memo: January 2014

A visit to the printers

Back in October last year I had to get some prints done at a local printers for a presentation at work. I had to wait 15mins and I didn't have my sketchbook with me, so I managed to find a spare bit of a A4 and their pen on a chain on the reception desk to complete the drawing below of the large digital printer along with all the other pieces of equipment scattered about. Lesson to be learned: never forget your sketchbook!

Sleeping man on the tube who liked my book

Got on the tube home the other night with 'Sketch Your World' by James Hobbs in my hand and the elderly chap sitting opposite me tapped me and showed me the graphic novel he was reading – looked pretty cool, he was clearly a drawing fan... As the journey went on he nodded off, and as standing passengers cleared I suddenly thought 'I should draw him!' so I pulled out my sketchbook and hurriedly sketched him in the final 5 minutes of my journey with the intention of showing him before I got off. He was still asleep at my stop so I left him to it, if I see him again I will show it to him!

Header illustration for 'The diary of a Roller Derby Rookie' blog

Header design I have just done for for my sister's Roller Derby Blog, which chronicles her adventures in Roller Derby. The roller skate is based on the pair she wears!
wildhoneybrawd.blogspot.co.uk

Alternative version

Illustrations for the Designhouse review of 2013 newspaper

In the run up to Christmas I had been working on a statistical review of 2013 for the design consultancy Designhouse where I work as a designer. Along with typesetting and laying out the pages, I had the opportunity to illustrate several of these statistics with drawings I had carried out in my sketchbooks and others I made specifically. It was great to get some of my work out there and printed, so thanks to Designhouse for letting me use them! The paper finally turned up today and we are all really happy with it, photos to follow…

Urban Sketchers Covent Garden sketchcrawl

Had a really good day on Sunday meeting up with these guys at a new coffee shop called Timberyard in Covent Garden, that currently has a exhibition of Urban Sketchers sketchbooks. After a few coffees and catch ups we visited the beautiful Neal's Yard of Neal's Yard Remedies fame for some drawing. After my legs started to go numb I headed to the nearest coffee shop with everyone else to warm up! We then finished at the National gallery, where I just had to do a sketch of Trafalgar Square. Another very inspiring day - bring on the next one!

Photo by Nathan Brenville from the Urban Sketchers London Blog (i'm the one looking uncomfortable cross legged on the floor)

Drawing on the line

I have a real addiction to drawing on the tube... so many great subjects to draw, I love the variety of characters, outfits and types of people. I have been spotted a few times, some people mind, some people smile, either way it's always fun. Here are a few pages from my sketchbooks. One day I intend to make a huge poster or a little magazine of all of these (I do about 2-3 pages most days) so watch this space!