Introducing BRAND NEW ILLUSTRATOR: THOMAS SMITH

Click to enlarge

These pictures are nice aren't they?! The top one shows a brave knight battling a FEROCIOUS dragon and below is a very grand castle. They are the work of brand new illustrator Thomas Smith (aged just 6 years old).

Some need to know facts about Thomas:

1. He can rustle up a full colour, stapled together picture books in next to no time especially if you are feeling poorly and need cheering up or if you just seem a long way away. ( My wife and I are both proud owners of some of these masterpieces.)

2. He is an EXPERT on Star Wars, Castles, Knights, aliens and Indianna Jones.

3. He enjoys bouncing on beds and having water fights.

4. He's my Big Nephew*

These pictures were mailed to me on Friday after I asked for something to brighten up my new studio. Watch out publishers and bookstores - there's a new kid in town!

*I have two hilarious nephews and a very lovely, getting-quite-grown-up-now niece. I am a VERY (embarrassingly) proud uncle! Sorry!

Further Mysteries...

More sketchbook images.

The top one is of a little boy I saw last Wednesday in Scarborough Station. He was bundled up against the cold and wasn't really having a very happy time.

The second image is once again a mystery. I'm not sure where this picture came from or what is really going on. All I know is that it's called 'The Surprise Party' and that that house belongs to someone not very nice at all...

In other sketchbook news - my sketchbook has been hijacked by my four year old nephew. I left if on the table at my parent's house over the weekend only to find later that day that a few pages at the back of the book have been doodled on by The Phantom Doodler! I'll post some of his pictures soon!

Happy Birthday Mum!

It's my little Mum's birthday today. I say little Mum because she is very little - I loom over her like the butler in the Adam's Family.  In fact I tend to loom over everyone in my family... I sometimes wonder if  I was adopted by a family of Borrowers and nobody told me....

Anyway...

Happy Birthday Dolores!*

 Jem and I are looking forward to having some cake with you and Pa this weekend! 

(Just make sure it has as much chocolate in it as possible please!)

* My Mum isn't actually called Dolores. I started calling her that when I was about 15 and now no one can remember why... Anyway it's caught on and she quite happily answers to it so that's nice!