Christmas Card 2010

Happy Christmas

&

A Wonderful New Year!

Interview at The Comics Bureau

I was delighted to answer Dan Berry’s questions for his latest ambitious project for The Comics Bureau interviewing comics people which is providing a fantastic daily read and inspiration for me and many others I expect.


So I used it as an opportunity to pepper my answers with pics from Billy Me & You, the graphic novel I am working on for publication in September 2011 by Myriad Editions


So here are some snippets….This is about starting out on my graphic novel project…



here I am later on getting involved in ‘the comics scene’….

And this is from the chapter that covers Billy’s funeral…..

The book is now available to pre-order from Amazon and Waterstones

"The Moment of Privacy has Passed" at The Usher Gallery

This is one fine exhibition …

THE MOMENT OF PRIVACY HAS PASSED
Sketchbooks by Contemporary Artists, Architects and Designers
The Usher Gallery, Lincoln 
11 December 2010 – 6 March 2011

This is the newly built entrance to the Usher Gallery. Its opening coincided with a rehang of the museum’s collection. We stumbled over packed ice on the ground through sub zero temperatures to arrive at the opening of The Moment of Privacy has Passed on 10 December 2010. An exhibition curated by our very own John Plowman. A pipe had burst the previous week at The Usher Gallery and although repaired in time for the opening, the building hadn’t quite warmed up.

As you enter the exhibition, this is what you see, the ‘library zone’ including over 200 sketchbooks on loan from contemporary

artists, architects, designers and makers.  Artist Gwen Tooke has made a performative piece of work, creating a categorisation of the sketchbooks. She will be present during the exhibition. Here is Maggie Warren, the Community Engagement Officer surveying the exhibits before the public came in.

The idea is that the audience can look through the sketchbooks in the library secion and we enjoyed doing this. Sketchbooks have been loaned from around the world, including America and Spain and there was a rich variety of styles to enjoy. I came across one dated 1955.

The exhibition incorporates the conventional modes of display of the cabinet too

Above are sketchbooks by artist Sarah Lightman.

This cabinet included a sketchbook by artist Grayson Perry 

And artist Rebecca Scott 

There was also a cabinet displaying historical works from the museum collection.

John curated the whole family into the exhibition, Here’s the cabinet with my sketchbook, bottom image, officially our family travel journal from our India trip last Christmas, blog entry Feb 2010 Our daughter Sally Plowman’s sketchbook is the concertina one exhibited at a diagonal above mine. It’s a really nice little sketchbook from China. Sally has been making watercolours in it when we go on holiday. The first one was done in Venice in 2005 when she was eight years old. It’s become a really lovely object.

Above is John Plowman’s sketchbook.

Two of my favourites are by illustrators, Dan Berry, above and Tom Gauld, below. Their illustrations are also included in the digital projections in the adjoining room. One of Simon Faithfull’s palm pilots is also displayed in there. Illustrator Jane Hienrichs‘ sketchbook is under Tom Gauld’s. 

Jane had braved the temperamental train service from London to attend the opening, here we are together, Jane on the left.

There was alot to see and enjoy and I heard a number of people saying they will come back, I certainly will. Also there’s an Usher Gallery app which has been created and is just awaiting approval from Apple. As the exhibition continues, there are plans to host it on line and include exhbitors’ biogs. I hope so.

photos by Sally 

Mariage & Dessert

I designed this logo last year for Marie Világhy’s new venture, setting up a business around the perfect wedding venue in France. She recently launched her website and it will make you want to get married just to have the party there…just to GO there….and it’s in France too! 

Marie has everything set up to offer the whole wedding planner thing….SOOOO if you propose or get proposed to over the festive season….have a look….www.mariage-dessert.com

Xmas Cherubs for Children’s Drama Workshops

If you are looking for the best and most fun drama classes for your children (from age 4 – 18 years old) look no further than allsorts drama. This is the company which runs the most exciting and imaginative drama classes for children in London. I have illustrated for them for some years now and their enjoyment and enthusiasm knows no limits. Here are some of the Christmas illustrations I did for for their children’s drama workshops running this Christmas holiday in London. For ages 4 – 11 years old.

And here is an interpretation of the ‘disapproving grannies’ who will feature in some of the Christmas productions put on at the end of the workshops. If you have children book them in now for a fun few days…..www.allsortsdrama.com