My monster from The Big Draw at the Discover Story Centre

Had a great time at the Big Draw event at the Discover Story Centre yesterday, organised by my agents Arena Illustration & thoroughly enjoyed watching other people draw for a change!
Jonny Duddle, Adam Stower & Thomas Flintham all did a fine job & was great to meet author Timothy Knapman who I'm going to be working with on a new book for Scholastic.
(I drew a monster too)

I didn't win a prize. Upstaged by 7 year olds! ; )

Confronting the imaginary fear beast

(he IS imaginary...isn't he?)

'deceived by his monkeys'

I was rather entranced by a quote on Radio 4's In Our Time this morning (or, 'The-Melvyn-Bragg-Clever-Programme' as I like to refer to it, because it always makes me feel at least 33% cleverer by proxy after listening!) referring to Galen*, the Roman physician and medical theorist as being 'deceived by his monkeys' 

*nope, no Roddy McDowell references you ignoramus!

Striped crittur

Striped crittur in slight wardrobe malfunction

Beware giant hogweed!

Walking by the River Tees in Yarm (which is a wonderful name for a town!) I saw a sign warning about the dangers of giant hogweed.

Apparently the reality is slightly less 'hoggy'

Laughing rat

Anyone else find the idea of rats laughing when they play on this morning's Life Scientific on Radio 4 rather enchanting?

Tap-headed villain

Looks like a rum type if you ask me...

(& smoking ain't cool kids)