How to commission a custom illustration as the perfect gift
Buying gifts for people can be tricky, especially when you’re looking for something really personal and memorable. That’s where commissioning a custom illustration as a gift can save the day! Just imagine how a friend or relative would feel when given a bespoke family portrait or an illustration of a much-loved home or pet. Whatever […]
How to write an illustration brief
The best way to get the illustration you want, in the timescale you want, for the price you want is to take the time to put together a well-written brief. That might seem an obvious statement but too often what arrives in an illustrator’s inbox is quite the opposite. A brief is an essential tool […]
Oxford University Primary and Secondary Schools Leaflet Illustrations
Q&A about life as an illustrator and graphic designer
I often get emails from students and people just starting out in their creative careers asking about how I got started and what it’s like to work as a designer and illustrator so I thought I’d collect up some of those questions and answers here. I would like to know how you got started in […]
Save The Children Safeguarding illustrations
I was recently approached by Save The Children to create a series of illustrations for a poster and leaflet to help children understand what they can expect from those looking after them. Working with the charity’s in-house design and marketing team I created a series of 13 illustrations to go on a four page A4 […]
2019 Wall Planners and Calendars
Another year has rolled around and I’ve been busy designing my 2019 range of wall planners and calendars! The first selection were launched in my Etsy shop in Mid August and there will be more to follow in the coming months! Here are a few of the designs, most of which are available in printed […]
How much does illustration cost? A guide to how illustrators work out their fees
One of the first questions I get asked by clients is how much the job is going to cost. It’s never a simple question and having a nice neat price list is almost impossible for most illustrators. If you’re not used to commissioning illustration it can all seem a bit of a dark art, so […]
Garden illustration studio. Part one: the build
We moved house in early April and, as we both work from home, our first priority was getting some office space sorted. Here is part one of that story, deciding on and building the garden office! We love our new house, bungalow living is awesome and having a gorgeous garden for the first time in […]
Sam’s Alphabet Art Prints
Inspiration – March Meet The Maker
During #marchmeetthemaker one of the prompts was Inspiration and it got me thinking about what really inspires, what moves me deep down, prompts me to pick up a pen, fire up the computer and create! Don’t be fooled by the illustration, I’m not specifically inspired by onions, although they are awesome, it’s more of a metaphor (bear […]
Customers and Feedback – March Meet The Maker
A part of this years #marchmeetthemaker we were asked to focus on our customers and the feedback. I’ve been running my own business since 2011 and have learnt a few things about this so I thought I’d share my knowledge in this post… Running a businesses is all about relationships, valuing clients and customers and […]
2018 Wall Planners
100 Days of Mushrooms Book
I recently took part in The 100 Day Project – a global art project where you commit to doing a specific creative thing everyday for 100 days. I’ve started this project before in previous years but got side tracked and never finished so I was determined to make it through all 100 days this time. […]
Bulletin Magazine Cover Illustration
Earlier this year I was commissioned by Bulletin to create a magazine cover illustration. The title of the cover article was ‘Cutting a path through the terminological jungle’ so a jungle theme made sense and provided some fun visuals. Creating the magazine cover illustration I created a few initial sketches based on the jungle theme. The client […]
My iPad Artist Toolkit – iPad Apps
There are a huge range of iPad apps out there and I’m often asked which are my favourite, so I’ve put together a list! I love my iPad Pro and run a lot of my working life on it. Of course the hardware is amazing but it’s the iPad Apps that make it so useful […]
My iPad Artist Toolkit – Hardware & Accessories
I’m often asked about the tools I use to create my art on my iPad so I thought I’d run through my must have hardware and accessories! Aside from the iPad itself I use a selection of accessories to make the whole experience better: Hardware & Accessories iPad Pro 12.9″: This is absolutely without a shadow […]
Editorial Illustration Process WI Life Magazine
I thought I’d have a look back at one of my favourite projects from last year and share my editorial illustration process. I was commissioned by WI Life magazine to create six illustrations to accompany their resolutions article. Each year the WI decides on a cause to support and for this issue they had narrowed […]
WI Life Editorial Illustration Commission
I was recently asked by WI Life magazine to create an illustration for their September issue. WI Life is the membership magazine for the Women’s Institute and goes out to all 220,000 members eight times a year. This project was particularly exciting for me as I am a WI member and am on the committee (as chief […]
2017 Wall Planner Calendars
Looking for a 2017 Wall Planner? Then you are in luck as I’ve launched my 2017 range of wall planners! My two popular pattern planners are back as well as some brand new fully illustrated planners. So far there is a city scene and a nature seasons illustration but more are being added all the time. […]
