Communication Arts | Award of Excellence.

You may remember that earlier this year, i announced that my Monster Alphabet hand-created typography had been chosen as one of the winning entries for Communication Arts' Typography Annual 3. The annual was published in January, and my collage typography was featured inside. I was also informed that, in addition to receiving a copy of the annual, each winning entrant would receive an Award of Excellence; an actual trophy! I was pretty excited to receive this beauty in the post this morning;

Eeeeee! An actual shiny trophy engraved with my name! Now i just have to find somewhere to put it...

Communication Arts | Typography Annual 3.

Having entered the AOI Images competition in the past, and never had any success, I have become a little wary of entering competitions which have an expensive entry fee. Last autumn, I debated whether to enter Communication Arts' Typography Competition - I think my hand-created typography tends to be pretty distinctive, so I thought it might catch the judges' eyes, but I didn't want to waste money. In the end I decided to take the chance, and ended up entering right at the last minute. I entered my collaged Monster Alphabet typography into the unpublished category. 

In October, I was pretty surprised to receive an email telling me that my entry had been picked as one of 154 projects out of 1934 entries to appear in Communication Arts' Typography Annual 2013! Eeee! I only ordered my copy of the annual a few days ago, and was actually super surprised that it arrived so fast! Inside, amongst a whole range of inspirational typographic work, I found my Monster Alphabet!

Communication Arts' third Typography Annual features work from 21 different countries, and there's some really beautiful work included. I think it's possible to view the winning projects on Communication Arts' website, or you can buy yourself a copy of the annual here (it's super thick, so definitely worth it, plus it has that lovely freshly-printed-magazine smell. Yum). It's a must-have for anyone interested in typography or hand-lettering - my favourites include projects in the typeface design category, and also some of the calligraphy. In particular, I love this screen-print which was created by Office;

I was also pretty excited to find out that in addition to having my work printed in the Typography Annual, I will also receive an Award of Excellence - an actual trophy! Aces.

Little Monster's Colouring Competition | Winner!

Wow, so I realise I'm a few days late in announcing the winner of my Little Monster's Colouring Competition, but I really didn't expect to find it quite so difficult to choose a winner! I genuinely loved every single entry I received (have a peek at all the entries in my Little Monster Colouring Gallery - I promise you won't be disappointed!). Each entry was so creative, and it was so lovely to see how each child coloured the same colouring sheet so differently. I loved seeing the different colours and materials each child had chosen to use - each was so individual.  I have been mulling over my decision for the past few days, but I have finally come to a conclusion!

So, I am very happy to say that the winning entry is....

This colourful artwork is by Joelle, aged 5. I love the huge range of colours she has used in her entry, and also the fact that she added her own little drawings to the picture too - so cute! A super big well done to Joelle, and I really hope you enjoy the copy of my picture book that I'll be popping in the post to you later today!

This colouring competition is one of the best things I have ever done, as it allowed me to see children interacting with my illustrated colouring sheet; putting their own stamp on it and expressing themselves creatively -  every time I received a new entry, it made me super happy smiley! I'd like to say a massive thank you to every child who took part - I love each and every one of your entries, and I really hope you will continue to colour and doodle and draw and enjoy being creative. I'd also like to thank the parents who printed out the colouring sheet and sent me photos of your little ones' artwork!

Although this competition has now ended, the Monster Elf colouring sheet, along with a range of other monster-themed colouring sheets, is still available from the freebies section of my blog - please feel free to download copies and colour them in. I'd love to see your artwork when you've finished, so please send me photos if you can!

Monster Plushie Designs.

I thought I'd share a few little designs I've been working on this week. I was asked to create a possible design for a monster plushie and since drawing monsters is like, my favourite thing ever, I jumped at the chance! Actually really enjoyed designing these little cuties! 

A few initial designs, experimenting with different colours and facial expressions;

I was then asked to make the monster a little smaller and a little cuter, and these were my ideas;

I'm actually a liiiiittle bit in love with the monster on the right and, as my designs aren't actually gonna be used, it's a shame I'm no good at sewing or I'd make it into a cute little plushie myself!

I'll leave you with a photo of me happily working away on the above designs - had to relocate to the bedroom, as my studio is currently super cold - proudly wearing my favourite illustrator clothes; pyjamas and my super awesome unicorn sweater! 

Little Monster's Gallery!

I have just received the very first entry for my Little Monster's Colouring Competition (and a very cute entry it is too)! As promised, I'm going to post all entries on my blog for everyone to admire, so this post will be added to as more artwork is received.

Little Monster's Colouring Gallery:

by Thomas, age 2 (with a little bit of help from his mummy).

by Clara, age 8.

Joint entry by Alex, age 5 and Alice, age 2.

by Ridley, age (almost) 2.

by Joshua, age 8.

by Daniel, age 6.

by Joelle, age 5.

by Bailey, age 4.

by Charlotte, age 9.

by Tia, age 6.

by Millie, age 4.

I would really love as many children as possible to get involved, so please spread the word, and if you don't have children yourself, consider asking any younger brothers, sisters or cousins if they'd like to enter. The winner will receive a signed copy of my illustrated children's picture book I'm A Little Bit Scared Of... For more details, and to find out how your little ones can enter my colouring competition, please see here.

Little Monster's Colouring Competition!

I recently designed a Christmas-themed monster colouring sheet, so I thought it would be a fun idea to organise a colouring competition for children! I was initially planning on giving away a copy of my picture book in my giveaway (see here if you would like to enter!), but I realised that actually I'd much rather ensure it was going to a new home where a child would be able to enjoy it - after all, that is who it was created for! I'd really love as many children as possible to get involved, so if you don't have children of your own, please share this with friends, family or any other little ones you know.

The competition is very easy to enter. Simply download the colouring sheet below, print out a copy, and let your little one to attack with his or her crayons. Once your child has finished, take as clear a photo as possible of their artwork, and either email or tweet it to me, along with the child's name and age. I'm going to set a guideline age limit of 9 years old, as I think that by that age, the book will probably be getting a little too young for children to enjoy. However, I'm not going to strictly enforce this age limit, so if you have a child who is a little older and still wants to get involved, then their entries are very welcome too! I will post all photos of the children's artwork on my blog, so everyone can admire their work.

The winning entry will receive a signed copy of my illustrated children's picture book I'm A Little Bit Scared Of...  The judging of the entries will not be based on colouring ability, so please don't worry if your son or daughter is one of the younger children to enter - the prize won't be awarded based on the entrant's ability to colour within the lines. I'm much more interested in the children having fun whilst being creative, so please allow your children to be creative and express themselves and use whatever colours they like. Your child can also use any material they like to colour the image - they're not limited to using crayons if they'd prefer to use coloured pencils, felt tips etc.

As this is a busy time of year for everyone, I'm going to keep the competition running for a few weeks to give you, and your little ones, enough time to do their colouring - maybe a little activity to keep them occupied on a rainy day during the Christmas holidays! To be in with a chance of winning, entries must be received by New Year's Eve, and I will announce the winner on the first day of 2013!

I am really excited to see all the entries, so please spread the word and get involved! 

Good luck to all your little monsters!

*I am also currently running an awesome giveaway for big grown-up people too - find out how to win lots of illustrated goodies here.

Santa's little helper...

A little Christmas treat for you all! Keep the little ones entertained over the Christmas holidays - or get yourself in the festive mood - with this cute Christmas-themed colouring-in sheet. Please feel free to download and print copies for your little monsters, or yourself, to attack with their crayons - remember; you're never too old for a little bit of colouring-in!

You're probably already aware that I eagerly snap up any opportunity to draw monsters, so the chance to draw a monster in an elf costume seemed too fun to miss! As always, I would love to see your artwork, so if you, or your little ones, do have a go at colouring in the cheeky little elf below, please send me a photo of your finished pictures, and I'll post them all on my blog for everyone to admire!

I hope you all have a fun, creative and monster-filled Christmas! Ho ho ho.

*Remember to check out the freebies page for more monster-themed colouring fun!

Crafty Little Herberts.

I just wanted to write a little post to let you all know about a fairly new online shop called Crafty Little Herberts. They stock all kinds of illustrated and handmade goodies for children, from colouring books and t-shirts, to colourful prints which are perfect to decorate bedroom walls! A selection of my prints, my children's book and also Pencil Paper Scissors' circus colouring book are all available to buy through their website, including my Monster Hug print, which is currently exclusive to Crafty Little Herberts!

Want to see more? Pop over to Crafty Little Herberts and have a peek at all the illustrated goodies available. It's the ideal place to find a perfect present for your little one - treat them to something a little bit different and a little bit special. :]

You can also keep up to date with Crafty Little Herberts by reading their blog, or following them on Twitter. 

Monster Sports Day.

This is a monster-themed colouring in page which I designed for a competition in Anorak Magazine. The theme was favourite sports, and if I was a monster, a three-legged race would definitely be my favourite, especially if I had three legs!

Unfortunately, my page wasn't selected to be printed in the magazine, but I wanted to share it anyway. As with my previous monster colouring in page, please feel free to download this image and attack it with your crayons - I'd love to see it all coloured in, so if you or your little ones have a go, please send me a photo of your work and I'll post them on my blog. I'm thinking of creating a mini monster-themed colouring in book at some point too, so watch this space!

Doodler's Anonymous | Colouring book.

This is a colouring page that I designed for a chance to be included in Doodler's Anonymous new colouring book. Unfortunately, my entry wasn't selected to be part of the final book, but I had fun creating this image, especially playing around with the typography.

If you or your children would like to use this image to colour in, please feel free to download a copy. I'd love to see my monster all colourful, so it would be ace if you could send me a photo once you're done - I'll post all your pictures on my blog, so get colouring! :]

Movember Monster.

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

This is my Movember moustache themed illustration for Creature Mag's Moustache Illustration Awards.

The Matchbox Art Show.

I have recently been working on my matchbox artwork for Enter the Clutter's Matchbox Art Show. The exhibition will include the work of 50 artists, all of whom will have transformed a matchbox into a miniature masterpiece! Very exciting!

Here are a selection of photos of my contribution to the show;

The matchboxes will be exhibited in Brighton at the Polish and Pin Open House on the weekends of 26th-27th November and 3rd-4th December. If you're interested, you can find out more information here. The matchboxes will all be for sale, and the ones I've seen so far look incredible, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

Illustration Friday: Remedy.

A hug cures everything. :]

Etsy shop | NEW NEW NEW!

Hello! It's been a while since I last updated you about my Etsy shop, and since I listed some new items earlier today, it seemed like an ace time to tell you all about them. :]

Firstly, I finally have some greeting cards available to buy in my shop! Yay! I have been meaning to design some cards for a while, and recently had an ace opportunity to do so when I designed for the Hand-Drawn Tigerprint competition. I've chosen my favourite cards from the ones I designed, and had them printed on some lovely recycled card. There are three different designs available, so if you have a birthday coming up, or just feel like sending some cute snail mail to a friend, then I definitely recommend you check them out.

 Also, I have been experimenting with using shrink plastic as a way to transform my illustrations into actual tangible items. I have created a range of cute monster badges, which are available to buy here - there are three different monsters to chose from, and they're perfect for brightening up your jacket or bag.

I have also designed a pretty flamingo brooch, and these delicate flamingo earrings.

Whilst we're on the subject of flamingos, I just want to remind you to please please pop over and rate or comment (or both!) on my flamingo tee design. I'd totally LOVE to have it printed, but for that to happen I really need your votes. :]

Pure Evil Gallery| MadABC show.

Thank you super lots to all of you who voted for my monster alphabet in the Don't Panic Street Alphabet competition a few weeks ago. I later found out that my design had been picked in the top five entries, and would be displayed in the Pure Evil Gallery as part of MadC's 'MadABC' show. I was invited to attend the private view last week, but unfortunately, living in the depths of Dorset, it is difficult to get to London at short notice. So instead, the boy and I took a lovely trip to London yesterday to go and have a peek.

For someone who is very interested in hand-rendered typography, I found the whole exhibition very inspiring. The graffiti-style of the work on show is not the kind of work I usually look at, but the mixed-media images created were vibrant and colourful, and opened my eyes as to how letters can be used to created imagery.

These are a selection of my favourite images;

The show is open until May 1st, so if you're in London I definitely recommend a visit. I'll leave you with this little inspirational post-it note message that I spied stuck next to a desk in the gallery. It made me smile.