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.

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.

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!

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!

First is ‘Maple’ for Sanderson – in 4 colourways

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

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!

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.

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)