How to...

I recently did some 'how to' style line art for magazines in different continents.

For 5280 The Denver Magazine in the US, a tutorial on how to make banana boats.

...Meanwhile, for Weltwoche in Switzerland, some illustrations on the art of watchmaking.

Eye Blog

My contribution to Brighton and Hove Open Houses Trail was selected as a highlight by Eye Magazine blog this morning. 

Next weekend (12-5) will be your last chance to catch my display at MIY workshop, 33 North Road (just up from The Dorset). Meanwhile you’ve got til June 14^th to see the full-size Saliva Tree at Moksha Cafe.

Diary Extra

Here are a few mid month non-website diary pages because it's Friday and I am in a good mood.

May Open Houses

Just a reminder that my work is in a couple of Open Houses in Brighton through May – my full scale Peter Andre Saliva Tree print is now up on the wall in Cafe Moksha on York Place, just opposite St. Peter’s Church. I also have a few bits of work (plus books and cards for sale) at MIY workshop, 33 North Road – which is open 12-5 every Saturday and Sunday in May.

In case you’re too far afield to come down in person, here’s a new piece of work from the latter display, a portrait of my old primary school-friend Sally. 

Some Photos of Bianca

I was channel hopping with the sound down the other night when I came across Bianca Jackson mid-rant on Eastenders. I've not watched the show in about a decade (Corrie is more than enough for this soap aficionado) - but it's curiously heartwarming to realize that some things have changed very little. Bianca is still screaming abuse at Carol, Ricky, Phil... or whoever. I grabbed my i-phone and snapped some pics with a view to, maybe later, doing a colour pencil sketch of her. I decided the photo series was an end in itself, though.

MIY Workshop Open Studio

The second event I'm involved with for this years Brighton Fringe Festival is a group show of artwork in MIY Workshop Open Studio, 33 North Road (just up the street from The Dorset pub).

MIY is the brainchild of fellow KUTAC member and textile artist Wendy Ward. An inspirational local designer/maker, Wendy has recently taken over a shop in Brighton's North Laine district to bring her not inconsiderable expertise to the masses via affordable sewing and dressmaking classes.

I was honoured to be asked to contribute some framed artwork to a display in the shop, available to view every weekend in May. In addition to myself and Wendy, other contributors include Lee Baker (prints), Hannah Buckley (textiles), Patrick Fitzsimons (photography), Gita Mistry (millinery), Holly Murray (accessories), Sally Underwood (accessories) and Ella van Breda (prints).

Wendy is celebrating the opening of the display and the official opening of the workshop with a small drinks reception on Saturday 5th May from 6.30pm.
This falls on the same day as the launch of KUTAC show at Moksha Caffe (see previous post for details) - so feel free to join us all for a coffee in Moksha at 4.30, before making the short trek to Wendy's for a glass of something more fortifying.
MIY Open Studio - 12-5pm every weekend in May.

Saliva in Brighton

My full-size 3 metre Peter Andre Saliva Tree print will be getting another airing from next Friday (May 5) as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. I’m participating in a small group exhibition with ‘KUTAC’, the art group of which I’m a member. We meet every month to discuss our work and help one another with creative ideas – and have held small annual exhibitions since 2010. This year we’re on the Artists Open Houses trail, showing some work in Moksha Cafe just opposite St. Peter’s Church on York Place in Brighton. Fellow exhibitors this year are fine artists Hannah Buckley, Ellen Stewart and Ella van Breda, together with textile artist Wendy Ward.

The Peter Andre Saliva Tree was a personal project on which I slaved for many months last year. You can read in-depth old blogposts on it here and here – but, in a nutshell, the large scale print connects 400 celebrities, via marriages, affairs and divorces, to the perma-tanned fame limpet himself, Mr. Andre. An abridged book version with around 250 celebrities is available on my website shop.

The print was displayed at KK Outlet in Hoxton last summer. Despite asking all my friends to tweet Mr. Andre on the occasion of the exhibition launch, to date I have yet to receive any response from the man himself. (I’m guessing he’s just too flattered to be able to express his emotion in words, right?)

I’m looking forward to displaying the print outside of a gallery context – in a public meeting place where it can spark conversation and interaction. The show runs until June 14^th, so pop in for a coffee and a gander. All the artists will be at Moksha on May 5th from 4.30 for coffee and chatting. Festival time promises to be a busy time for me as I’m also involved in another Artists Open House – further info coming soon...