Monday 27 August 2012



There is a fantastic printing place in Stroud called GPC where I have done some printing a few times, but not nearly as much as I'd like to. I had a lot of fun just being spontaneous and experimenting, using oils and found bits and bobs. I had these prints knocking around the studio, not really sure what I wanted to do with them, and as they are so different from my usual work I went for the chop and mounted them for unique greetings cards. Even though its a simple thing I'm pleased with how they turned out, they make me think of street art, peeling layers of wall paint, faded markings and cover ups.



 I made several and I intend to make more, but they are all different so I only put a small selection in my shop  but I will keep updating it. Gloucestershire Print Co-op is definitely a place I'd recommend, they've got some amazing artists and courses. I've been wanting to go back and become a member for a long time but so far I've not had the funds or the time (same old story) but I think the time is nearly here. Its also only a 10  minute walk from where I live now so it's super easy.

Check out their website and upcoming courses here



Sunday 26 August 2012






Happy bank holiday!
 Today I thought I'd just leave you with a few images of the designs currently available online, because I kind of forget about these early designs when they really do show what my work has been like for a long time, so I want to show them some love.

I love black and white illustration, line and form, wobbly, thick marker lines and simple expressions made with only a few lines but that tell a lot.

Visit the store




The telephone character that's waiting for a call was done a few years ago when I first moved to Gloucestershire and I was having a hard time looking for work, so I was spending a lot of time alone at home while my man was off getting the bacon. I would wait for his calls all day and felt very lonely for a time. Years later and things are the total opposite now of course,  but I think the longing for a loved one or needing to make the time to have a catch up with a friend is something that we all experience.

Saturday 25 August 2012

You cant get much better than that- telling someone how flippin' marvelous you think they. Perhaps it's something you often think but never take the time to say? We are all too buy rushing around living our busy lives, but what about taking time to smell the roses?
I spend a lot of time playing with ideas for characters and trying to capture the right energy and feeling. 








Friday 24 August 2012

On My Table This Week..

 This week, amongst other things, I am trying to get in to the rhythm of sharing my ideas regularly here, which apart from anything else really makes me consider my time management (or mis-management as the case may be!)- I have to ask myself what have I done? and do I like it? which is really important. Life after art school means no deadlines or presentations set for you, and so time becomes a little endless and less urgent, so doing things like this to enforce structure is really helpful. I also started clocking in my time spent in my studio and it actually showed that I do work quite a lot, which is funny because I usually spend a lot of time feeling guilty for not working enough, so that's good too.

Anyway, lets get down to business. I spend a lot of time doing quick spontaneous drawings which I then spend ages trying to make more neat and formal and perfect, when a lot of the time I always prefer the first one I did in a moment. Here are a few things I've got on my table this week, which I am going to be turning in to the next lots of greetings cards. I've got a few more up my sleeve for sure, but I have been thinking a lot about comic books, street art, tattoo art, and not losing the essence of my drawings by perfecting them too much ...



1/ Hands and hellos. I don't really need to print any more hello cards but it's something I always want to say to people I miss, and something I always draw...
2/ Paint and pen, washes and dry brushes
3/ Pencil and pale washes of paint
4 / Paint, pencil, pen, layering, tester

Wednesday 22 August 2012

New Greetings Cards!


Good Morning!

So, I've been away from home recently on holiday and doing that kind of summer thing - minus any actual sunshine! (Apart from getting sunburnt on one shoulder after a visit to the park - that doesn't count, plus how does this happen? I'm half Indian for goodness sakes!) But even though I have not been blogging as much as I'd have liked to, I have been busy printing new greetings cards and sorting my webshop out. There's still more to do (as always, more on that later) but I'll leave you with the newest designs so far, currently available at my website and at Made in Stroud

I created these designs using a mixture of paint and pen, using either washes of colour or creating texture with a barely loaded dry brush. I've since been using a similar 'formula' but with a higher contrast, so I'll be seeing what that turns out later today.



1, 2, 3/ all cards printed on white heavy-weight A6 board, with brown speckled diamond envelope

Screenprinted Delights

 I recently got invited to do a days screen printing at the excellent Stroud Valleys Artspace and although I had intended to document things at the time to share, things took a little time to get figured out. So, after much fiddling, sampling, going away and coming back again with 'fresh eyes' I've completed a few protoypes from the remaining printed fabrics, and Im actually really chuffed with them. Considering I didnt expect to come away with any product pieces, I've now got a few to showcase and use as a starting point.
I also discovered how much I enjoy the immediacy of paper screens rather than exposed ones, which take time and precision - which isnt really how I work generally. I also love the simple nature of calico - unbleached and speckly, this one has a nice weight which I chose specifically to be able to withstand use as a cushion or a tote etc. I will definitely be trialing these out in my gallery to see how they are received.
For the next prints I suspect I will be using a similar colour pallette, inspired by 1940s and 50s advertising art. Very handy really - the ones I used here were ready mixed and available at the time, but the colours are just right. Next time I'm envisioning bright pinks and pastels paired with black and grey.
Soon I'll be able to share the finished pieces with you but for now here's a few snippets of the prints in progress...
See you next time!





1/ my repeat prints straight off my roll of white felt
2/ a close up of a  simple 2 layer screen print before going back in with black lines
3/ late night working to finish the pieces back at my own studio