Hey Diddle Diddle

I was asked by Wonky Films to develop an illustration style for a pitch they were developing for CBeebies. The job was to design & animate a series of 10 nursery rhymes in a fun and interesting way, aimed at pre-school children.

I was briefed to produce a couple of sample illustrations to depict a nursery rhyme ( I'm sure you can guess which one) - this is what I came up with. A land/space-scape of abstract letters, with simple 'cut-out'characters.

Unfortunately we didn't win the pitch this time. Shame... would've been a fun project!

Screen Printing

I've had a brilliant day today - the first proper screen printing I've done since college!

Having recently joined Drawn in Bristol a new illustration initiative/collective - Amongst other benefits, I now have access to some great screen printing facilities at the shared studio space in Stokes Croft.

The racing pigeon is an image I came up with a while ago, but thought I would adapt slightly to work as a 2 colour screen print. The print will form part of a collection of work I am putting together to sell at the Drawn in Bristol Pop-Up shop which will open it's doors very soon.

First colour down!:

Second colour:

Close up on the finished image:

























And of course there were a few practice runs and registration issues... these are fun in their own way!

Super-G Returns!

Having spent 12 weeks over the summer moving in and around St Nic's Market, Bristol as part of the Wow!Gorillas project (read down for more information on the project and progress pictures) - At the end of September Super G was sold, along with 59 other gorilla sculptures at a charity auction to raise awareness and money for Bristol Zoo's conservation projects and Bristol Children's Hospital. From the combined sales of all the gorillas the auction raised an amazing £427,000 for the charities.

Super G was actually bought by a trio of partners: St Nicholas Market traders, Destination Bristol and Bristol City Council, and this week has returned to the foyer entrance of the Exchange Market on Corn Street. The partners' intention is that Super G should remain visible to the public as part of the Wow!Gorillas legacy- he is currently back at his 'spiritual home' of St Nic's, but in the coming months Super G may well become a roving ambassador for Bristol and visit other parts of the city centre.

Paul Sawyer, one of the original traders to sponsor Super G commented "Throughout the summer Super G was super fun. Shoppers loved his bright, colourful presence and he became the market's mascot. We are all delighted to have Super G back!"

Super G - in location

Here is my gorilla "Super G" in position at St Nick's market!

High up on top of one of the stalls in the covered market is his first placing, though I believe he will be moving around within the market over the next 10 weeks to link in with weekly competitions to win £50 shopping vouchers.

Read down for previous postings to find out more about the Wow! Gorillas project and progress pictures of Super G in the making.

Also a map is available showing the locations of all 60 Wow! Gorillas... download it here

Gorilla Watch: Update #3 The Completion

Brilliant day today.

Having done 3 coats of matte varnish at intervals over the last week or so, I was finally able to collect the skis from being cast, and get them fixed onto Super G - Downhill Racer

Slightly un-dignified, pre ski-fit:

and then back on his feet, complete with skis...

The skis were cast in resin with aluminium powder added to give them their super-shiny metallic look.

What an amazing project to be a part of. It has been great fun, a steep learning curve and pretty stressful at times, but I'm really pleased with the outcome which is very very close to the original design. To re-cap my concept which I submitted in January this year:

"Super G is King of the mountains and big hills, a racing champion on the Alpine ski circuit. Off-season he gets his thrills where he can, and for whatever reason this summer he finds himself in Bristol. From the top: Blackboy Hill/Whiteladies Road/Park Street is an exhilerating walk in the park for this downhill supremo... WATCH HIM GO...!"

From the 4th of July this is one of around 60 gorilla sculptures which will be placed around Bristol for 10 weeks as part of the Zoo's 175 year anniversary celebrations and to raise awareness of their conservation projects. Super-G has been sponsored by Bristol City Council, specifically St Nick's Market, which is where he will be sited for the duration of the event.

For further information on Wow!Gorillas and to see some of the other Gorillas that have been produced have a look at the Wow! Gorillas facebook page... 

Huge thanks go to Alec Walker, and Lisa & Mark of Plenderleith Scantlebury (www.plenderleithscantlebury.com) for their advice & assistance in the making and casting of the skis. Also to Joe Allotey, the Maintenance Manager at Bristol Zoo for coming along to fit them for me.

Gorilla Watch: Update #2

The painting is finished now, I just have to do a few coats of varnish, and the small matter of fitting him with some skis...

here are some photos of the nearly finished Super G...

I had a really good day on friday and painted on all the logo/stitch details etc.

And now have applied a first undercoat of varnish, a spray coat of clear Plasti-kote to seal the paint before applying the final UV acrylic varnish. That's the plan anyway...

I'm pretty pleased with the way his face turned out - opted for a grey, old man alpine look, rather than the traditional gorilla black. Has to be said that his eyes have a certain concentrated stare.

though it has been said he looks like he's been out on the piste...    ha!

It's been a journey, been fun, but will be glad when he's finished. next week the skis...

Gorilla Watch: Update #1

Having been commissioned to do a Gorilla for the Wow!Gorillas project (see earlier post to find out what it's all about) I am really pleased to have now started painting it.

My Gorilla is called 'Super-G' - Downhill Racer. here are my designs, which i'm excited to now be implementing...

My first sighting of the gorillas at the communal painting space, all wrapped up...

My first task was to make some templates for the skis. I'm having some help with making these, they will be cast in resin, and given a metallic finish.

Then to sketch the design on the gorilla, which was trickier than i had imagined, transferring a 2d design to a 3d and very curvy shape.

<< And the first paint colour goes on.

<< First bit of blue

And this is as far as I've got. Am pleased with how it's looking, but going to need a second coat to make sure there's no white or pencil lines showing through.

Have decided to keep his face a bit paler than in the original design so it will feel a bit more alpine and snowy. this is just the first colour, obviously needs some building up..

...just a little bit scary without any eyes!

Will post up more pictures to chart progress as it happens.

Skull logo

This is a design i did recently for a new kids brand. Wasn't quite what the client was after, i still like it...

Oh GOSH Project - Catchin'Stars!

This is my submission for the Oh GOSH project and is titled Catchin' Stars.

The project  has been organised by Jason Smith (aka Armadilloboy) to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital through the creation of a colouring book and colouring-in posters.

The brief was to create an illustration involving humans and animals doing fun stuff together, but the image had to be drawn using shapes only. This image will be printed up as an A3 colouring poster and will be available to buy along with the colouring book and range of other posters created by a bunch of great established and up-coming illustrators.

Find out more here: www.ohgoshproject.com

WOW!Gorillas

I was very excited to hear last week that the design I had submitted to the Wow!Gorillas event had been commissioned.


For 10 weeks in the summer this year, around 50 life-size gorilla sculptures will inhabit the streets of Bristol, showcasing the wealth of artistic talent in the area, while highlighting the significant conservation threat facing wild gorillas and how the Bristol business community can make a difference. The event also coincides with the 175 year celebrations of Bristol Zoo.


The brief was simply to take a blank, white 5ft tall gorilla sculpture and produce a design of how you would decorate it.


My gorilla is "Super G - Downhill Racer"


Watch this space to see his progress, can't wait to start on the actual sculpture!