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I'm an Edinburgh-based professional dip pen illustrator & event artist with 20 years of experience. I illustrate in many fields including children's books, 70 to date.
"Bold, exciting, innovative, geographic, educational and just plain fun!" - National Geographic Education
"Both frightening and comic" - The Telegraph
I have written and illustrated my own picture book, called "perfect to read aloud" (The Bookseller) and "an absolute delight" (BookTrust). I illustrate and publish political board games - dubbed "genius satire" by Amnesty International and "at the tip of the sharp tongue of satire" by the BBC.
I have worked directly with children and young people in and out of school settings, as an artist in residence, leading workshops, painting murals and running interactive festival events. I have worked with many high profile bodies including NTS, Hay Festival, Glastonbury, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Latitude, Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity and many others. I've tutored evening classes and lectured at university level. I do live draw alongs at events.
I believe that participation in visual art is immensely beneficial and a lot of my work and support for young people is focused on unlocking confidence and enjoying mark-making and telling stories or expressing ideas & feelings through drawing. (Photo credit: @yabba61 on Instagram)
Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian
Events can deliver
Live drawing; Mentoring; Panel event; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Chairing events
Audience can work with
Adult learners; Intergenerational learning; Outdoor learning; Reluctant readers; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts)
Topics of work
Activism & protest; Adventure; Animals; Childhood; Class & society; Comedy, humour & funny books; Contemporary fiction; Death, grief & bereavement; Discrimination & prejudice; Environment & climate; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Family; Fantasy; First experiences for younger readers; Food; Friendship; Health including mental health & wellbeing; Historical fiction; History; Horror; Human rights; Picture books; Politics; Publishing & getting published; Religion & beliefs; Self-publishing & independent publishing; Wars & conflicts
