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Retro Wedding Stationery

February 21st, 2013

I’m back at the ‘ancestoral home’ this week and as my dear old Dad is such a hoarder (+ I’m pretty nosey) I usually find some nuggets from the past here. This time I found a box containing some cards from my parents wedding back in ’67.

There are some pretty ‘far out’ greetings card designs in there, reflecting the taste of the era but what I loved most was a telegram card. Check out these lovely stylised illustrations. The work of one Albany Wiseman – a quick Google search comes up with a bit of information on the Curwen gallery site. An illustrator, painter and printmaker for 60 years and hopefully still going strong.

 

Mark Hearld illustrations – My First Book of Nature

February 18th, 2013

I recently bought myself a treat whilst in the fabulous BookNook in Hove. A gorgeous book aimed at kids but certainly a big hit with parents too – ‘My First Book of Nature’ features the gorgeous illustrations of Mark Hearld.

It is also a pleasure to read. The author Nicola Davies has made detailed observations of the changing seasons and the different wildlife to look out for through-out the year. It reminds us of the real natural beauty that is outside our windows – great stuff no matter what your age!

Each page is full of Mark Hearld’s drawings, paintings, collages and printed details. A beautiful mixture of different mark making techniques: some details are pen and ink drawings, painting, there are areas of stencilling and I particularly appreciate the patterns of birds feathers which appear to be lino printed. All these techniques assembled together to make evocative illustrations that will be remembered fondly as the young readers grow up.

My young daughter is only allowed to look at this under my supervision at the moment, but I will let her enjoy ‘mummy’s book’ as she grows up. I’m sure both its words and images will inspire her.

 

My visit to Biba Exhibition – Brighton Museum

February 8th, 2013

My tip for something to do this weekend. Yesterday I visited one of my favourite places Brighton Museum and took a look around their current Biba exhibition. Here I found clothes combining tailored shapes and patterned fabrics I wish I could find in the high street today.

With its cutting edge yet affordable fashion, Barbara Hulanicki’s iconic Biba store and label transformed the High Street shopping experience in the 1960s and 70s. Young working women shopped alongside models and celebrities, including Twiggy, Cher and the Rolling Stones. Art Deco, Victorian and Hollywood glamour all combined in striking, romantic and sensual designs.

I’m not really that interested in fashion in general but I do find exhibits of original period costumes fascinating as they really evoke a sense of the real past and its people. Biba examples are not that old (late 60s/early 70s) but they are still from a very different time. If I had been a young woman back then I would have definitely been shopping there – every aspect of these shops and their stock was so cool!

 

 

Lino print inspiration: Angie Lewin

January 25th, 2013

I was already a huge fan of  print maker Angie Lewin but today, whilst browsing for examples of great quality lino printing, I came across her Flickr set. In it are valuable insights into her working practices and the most beautiful snippets from her sketch books and watercolours.

I think they are simply gorgeous!  My favourite shots are here: I don’t know about you, but I feel inspired all over again and I can’t wait to get experimenting when my lino cutting supplies come in from Fred Aldous!

 

 

New Fiona Howard fabric designs

January 24th, 2013

A little treat in my inbox yesterday – brand new designs from Fiona Howard. These were designed for Sanderson and John Lewis

First is ‘Maple’ for Sanderson – in 4 colourways

 

and also a couple of delightful designs for John Lewis furnishing fabrics

 

 

Printed Valentines ideas…well, gifts in general

January 23rd, 2013

As well as getting your loved one a very special limited edition print from yours truly I thought I’d share my search for that special gift. mainly looking at etsy or folksy for beautiful things of an illustration/print nature

Click on image to get to the full details of each talented artist.


Moira Millman- gocco print

 

Lisa Stubbs – screenprint

Mimi Butler – screenprint

Dee Beale – gocco print

Bernarda Marut – screenprint

Alison Deegan – lino print

I will be adding more selections to my valentines gift pinterest board so do check in again and get inspired!

Designs for National Trust

May 1st, 2012

Some time ago the National Trust approached me for a design they could apply to their gift range. They have just released the product shots and these should be on their shop site this week – here’s a sneak preview….

 

 

 

 

 

Unlimited Editions – ‘I is for India’

April 29th, 2012

New giclée print for Unlimited Editions Open House. I had drawn a peacock intended for a screenprint and thought I could put it into some context so… peacock =  national bird of India + a nice touch of texture + a bit of pattern = vintage travel poster/sticker. This could be the first of a series with more national birds to follow.

 

Unlimited Editions Alphabet

April 18th, 2012

The lovely Sara at Unlimited Editions has invited me to submit a print for their Open House show. The Artist Open House exhibitions are of course part of the annual Brighton Fringe Festival – a chuffing good excuse for a visit to Brighton throughout May. Check their site for the opening times etc, you might also get to meet the very cute resident hound, Honey!

Unlimited’s show is based on letters of the alphabet and I am contributing the letter i. So thinking caps on…something nature-based..beginning with i..hmmm?

Other artists/designers involved include Sean Hennessy, Josie Jo, Jessie Ford and Lucie Sheriden – it promises to be a feast for the eyes!

I’ll show you what I come up with in the next couple of weeks.

 

Summer swifts giclée

April 1st, 2012

All the recent gorgeous weather got me dreaming of balmy summer evenings. This image had been in my sketch book for a couple of years. I always knew it needed too much texture and detail to ever be a screen print so it will be available as a limited edition giclée as of May.

Its working title has been ‘Swallows at Dusk’ but I now know that it is Swifts that fly at dusk during the British summers.

As with the other new giclées, drop me an email if you want to reserve your ‘Summer Swifts’ in the meantime. (£30 each)

 

 

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