Scribblemania 33

Over to the Scottish Borders.

Drawings from Hirsel Park Grounds, Coldstream.

Scribblemania 32

More drawings from Dumfries and Galloway.

These are from Dundrennan, home of the Wicker Man Festival.

Scribblemania 31

ScribbleCAM

Scribblemania 30

I try and draw when I'm out and about. I think it's important

and it's a good way to remember the places I've been to.

Photographs seem to become endless clutter on my desktop

computer.

Here's a drawing I did on Barstobrick Hill near Ringford

whilst in Dumfries and Galloway.

The view is looking south from Neilson's Monument and

a red kite was circling.

Scribblemania 29

Back to piracy...!

Scribblemania 28

A few finished pieces from the first book

of the new series.

Scribblemania 27

Time to meet Pip.

Here are a few rough drawings of him

before going to final artwork.

Pip is our unlikely hero in the Spindlewood Tales books.

In book one you will discover what Pip is up against

and hear all about;

The Deadman's Hand

The sinister secret of the great walled city of Hangman's Hollow

A forest of sinister trees that will hatch out a swarm of midnight creatures

And if that wasn't enough, there is always the threat of the hook handed man.

To search inside the pages, read the reviews or buy the book, go to

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pip-Wood-Witch-Curse-Spindlewood/dp/0340970693/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Scribblemania 26

Here are some rough drawings of the buildings inside

the walls of Hangman's Hollow.

Pip and the Wood Witch Curse can be purchased from

Amazon via the link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pip-Wood-Witch-Curse-Spindlewood/dp/0340970693/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Scribblemania 25

Hangman's Hollow

rough drawing & finished artwork

Before I let you through the gates, I thought I should explain to you

that Hangman's Hollow is not a place for the faint hearted. The city

is at war with the forest. Nightmarish creatures spill onto the streets

and lost children are in hiding out of harms way.

But if you do insist on letting yourself in, be careful not to fall foul

of the hook-handed man.

Scribblemania 24

Time to divert and take a look at the new series I think.

Spindlewood Tales is my latest venture and is taking up

most of my time at the moment so here are a few rough

character development drawings from the first book to

set the mood.

I'll explain a little more about the story over the coming

week and show some more preliminary work.

The first book in the series is Pip and the Wood Witch Curse.

Scribblemania 23

Here is Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein.

That's the last of my fifteen minute sketches.

Something new tomorrow.

Scribblemania 22

Here is young Mozart.

Scribblemania 21

I can't remember how or why but I stumbled across

Frida Kahlo this morning whilst searching for something.

So what better subject for todays fifteen minute treatment.

Scribblemania 20

Todays offering is David Hockney.

And the only weak and tenuous link I can apply

is that we are fellow Bradfordians.

He being the slightly older one!

Scribblemania 19

Here's the next of my fifteen minute scribblings.

Today it's Michaelangelo, what did that Sistine Chapel 'n' stuff

using only emulsion from his Dad's garage.

A quick hi to all the children who came to see me

yesterday at the fantastic, new Worksop Library.

Children from St Anne's Primary and Ryton Park each sat

through one of my talks and watched me draw. Thanks for

coming along.

Scribblemania 18

The second of my fifteen minute drawings

which seems to be turning into 'caricatures

of people I admire.' Here's an old colleague

of mine. Mr Charles Dickens.

Scribblemania 17

Given myself a little project for the blog.

A series of drawings done in fifteen minutes.

Here's the first. It's my good friend Rembrandt!

Scribblemania 16

More piratey thoughts on the new book.

Scribblemania 15

Robots are people too!

Scribblemania 14

St John's Church

The Guildhall
Holbourne Museum of Art
The Abbey

Drawings from the City of Bath

Scribblemania 13

A passing crow caught by the nib!

Scribblemania 12

As it's National Violin Day I thought I'd

pull out this colour sketch.

(It's not really National Violin Day...I made it up as an

excuse to use this drawing on my blog.

Actually, it might be...somewhere on earth...

in which case, do let me know).

Scribblemania 11

Todays subject is silhouettes. They're such a powerful visual device

and so I like to use them whenever I can. Especially when concentrating

on black and white artwork.

These are taken from the Something Wickedly Weird books.

Scribblemania 10

Having just returned from the 'aye write' Literature Festival in Glasgow

I felt it was worth a mention. The festival is based in the fantastic Mitchell

Library which, as far as I am aware, is the largest reference library in Europe.

I couldn't resist a scribblemanic version of the building so here it is.

I have to say the Glaswegians are a very friendly and helpful bunch.

Thanks to all the festival staff for a warm welcome and a well organised

events programme.

Scribblemania 9

More pen 'n' ink from the Mould 'scribble bible'.

Scribblemania 8

And back to pirates again!

Scribblemania 7

Here be dragons!

A piece of finished artwork for a change.

(Image taken from Fangs 'n' Fire - Ten Dragon Tales).

Scribblemania 6

view of Pendick from the hotel

looking towards Sultanahmet from Kadikoy

mosque and housing blocks from the hotel window

Time to get serious with this blog I think.

I took a trip to the Koc School in Istanbul earlier this year and was joined by the very talented Keith Gray (author of the superb Ostrich Boys). I hadn't previously met Keith but I have to say he is a thoroughly nice chap and excellent company. We had a great week doing workshops and talks with some really talented children who, I should say, speak excellent English even at 5 and 6 years old!

Needless to say, the sketchbook wasn't too far away so I thought you might like to see the results.

Thank you to Ann Wilson for making the trip possible.

Oh, and...Ostrich Boys will be dramatised at Birmingham Repetory Theatre in July this year. Do not miss!

Scribblemania 5

Something to chase the black cat away from yesterday.

Scribblemania 4

Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's The Black Cat!

Scribblemania 3

Here comes another of those machines...

Scribblemania 2

Robots seem to be scattering themselves throughout my

sketchbooks at the moment so today’s scribblemania comes

in the form of something mechanical.

I’m not sure what it is but there’s a story in there somewhere!

More to come soon…