Monday 22 December 2014

Sunday 21 December 2014

Saturday 20 December 2014


A little portrait of one of my favourite illustrators, Raymond Briggs (The Snowman, When The Wind Blows, Ethel and Ernest, much more). I was asked to draw this by a British film crew a couple of years ago, as they were doing a short documentary about Raymond; and as with much film material it was never used. Just as well probably, I always imagined Raymond would be slightly irritated by that idea. But here it is anyway! I think he would at least enjoy the tone, which also reflects a little my own attitude toward such things.

Thursday 18 December 2014

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Behind the Studio Door

A short profile of recent work as part of the Behind The Studio Door series, profiling Australian creators, put together by Books Illustrated in Melbourne;


Grimm-related sculptures in various states of completion under my studio window.

Tuesday 9 December 2014

The key to the kingdom, pencil and ink, 2010

A version of a recurring figure in my sketchbooks, originally inspired by armor worn by a tribesman in Papua New Guinea (I think, from an old National Geographic). A similar character appears in Rules of Summer, and the endpapers of Tales from Outer Suburbia. There's always a great sense of urgency when a character is running with an object: this picture didn't seem very interesting until I added the key.

Sunday 7 December 2014

Thursday 4 December 2014

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Luminous, pencil A4, 2008
An old rough sketch for a book week poster, which didn't end up being used. The concept here is that reading is like shining a light inside your head, even though it's invisible (unless you are one of these other beings of course).

Monday 1 December 2014