Young Ezra
A drawing for Instagram’s Mogtober2020 – the day’s theme was ‘The Hunt of Smoke and Shadow’ and this was influenced by Hollowpox …
A Ghostly Hour…
Whilst I’m really enjoying Hollowpox, as I’m doing these largely for Instagram, I’m finding it tricky to choose scenes that are fairly …
A land of slivenish creatures…
I’m not going to write too much about this one until the project’s a little closer to completion. I’ll just let on …
Mr Wolf
Jocasta again, this time at a pivotal moment in the story…
Lilith fights back
I haven’t quite decided whether this is Lilith or Jocasta – or whether they’re the same person anyway. I liked the idea …
Lady Kraken
Another illustration from Malamander. The reclusive Lady Kraken using her Cameraluna to spy on the town of Eerie-on-Sea.
Boathook Man
The Boathook Man from Malamander by Thomas Taylor. I posted this on Instagram and got a thumbs up from the author which …
At the Ghastly Market
Say what you like about them, but you won’t find any #NoMasks at the Ghastly Market… This was an evening sketch taking …
In the Elders’ Hall
Starting off another Nevermoor piece – this one from Wundersmith. Morrigan waits in the Elders’ hall surrounded by some very strange statues. …
She was alive
Morrigan Crow following her leap from the Deucalion roof. Still in progress – my initial draft is below. I really wanted to …
Step boldly!
A work in progress, as on the dawn of the new age, guests at the Hotel Deucalion leap from the roof, umbrellas …
A last supper
A last meal at Eventide while Morrigan awaits her imminent death, eating lamb, parsnips and minted peas. Meanwhile, her stepmother discusses her …
Poor kitchen cat
Another tragic death in the Crow family. Morrigan didn’t kill Kitchen Cat, not that this fact stopped everyone blaming her.
Announcing a tragic loss
Corvus Crow announces the sad loss of his daughter to the waiting crowds. I based the look of Morrigan’s father on Christopher …
A strange meeting on the balcony
Morrigan encounters the enigmatic Mr Jones in a deserted wing of the hotel whilst chasing down a missing shadow…
The arachnipod
Bluffing their way into the free state. This scene gave me an opportunity to properly draw the arachnipod. I’m currently taking advantage …
Escape in the arachnipod
Another reworking of an earlier Nevermoor drawing, this time the escape up the clock tower in Jupiter’s arachnipod. I prefer the composition …
Jupiter North
Jupiter North introduces himself at Crow Manor, after giving suitable warning as to his outstanding gingerness.
The chase trial
Morrigan rides Fenestra in the chase trial, and Cadence takes a tumble… I’m going to continue working with limited colours on these …
What time do you call this?
One of my favourite scenes from Nevermoor – when Morrigan first arrives at the Hotel Deucalion and is greeted by Fenestra the …
Morrigan and the Wundersmith
My earlier take on this scene was ‘Confronting the Hunt’ (link below). I’ve been playing around with styles and this is my …
Shadow puppets
“I’m… gonna make…” Hawthorne said, his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth as he bent his fingers into a complicated, …
Mermaid
I’m not sure why I got the inspiration to draw mermaids – I was doodling before a training session at work …
Bowed but not broken
Worn out by too many battles and hopeless quests…
Morrigan and the Baz Charlton Five
Morrigan finds that life in the Wundrous Society isn’t all fun and games, facing off against bullies. With throwing stars.
Sunrise over Nevermoor
I decided to draw this after the launch party for the paperback of ‘Wundersmith’ by Jess Townsend (thank you Hachette Children’s books …
The Green Knight
The Green Knight invites himself to Arthur’s new year’s feast.
Merlin imprisoned
This was a return to a more symbolic piece rather than a literal scene similar to the ones I’ve been working on …
King Pellinore and Arthur
Arthur is given a much-needed lesson in humility by King Pellinore. This was quite a tricky composition – I had considered drawing …
Field of battle
I had intended to take a break from the Arthurian drawings, but here we are again. I think I’ll just keep going …
Into battle (colour)
A colour re-working of an earlier silhouette piece in the style of my digital watercolours using Rebelle3. This composition translated well – …
The Sword in the Stone
“No one shall wield Excalibur… But me.” The scene from Boorman’s Excalibur where Uther – wounded and dying – thrusts the sword …
Arthur
I’m in two minds whether this is the onset of winter, or a bleak spring at the beginning of Arthur’s tale. The …
Merlin and Nimue
Fairly bleak autumnal overtones going on here, though it’s about this time that Nimue betrays the wizard. The mist reminds me …
Yellow king
Not intended to be the The King in Yellow – I’m working my way through the colour wheel in Rebelle3 and reached …
Uther
High King Uther, in his prime, but close to his fall. This was another digital sketch that inspired me to create another …
Railhead : Snow and ice
Inspired by the second book in the Railhead series, Darklight Express. My intention with this painting was to keep the colour scheme …
Railhead : Into the unknown
This was directly influenced by a scene in the book, though it’s been over a year since I read it – and …
Railhead : Cityscape
Railhead builds quite a fascinating sci-fi world. It’s a long way from Reeve’s Mortal Engines steampunk, it feels more like a classic, Asimov …
Railhead : desert planet
Learning to use Rebelle 3 brought me back to Railhead by Philip Reeve. I had a plan for a short animation with …
Howl’s Moving Castle
Binding design for Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, for the House of illustration Competition 2019. This was my third concept …
Flowers in the waste
He swung out an arm and his black sleeve disturbed several hundred blue butterflies feasting on a bush of yellow roses. Howl’s …
Magical combat
But almost as Michael and Sophie arrived, the clot of magic took on the shape of a misty bundle of fighting snakes. …
Catching a falling star
The bright shape was coming down slowly now, and it looked as if Michael might catch it. Howl’s Moving Castle. For the …
Holding Wunder
“Morrigan felt panic creep in. it had all felt so right, just a moment ago. She was holding Wunder in the …
The hunt and the bonesmen
“The huntsman waited, perfectly still, hand outstretched. Not a threat. Not a command. An invitation.” From Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend Photoshop …
Wundercats!
“He leapt from her arms a yowling cub. But by the time he had landed on the ground he was a towering, …
The Hobbit : Smaug
My design for the front cover of The Hobbit. I’ve re-used Smaug’s wings for Arthur’s cloak in another drawing – for this …
The Hobbit : Gollum
Gollum was my choice for the rear cover design for the Hobbit, though I may shrink him down a little to allow …
