations by me!

The Night Knight

My second collaboration with the brilliant Timothy Knapman The Night Knight is out now published by Oxford University Press. I previously illustrated Silly Name For A Monster for Tim

When Jake is woken by odd noises at night & is scared the Night Knight appears to help but will the Knight help Jake or will Jake end up helping the Knight?
You can buy a copy here

Cover reveal! Matt Millz by Harry Hill

Here's a look at the cover for comedian Harry Hill's new book Matt Millz which I recently finished illustrating.
I had great fun illustrating this hilarious story of Matt Millz' attempts to become the youngest stand up comedian in the world & will reveal more when it's published (promise!)

It's published on19th October by Faber & Faber & you can pre-order from here

This Book Isn't Safe!

I recently produced some illustrations for YouTuber Colin Furze's first book 'This Book Isn't Safe!' published by Puffin.
If you've ever wondered how to make concrete shoes? Or how to build your own downhill trike? Or how to tidy your room in three seconds using a lever? Then this is the book for you!

Escape From Planet Bogey published today!

Get your tissues at the ready because today sees the publication of Escape from Planet Bogey the third of the Pet Defenders series by the hilarious Gareth P Jones & illustrated by me. 

There's six books in total so this is the half way point of the series. 

The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 

2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. 

GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... Animals are disappearing from Nothington-on-Sea and the Pet Defenders suspect alien activity.

Secret agents Biskit and Mitzy find themselves caught up in the Planet Bogey Games.

Biskit suspects the contest might hold the key to finding his missing partner, Champ.

Can our heroes win the game? And what's more, can they get back home after?

You can order online it from here or even better get down to your local bookshop & get a copy from there!

As you can imagine I got through a fair amount of tissues during this extremely snotty job!

Beards From Outer Space - published today!

It's BEARDAGEDDON! Beards From Outer Space the second in the Pet Defenders series by Gareth P Jones & illustrated by me is out today May 4th published by Little Tiger Press!

'The Secret Life of Pets meets The X Files - Pet Defenders are secret agents with a difference.

The humans of Nothington-on-Sea have no idea their sleepy seaside town is a hot spot for space invasions, and it's up to secret agents Biskit and Mitzy to keep it that way.

So when an army of alien beards arrive, the Pet Defenders need to act fact...If the Beard King gets his way, soon every living chin will be under his control'

For the making of this book I undertook some dangerous excursions into 'peak beard territory' by sitting in various fancy coffee shops in the badlands of Shoreditch & Dalston et al to risk life & limb by sketching various beards in their natural habitats to bring you the hirsute illustrative glory of this book. I hope you appreciate the kind of risks an illustrator like me selflessly exposes myself to on a regular basis to bring you these artworks!

 

Superdad's Day Off

 Superdad's Day Off by Phil Earle with illustrations by me is out now published by Barrington Stoke.

"Stanley is a normal little boy, whose dad just happens to be the greatest superhero on the planet. Six days a week, Dad saves the world from disasters, aliens, and bad guys. Friday is his day off and he always spends it with Stan. But one Friday, Dad and Stan meet a series of people desperately in need of Dad’s help! Soon Stan finds himself saving a lion stuck up a tree, rescuing a monster truck from a ditch and taking on shark-infested floodwaters. That’s right: Stan is a chip off the old (superhero) block!"

Was an absolute blast to illustrate & I'm pleased with how well it's come out, here's a few bits & pieces from the book.

It's Beardageddon!

As it's #NationalPetDay I thought I'd share a preview of the second Pet Defenders book Beards from Outer Space by Gareth P Jones & illustrated by me 

'There's a new mayor of Nothington-on-Sea and the bearded, sunglass-wearing politician has attracted a whole load of fans.

Soon everyone in the town is sporting a beard - even the women!

But these are not just any beards - the Beard King is in town and he's planning to conquer the world.'

It's out on Star Wars day (May the fourth be with you! Ouch!)

(Here is a picture of me with a rather feeble excuse for a beard but I rock the sunglasses ok!)

Superdad's Day Off (sneak preview)

Shhhhh! Here's a sneak preview of Superdad's Day Off by the very funny Phil Earle with lots of nice colour pictures by me. It's published by Barrington Stoke on the 15th April & you can pre-order it here.
I'll write & post more once it's published. I've got previous form with superheroes so was BIG fun to illustrate!

Pet Defenders published TODAY!

Pet Defenders - Attack of the Alien Dung written by the very funny Gareth P Jones with illustrations by me is published today (9th February) by Stripes. It's the first in a brand new series in which an unlikely pairing of pets Mitzy & Biskit protect Earth from an assortment of invading aliens. 

'The planet is under attack and it’s up to Pet Defenders, Mitzy the cat and Biskit the dog, to save the world but first they are going to have to stop fighting like cat and dog long enough to do it! Secret agent Biskit is really not happy that his new partner Mitzy is a cat – everyone knows that the two don’t mix. But saving the Earth must come first when the planet is being invaded.' 


In the words of the author "It's basically Men in Black meets Dogs & Cats meets Dempsey & Makepeace with a giant space beetle made out of cowpats." which was obviously music to my ears when it came to illustrating it, giving me the chance to draw lots animals & aliens which are some of my favourite things (& drawing poo is ALWAYS fun, right kids?)

You can buy it here or if you're lucky enough to have a good local book shop go & say hello to them & buy one there. There's also a theme tune performed by the great Mr Jones which you can listen to here!

Pet Defenders - Attack of the Alien Dung!

I just received my copy of the first in the series of the Pet Defenders books - 'Attack of the Alien Dung' written by the very funny Gareth P Jones & published by Stripes. It's out on the 9th February so will share more info & pictures then. It's been a lot of fun to illustrate & I've just finished working on book 2 so plenty more to come, I also get a PROPER credit which is very welcome! 

Aidan Abet - Teacher's Pet

The very funny 'Aidan Abet Teacher's Pet' by award winning author Guy Bass & illustrated by me is published today by Barrington Stoke.

I enjoyed working on this immensely & always great to get to grips with a really nasty villain, the sinister Miss Vowel (& I always love a bear in glasses!)

You can get your grubby mitts on it here or even better, get off the interweb & go to your local independent bookshop & buy it there (that's ALWAYS more fun!)

'Aidan Abet loves to help the teacher. It makes him popular with the teachers but very unpopular with everyone else. But when substitute Miss Vowel strides into school with a rather unusual mini-zoo, Aidan has a choice to make – he can listen to the animals, or he can become the Ultimate Teacher’s Pet.'

Happy drummer for World Smile Day!

Intergalactic Rock Star Monster!

I drew this intergalactic rock star monster (with a bit of a Bowie penchant) especially for the lovely folk at the Discover Children's Story Centre to hang on the wall as part of a collection of portraits by different illustrators to coincide with their recent refurbishment & relaunch.
I was first  involved with Discover back in 2012, designing their Superheroes exhibition & am always so impressed by the place & with the dedication & love the whole team put into it. It's a brilliant place to visit!

‎National Book Lovers Day‬!

Celebrate #‎NationalBookLoversDay‬! by treating yourself to an extra pair of eyes for even MORE book-y goodness! 

August, dinosaurs & ice cream

Dinosaurs AND ice cream!?!? What a combo! The August 2016 page for my agents Arena Illustration 

Tigers in lipstick

Well, when National Lipstick Day collides with International Tiger Day what's a guy going to do?
(many thanks to my lovely friend Alicia for suggesting this!)