The Sun Has Got Its Hat On!

Drawn during a spurt of late summer optimism a couple of weeks back when it felt like the summer had come back with a vengeance - feels rather bittersweet right now. I still love the sound of an ice cream van.
Here's the original sketchbook piece drawn on a beautiful September afternoon on a table outside The Nag's Head in Walthamstow, one of my local pubs. I feel like the cold beer & sunglasses rather add to the whole vibe!

 

Two Terrible Vikings!

It was rather exciting to receive the proof of 'Two Terrible Vikings' my collaboration with the brilliant Francesca Simon which is due to be published in February 2021 by Faber Children's.

I'm extremely excited about these books, they were a real joy to draw & prompted many laugh out loud moments while I was working which is always a great sign.
I've become rather fond of the terrible Viking twins Hack & Wack, along with Bitey Bitey their pet wolf cub & their other friends & can't wait to be able to share more with you all!

(& yes, I'm afraid aesthetics won over historic accuracy in regard to the horns on the helmets - my fault! ; )

COVER REVEAL! Albert Johnson & the Buns of Steel

 Here's the cover for my third collaboration with the brilliant Phil Earle Albert Johnson & the Buns of Steel* which is published by Barrington Stoke in January.
I had great fun illustrating this, it's a big colourful action-packed riot, allowing me to reference '50s B-movie posters, 2000ad comic, numerous baked goods & sneaky Half Man Half Biscuit references to boot!

*The title actually came from Phil's eldest son betting him that he couldn't turn a daft title of his choice into a published book & here it is!

Wrestlemania (slight return)

 It's FAR too hot today for wrestling but I've drawn some other people doing it so YOU DON'T HAVE TO! 

(this is originally a pen, ink & wash drawing from my sketchbook which has been coloured & adjusted in Photoshop but I'm never sure who is interested in this bit. I've been having a lot of fun drawing these & adding the special guests in the audience. There's more wrestling here if you want it grapple fans!)

Monkey Tank Museum.

What could possibly go wrong...

Leopard-Shaming.

Leopard-shaming, NB this is an extremely unrealistic leopard, this is why the other rather unrealistic animals are looking on disapprovingly. Say no to (jungle) bullying

The Wrestling

A friend mentioned the wrestling to me the other day - not ANY wrestling but the '70s 'World of Sport' style wrestling which ALWAYS uses the definite article. For some reason it was never just wrestling. It was THE wrestling!
Always reminds me of rainy Saturday afternoons as a child so these memories were whirling through my head when I drew it in my sketchbook. I *might* have taken a little bit of artistic licence (see who you can spot in the crowd!)

I've posted the original sketchbook piece below to give you a little peek behind the whole process. I drew it with a couple of Rotring art pens & a bit of strategic Sharpie. I've added some extra characters in the background digitally but most of the original pen work is still there then the colour was added in Photoshop.

(If you're fascinated by the whole era The Wrestling by Simon Garfield is really worth a read!)