Collaboration with So Typical Me

As an illustrator, there is nothing more fun than seeing your work on actual physical products. I love how these journals featuring my colourful houses have turned out. I’ve collaborated So Typical Me on arrange of four planners, inspired by colourful southern European buildings, and guaranteed to bring a bit of sunshine to your desk! I really love seeing work go straight from my sketchbook onto a product and I’m so happy with how these have turned out. You can find out more about the collection here.

A Calamity of Mannerings - Illustrating a Book Cover

I just wanted to share one of my of my recent commissions, illustrating the cover and interior spots for A Calamity of Mannerings by Joanna Nadin, and share a little bit about that process. 

A publisher got in contact with me asking me to illustrate a book cover and several black and white spot illustrations for a book they described as I Capture the Castle meets Bridgerton. I love this era of literature, so this was the perfect project for me! Initially they wanted the cover to show the three sisters. I used the WebCam on my computer to take reference photos of myself in different poses, and referenced those to sketch the cover. I sketched cover in procreate on my iPad, as this allowed me to sketch directly on top of the book cover layout created by the designer, and allowed me to sketch each element in a separate layer. This meant I could move the characters around and see how they were going to interact with the text. 

The publisher then decided to go in a different direction and wanted to just show the main character with her suitors. I took photos of my husband in the poses that I needed as a reference photos (I’ve been strictly forbidden from showing those photos to anyone!). Because I was sketching in procreate it was really easy to remove the two sisters and add in the two male characters. Once this was approved I did a very rough colour mock up to check they were on board with the colour palette. 

I then created the final artwork. The colour is all hand-painted with watercolours, but the line work is added digitally, which makes it look very clean and fresh. We weren’t sure if we wanted some of the line work to be gold embossed, which is why we wanted to have all the line work on a separate layer.  I don’t normally use black lines work in my work, but I think in the context of a book cover, where you need to grab peoples attention and stand out on a bookshelf, it really works.

The book has just come out and I’m so pleased with how it’s turned out. The designer did a beautiful job, and the book itself is getting rave reviews.

Art Retreat in Portugal

SOLD OUT -I am so excited to announce my next painting retreat! I will be teaching a Mixed Media Sketchbook Retreat at the beautiful Sofia in Monsaraz retreat centre in Portugal from 18 (Thursday) to 22 (Monday) April 2024. During this getaway you will learn to create loose, mixed paintings in your sketchbook, inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Sofia in Monsaraz.

I will teach you how to combine different materials, like gouache, coloured pencil, and pastels, how to paint on location, overcome perfectionism and work in a loose expressive way, how to capture landscapes and still lives, as well as an in-depth class on colour theory. This retreat is perfect for both complete beginners and artists looking to improve their skills, and professionals looking to revive their creativity and recharge. You will come away inspired and refreshed, with a full sketchbook, new skills and new friends.

The retreat includes 6 art classes, wine tasting, tea tasting, yoga, meals and transport from Lisbon airport. Art materials, flights and travel insurance are not included. To make your reservation or to ask any questions email info@sofiainmonsaraz.site. You can read the full itinerary for trip and find out more about the venue and accommodation on the website. You can also watch my video here to find out more.

Testimonials for Emma

"I’m a bit lost for words on how transformational this retreat has been for me. It’s been an honour and privilege to learn from such an amazing and yet humble artist such as Emma. Her guidance, feedback, lessons, tips and tricks have been invaluable, she’s helped me overcome my fear of producing art, my main objective for coming on this retreat, moreover she’s highlighted my love for creating art! I’m very excited to bravely embark on the next chapter of my art journey once I return. She’s giving me the toolset to overcome failures and produce work that I’m proud of!"

"It’s been an honour to learn from Emma in person, I can hardly express my gratitude for the knowledge she has shared, the spark to draw and paint has been reignited!"

"It’s been such a well thought out, wonderful week of friendship, sharing and inspiration. I can’t wait for the next one!"

"Thank you for sharing your gifts with us this week! I’ve learnt so much and have a renewed joy for painting and a new love for gouache. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and the rest of the ladies. The retreat has been unforgettable and I’m looking forward to the next one!"

Testimonial for Sofia in Monsaraz

“This is a magical place with a wonderful host and hostess. The location has to be seen to be believed. A rural idyll with some great sights and restaurants nearby. The food was amazing - local produce, freshly cooked and abundant. The spirit and nurturing environment is the best location for a retreat be it artistic, creative or corporate team building and coaching. Perfect in every way. “

"Sofia In Monsaraz is more than a retreat center, it is a wonderful and wholesome life experience. No detail is too small for Sofia. She is kind and generous and wants to make sure that you feel nurtured and at home. Beautiful nature, fresh vegetables, delicious local cuisine, and excellent facilities for conducting a variety of retreats.

Art Retreat in Valencia

I’ve been back from my art retreat for just over a week and I’m still on a high from what an incredible experience it was, still busily working in my sketchbook recording my memories and making the most of all the inspiration. It’s hard to even know where to start. At the end of April I taught a week long art retreat with UpTrek just outside Valencia Spain with a wonderful group of women and we all had a magical time. During the week we focused on sketching and painting on location, using mixed media, developing a sketchbook practice, understanding colour theory, and capturing people. The week included day trips where we sketched on location in Valencia old town in the City of Arts and Sciences, as well as lots of time spent at the venue where I taught masterclasses and everybody had a chance to work in their sketchbooks and ask for help and advice.

For me as a teacher it was truly an honour to see my student’s work transformed in that week. I’ve done a lot of teaching before, but usually just for a couple of hours, maximum one day. It was really incredible to see students develop as artists, and for me as a teacher to be able to respond to them in real time and tailor the retreat to make sure they got the most out of it that they possibly could. I could see that for many of my students perfectionism and fear of making a mistake was holding them back. Some of my students were spending a really long time sketching and not painting, and when they did paint they were scared to add bold tonal contrast and texture. I took everybody to the Umbracle, a botanical garden in The City Arts and Sciences, and challenged everybody to do a 10 minute painting of a tree. Everybody picked a palm tree or an orange tree, gathered their materials, and then they add 10 minutes to paint it. And that was when the magic happened. People who had previously spent hours agonising over a painting, suddenly painted something beautiful in just 10 minutes, sometimes less. It’s amazing how the time restraint made people bolder and encouraged them to trust their own instincts. Everybody was amazed by what they had created! We did this exercise a few times and it was such a big breakthrough moment for people.

I also loved sharing my passion for painting on location. It was something that most people hadn’t done before, but sitting together painting, chatting, sharing materials and sipping on an orange juice or a Horchata and just felt so natural and people produced beautiful work imbued with memory and atmosphere. Valencia itself is such an incredibly beautiful city and was the perfect place to paint and gather inspiration.

For me the most wonderful thing about this trip, on top of seeing everyone’s artistic development, was how much everybody bonded and what a lovely group it was. We all had so much fun! Every evening at 7 we all gathered to share our sketchbooks over a glass of cava and a canapé. It was a real highlight for everyone. A favourite moment was going to see a flamenco show in Valencia, and our wonderful host Laura teaching us all some flamenco moves before we went. We had such a wonderful time! On the last night the venue hosts surprised me with a little book which they had asked all of my students to write a message in. It was so lovely it made me cry! And a few of my students got a little bit teary eyed as well.
A lot of people have been asking me if I will teach another retreat, and the answer is I would love to! I’m already making plans for next year, so watch this space, and sign up to my newsletter to be the first to hear about any new retreats.

My beautiful students looking very proud of their final pieces.

2022 Round up

I’ve done a little recap of the year because I wanted to take a moment to look back on the projects I’ve completed. I often find that when I’m working on a project I can’t share it because it’s top-secret, and then by the time the work comes out I’m onto something else, so often I forget to even share the work that I’ve done! So it’s nice to look back and reflect on a year full of book covers, greetings cards, editorial illustration, books and online courses. I have decided to divide this round up into seasons, becuaes I honestly cannot remember what I did last year and month by month!

Spring

The biggest thing that happened in spring was my third art book, Watercolour Life, came out! I had been working on this book throughout lockdown, my pregnancy and those early newborn days, so to see it out in the world but like a big achievement! It’s had a really lovely response from readers and reviewers, with some lovely magazine features.  In spring we also took our first family holiday abroad to Mallorca. It was our first time travelling post pandemic and post baby, and we had a lovely time. I even managed to do some painting. Spring also saw the launch of a collection of illustrated floral brownies with The Blushing Cook. Spring also sought the publication of Toujours La France, the third book by Janine Marsh about her life in France, and the third book that I have illustrated the cover for.

Summer

Summer was an exciting season for me. The Further Adventures of Miss Petitfour was published, a children’s book by Anne Michaels that I had illustrated. I illustrated the first Miss Petitfour book, so it was wonderful to be able to return to the character and spend some more time in her world. Like Watercolour Life, I worked on this book whilst pregnant and looking after a small baby, so it felt like a real achievement. Summer also saw the launch of my Domestika course! This was filmed in the spring and launched a few months later, and I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the response. Six months I’ve had nearly 7000 students and 99% positive reviews. I even got highlighted by Domestika as the most successful new course of the quarter. For me the most awarding thing has been seeing my students at work and to be able to interact with them on the phone and give them feedback and advice. I also worked in another book cover, for a YA novel called A Calamity of Mannerings, which will be out next year. I also worked on some greetings cards with a big US retailer that will be available next year. 

Autumn

In early autumn we visited some friends in Norway, which was a really inspiring trip and I managed to do some painting and drawing in my sketchbook. At this point behind-the-scenes I was busy working on a new book, which will be out in 2024! I can’t share too much about it now, but I am really excited and it’s something slightly different for me. Autumn also saw the launch of my collaboration with Wimperis Embroidery. We created a beautiful embroidery kits that combined watercolour and embroidery with an autumnal theme. I also got some samples of greetings cards that I worked on earlier in the year, which are available in Trader Joes in the US.

Winter

In winter I was still busily working on my new book behind-the-scenes, and also working on some illustrated maps for another book that is coming out in 2023. I also developed and designed my very own gouache sketchbook, something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. For awhile I’ve been searching for the perfect sketchbook, so I decided to design one myself and I love using them! You can purchase one in my online shop. At this time I was also very busy behind-the-scenes preparing for my upcoming house move. We moved out of our London flat and into our new house just before Christmas, meaning I’m starting a new year in a new house in a brand new studio. 

So what is to come next year? I’m almost finishing writing a new book, however that won’t be out until 2024. I am very excited about teaching my first art retreat in Spain next year. (There are still a few places available, by the way!) I’m really hoping that this year I will have more time to focus on my sketchbook and coming up with new ideas. My big goal is to work on a children’s book! It’s been a dream for such a long time and now feels like the right time. 

The Perfect Gouache Sketchbook

If you follow my work on Instagram, or read this blog you probably know that I love working in a sketchbook! However for awhile I’ve been searching for the perfect gouache sketchbook, and when I couldn’t find one I decided to design my own!

A5 in size with beautiful heavyweight white paper with a subtle texture perfect for gouache. The pages are thick enough that it holds paint well without it bleeding through to the other side meaning you can work on both sides of the paper. The paper is bright white with a subtle texture and the sketchbook is soft back and saddlestitched, which makes it really easy to scan and reproduce your work. There are two specially designed covers, both of which are fun, colourful and cute. I didn’t want the artwork on the cover to detract from the artist’s own artwork inside the sketchbook, but at the same time I wanted the sketchbooks to be really cute and to be instantly recognisable as an Emma Block sketchbook, hopefully I’ve found that balance! I’m so so excited to see what people create with them!

Painting Retreat in Spain

I am very very excited to invite you to join me on a week long luxury painting retreat in Valencia, Spain! If you’ve been following me for awhile you know how much I love painting, travel and painting on location, so hosting this retreat is an absolute dream for me.

We will be focusing on painting and drawing in our sketchbooks whilst in Spain, using a mixed media approach with watercolour, gouache, coloured pencils and pastels.

The retreat will include lots of drawing on location in Valencia old town, on the beach, and at the beautiful villa, as well as masterclasses from me covering everything from drawing people to colour theory. We will be staying at a stunning private villa with a pool and spa, just five minutes from the beach, with gourmet chef made meals and amazing Spanish wine. The whole week is going to such a treat and real feast for the senses. This retreat is perfect for all skill levels, whether you’re a total beginner or even a professional looking to relax and reignite their creativity. The retreat will run from the 23rd to 30th of April 2023.

There is a risk free COVID-19 refund policy. See more details here. It is limited to 15 guests, you can find more details about the trip and accommodation here. This is more than just a painting workshop, it is a unique week-long experience and a chance to travel, make new friends and incredible memories. Find out more details and reserve your space here. If you have any questions feel free to directly contact Uptrek.

I am so excited about this and I hope some you can join me!

Exploring Neocolor Pastels

A couple of weeks ago I bought a set of Neocolor wax pastels from Caran d'Ache after seeing lots of people use them on Instagram. I really enjoyed the consistency and feel of them, but the selection of colours definitely wasn’t doing it for me. I always find a rainbow selection of pencils or pastels really uninspiring and usually try to buy colours individually. There’s something about that standard rainbow selection that just doesn’t work for me, every colour is really bright, really intense and they’re all fighting with each other. To me a good colour palette should have subtleties, colours that are bright and muted, light and dark, and warm and cool.

So I was very excited to try the Neocolor collaboration with Beya Rebai. The collaboration consists of two sets of specially chosen Neocolor pastels, one in warm tones and one in cool tones. I bought both and they are so lovely to use. So many beautiful subtle colours and endless colour palettes that can be created by mixing and matching both sets. Very cleverly the cool set includes a warm pink and red to provide contrast and the warm set has a zesty yellow and a deep grey to provide some balance. I did a little swatch of each colour first, then played around putting some different colour pallets together. I then decided to do a couple of little sketches testing out the capabilities. I’m so pleased with how these poppies turned out, they feel so vibrant and free, you can just see them blowing in the wind. I’m really excited to see how I can combine these with watercolour and gouache, incorporating them into my style, and also adding a freshness to my sketchbook.

Gouache Sketchbook Online Course with Domestika

I am very excited to announce that I have a brand-new online course available with Domestika!! I’ve been working on this course with Domestika for quite some time and filmed it in their beautiful Islington studio earlier in the year. This course is all about one of my favourite things, working with gouache in a sketchbook! We look at using gouache, creating different consistencies of paint, creating textures, using different types of brush, colour theory as well as selecting reference photos, sketching and creating a final piece. We also look at how to scan, edit and reproduce your work, and even how to add hand lettering. I had so much fun filming this course and I am so excited to share the magic of working in a sketchbook with gouache with you!

You can watch the trailer to find out more.

Gouache Techniques for Sketchbook Illustration - A course by Emma Block from Domestika on Vimeo.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in click here to sign up at a special discount price, the course will be going live in one weeks time.

Filming this course was a really big deal for me as it was my first time being away from Herbie for that length of time. Just two weeks before he had been in hospital after a serious allergic reaction, so I was pretty anxious about the whole thing, but in the end I missed him way more than he missed me, which is usually the way with kids. I had so much fun making your course and I really hope you enjoy it.

A Feature in Art Supplies by Uppercase

My work has been featured in the beautiful new book Art Supplies, by Uppercase magazine. If you haven’t heard of them, Uppercase produce beautiful magazines and books focused on arts and crafts. This encyclopedia is packed with interviews from artists and artisans who are all united by a deep love of art materials. The photography in the book is just gorgeous, so many luscious colours and textures! It’s such an honour to be included. I love that this close-up photo of my crusty and trusty enamel paint palette has an entire page to itself. Here is a little excerpt from the interview with me. You can buy a copy here.

Here is a little excerpt from the interview with me. 

‘Dipping between the two gives Emma options, depending on what feel she is after: "People often ask me how I choose which one I use for a project, but I just have a sort of gut feeling. They both have such unique personalities. I find watercolours to be soft, romantic, light and delicate on the page. They can feel modern and fresh, or slightly traditional."
Gouache, on the other hand, plays nicely with other art supplies: “Gouache has a much bolder character; you can create such a richness of colour and texture, and it works so well with other mediums like coloured pencils. I love the versatility of gouache, the variety of textures that can be created and how you can control it with square and angled brushes. I also love the immediacy of it; gouache is quite a forgiving medium and will work well on most papers or sketchbooks, unlike watercolours which are a little bit more fussy.”’

New Book -The Further Adventures of Miss Petitfour

She is back! I am so excited to announce that Miss Petitfour is back for another adventure! Haven’t heard of her? Let me introduce her, Miss Petitfour is a lover of adventures, tiny cakes and long words, she has sixteen cats and flies through the sky with a magical tablecloth.

I was so honoured to be asked to illustrate the second volume of Miss Petitfour stories. I can’t believe it’s been six years since the first book came out! It was so lovely to get reacquainted with Miss Petitfour and her sixteen cats again and immerse myself in her world. Anne Michael has once again written the most beautifully whimsical and wonderful stories, and it was an honour to bring them to life. The Further Adventures of Miss Petitfour is coming out this summer! I will be posting some sneak peaks of my favourite illustrations in the next couple of months.

New book -Watercolour Life

I am so, so excited to announce my new book, Watercolour Life! Back in 2020 when the world went into lockdown so many people turned to creativity to keep themselves occupied and to sooth their anxious minds. I was overwhelmed by incredible messages from people telling me how painting had helped them through these tough times. It was clear that it was time for a second watercolour book.

I worked on this book in and out of lockdown, throughout my pregnancy and during Herbie’s early days; it is a true labour of love. It brings together everything people loved about The Joy of Watercolour and teaches you lots of new skills and techniques with 40 beautiful projects to paint. I’m so proud of this book and I hope you love it too! It is available to buy now. Below are some of my favourite projects from the book.

New Book - Slow Travel Journal

Slow Travel, a guided journal written and illustrated by me is now out! The journal is packed with thoughtful prompts and watercolour illustrations. The irony of publishing a travel journal in a global pandemic isn’t lost on me. But if there is one thing we’ve all learnt during the pandemic it's finding joy in the little things, which is what this book is all about. The great thing about mindful travel is it’s about slowing down and making memories, even if you’re not travelling very far at all. I know this year most of us will just be travelling within our own country, state, or even our own neighbourhood, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be magical. This fully illustrated guided journal is full of prompts to help you record all the little details that made it special, including spaces to sketch and collect tickets and tokens. I absolutely loved working on this book, it feels like such a love letter to travel, and I hope you like it too.

Petit Pleasures design for Papier

Papier asked me to create a fun illustrated pattern showing people enjoying various hobbies. I used rough gouache texture and a palette of soft complimentary colours. It has been used for their excellent wellness and productivity planners.

How I got started as an Illustrator

I often get asked how I got started as an illustrator, so here is an up-to-date account. This is just my story of how I became an illustrator, it is definitely not a guide on how to become an illustrator. Everybody’s path is different and everyone’s circumstances are are unique. I think my situation was certainly a little bit unusual!

Like most artists and illustrators I have loved drawing and painting since I was little. When I was 13 I left mainstream education due to ill health and didn’t go back to regular education until I was 16. I studied using distance learning and during this time and always kept drawing and creating. I went back to full-time education when I was 16 and did a National Diploma in Art and Design at Suffolk College. At the same time I started my blog and started showing my work online. I was really encouraged by my tutors at college and by the community I found online to keep producing work and sharing it. When I was 17 my work started to attract interest from clients as a result of my blog and I picked up my first job is illustrating greetings cards for Woodmansterne and Moo. I also started my Etsy shop and started selling prints, originals (very underpriced!) and greetings cards. As I wasn’t 18 yet my dad had to help me set it up as I didn’t have my own PayPal account.

After college I went to study a BA in Illustration at Middlesex University in London. Whilst studying at university I continued to produce my own work in my sketchbook, update my blog, run my online shop, and take on occasional professional projects. In my third year at university I was approached by a publisher and asked to illustrate a book called Tea and Cake. I worked on this book alongside my final major project at university and presented some of the work from this book at my degree show. Once I graduated university I continued working on the illustrations for this book and doing freelance illustration jobs. At this point I was working on a mixture of illustrations for greetings cards, magazines, and some branding projects for small businesses and blogs. It would definitely be a mistake to think I was some kind of overnight success. I was working full time as a freelance illustrator at 21, but I’ve been doing professional jobs here and there since I was 17 and gradually growing in experience and confidence. I made all the usual mistakes, undercharging from my work, accepting work without a proper contract etc. I just made these mistakes whilst I was still very young

I’ve been working full time as an illustrator for 10 years now, and in that time a lot of things have changed, but somethings haven’t. I still produce illustrations for magazines, books and greetings cards, I still have an Etsy shop, although it’s currently on a break, and I still find most of my work by putting my illustrations online.  In 2015 I began teaching and I have now taught hundreds of students how to paint with watercolours and gouache. I’ve now written and illustrated my own books, The Joy of Watercolour and Get Started with Gouache, with several other books in the pipeline due for publication 2022. It’s almost 10 years since I left university; I am now 30, writing my fourth book, expecting my first child and feeling just as lucky to be a full-time illustrator as I did when I first started.

I hope that was mildly interesting! For more some actionable career advice check out his blog post.

Getting Better at Drawing People

People often ask me how to get better at drawing people. The way to get better at drawing anything really is to draw from life and to practice. The best way to understand anatomy and facial structure is to go to a life drawing lesson, and I believe their are online life drawing classes. For me the best way to get better at drawing people in a more natural way, understanding how to show movement and body language, is people watching. Obviously at the moment location drawing trips can be tricky, so these are the two ways I’ve been drawing people in lockdown.

Number one, look out of your window. I live on busy road, people walk past my window all the time walking their dogs, going to the park, carrying their shopping. I try to take a mental picture of their outfit and posture and do a very quick sketch as they walk past.

Another great tool for drawing people going about their everyday lives is Google Maps! I’ve seen a lot of artists use Google Maps during lockdown for painting buildings and landscapes, but it’s also great for people. You can see enough of people walking down the street to get a sense of their character, how they dress, how they walk, but you don’t get caught up in tiny details as you can’t really see anyone’s face. I love visiting different areas I know on Google Maps and seeing how differently people behave in different spaced, people walking in a relaxed way by the seaside or people powerwalking or slumped over in the city. I’ve noticed how often couples and friends dress alike, and how they usually walk perfectly in step with each other.

The top row of the sketches were all created from google images, and the bottom row of people spotted from my window. I find these pages full of little people really useful and often adapt them for projects when I need someone walking or standing in a particular way.

Social Distancing Postcards for Pai

Pai Skincare asked me to illustrate a set of five social distancing themed postcards to send out with their orders. The idea is that people can send them out to friends and family who they can’t currently see during the lockdown.

Keeping a Sketchbook

Sketches from Paris

When I was at university keeping a sketchbook was of utmost importance. We had a sketchbook for each project we worked on and a personal sketchbook. We spent a huge amount of time drawing from life on location, in London and on class trips around the world. When I asked my tutors if I could take a week off school to go to Paris on my own and sketch they said yes. At the time I didn’t quite get the true importance of regular sketching, and sketches seemed like a means to an end, a way of progressing through a project. But when you sketch regularly you build up a personal reference library for yourself, that you can use it for years to come. When I’m starting a project and need reference images or inspiration the first place I go is to my sketchbooks. Whether I need an image of some roof tops, some spring flowers, or a couple walking, I know that I will have a sketch of that somewhere. Of course I could find reference photos online for all of those things, but it’s just so lovely to be able to use my own sketches as reference, to turn the pages of my sketchbook and have all the memories of that time and that project come flooding back.

Sketches from Peru

I fell out of love with sketchbooks for a few years, I think because I’ve always struggled with pencil sketches. I think in terms of colour, texture and shape, not line, so pencil was always a bit limiting for me. When I realised I could just paint straight into my sketchbooks instead of worrying about pencils it reinvigorated my sketchbook practice.

A sketchbook should be whatever you need it to be, it can be full of pencil sketches, notes, doodles, paint swatches, paintings both finished and half completed. Sketchbook is a place to record experiences and ideas.

Sketches from Mallorca

Sketches from Tuscany

Sketchbooks I like:

For watercolours – Hanhemule Watercolour Book

For gouache: Moleksine Art

For pencil sketches - Moleksine Cahier

Fabriano Bouquet Collection of 7

Finding your Style

I often get questions from people about finding their style, and yesterday I had a really great question. Somebody asked me how she could learn from me, but not just make replicas of what I teach and really make the drawings and paintings her own. I thought this was a great question, so I thought I would share my answer here in case it’s useful to anybody else.

Just for fun I have included some examples of my work from as early as 2006 up to last year. As you can see my style has changed hugely over this time as I’ve experimented with materials and my drawing skills have improved.

Personal work completed whilst I was at sixth form College

It is definitely tricky when you’re starting out for your work not to look too much like the illustrators that you admire.

Personal work completed whilst I was at sixth form college

My first piece of advice for finding own style is to draw from life. Set up a still life and sketch it, paint a vase of flowers, sketch your pet, try a self portrait. Drawing from life is really important to develop your drawing skills and to help you find your style.

Personal work completed while I was at university

The other thing is it’s important not to just be taking inspiration from contemporary illustrators. Create work inspired by your favourite films, or the books that you love. Look at illustration throughout history. Look at fine art, set design, photography. Try to find really broad sources of inspiration that represent your interests, and that will help you find your style.

Work from my final year of university

I hope that was helpful! Have you found your style, or are you still finding it?

Recent work from my sketchbook

Patterned Papers for Mollie Makes

I was excited to be asked to illustrate this months pull out prints for Mollie Makes. It’s so lovely when when one of your oldest clients (I’ve been working with them since 2013!) let you try out something new. For the set of prints and patterned papers I wanted to play around with a limited colour palette, contrasting areas of bold colour and delicate line work, plus lots of lovely texture. I’m so pleased with how they’ve turned out. The patterns on the back can be used for craft projects and the prints on the front can be pinned to your wall or framed.