Illustrations for 'Once Upon A Winter's Day'

Here are the seven illustrations used at Quarry Bank Mill (National Trust, Cheshire) for 'Once Upon A Winter's Day'

Quarry Bank Mill & House

Reindeer over Apprentice House

Snow Queen in front of Glasshouses

Marley's Ghost with Srooge in Mill Manager's House

Jack Frost 

Nutcracker & Mouse

The Snow Child, Apprentice House Garden

Quarry Bank Mill Christmas

Thrilled to see my illustrations used at Quarry Bank Mill (National Trust), Cheshire in the ‘Once Upon a Winter’s Day' exhibition, based around traditional winter stories. Some images blown up large (by Shankleys printers) on top floor of mill, along with associated activities (plus visits to Santa at weekends). 

Activities include making origami roses (snow queen story), making chains (Marley's Ghost, A Christmas Carol), decorating wood discs to hang up, dressing-up (nutcracker & mouse), sending cards to Santa and finding images of Jack Frost.

Smaller versions of illustrations throughout the grounds and other buildings (and a large splintered version of The Snow Queen too!).

Quarry Bank Mill and River Bollin

Reindeer flying over Apprentice House

Snow Queen in front of Glasshouse

Jack Frost in Lower Garden

Marley's Ghost in Mill Manager's Office

Nutcracker in Quarry Bank House

Snow Child in Apprentice Garden

Illustrations for Stories2Connect

Sequence for 'The Serious Business of Hiding the Ball', Stories2Connect

original b&w version

Thrilled to see my illustrations for The Serious Business of Hiding the Ball', part of Stories2Connect Project, are now online. These stories will also be part of a phygital project, where digital stories will be put into physical projects.
see http://stories2connect.org/our-stories-2/the-serious-business-of-hiding-a-ball/

Here is the blurb about the story:-
The Serious Business of Hiding a Ball was co-created by young people and the author, Amy Lee Tempest, using ‘story-making dice’ designed by the Stories2Connect project team. The story features a dog called Baxter who dreams of becoming an astro-physicist but feels anxious about his first day at school. Baxter has a special ball that helps him to cope when he is feeling nervous. In fact, his ball is his world, but Baxter is worried that the other dogs at school might not understand. On his way to school Baxter meets a new friend who helps him to realise that the solution to his problem was right under his nose all along…

This story was illustrated by Anna Violet and is aimed at young children and families. The story is especially relevant for children and young people who sometimes struggle to cope with change or new situations.

The Fox the Crow and the Cheese (Aesops)

Some new illustrations using the original text from Aesops.

1. A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of
cheese in its beak and settle on the branch of a tree

2. "That's for me as I am Fox," said Master Reynard
as he walked to the foot of the tree.
"Good day Mistress Crow," he cried.

Sketch (Anna Violet)

The Crow lifted her head and began to CAW her best,
but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of
cheese FELL to the ground...

sketch (Anna Violet)

"Do not trust flatterers!"

The Lake of the Moon

My illustrations for The Lake of the Moon were published last month in That's Incredible! (Comprehension X, Oxford University Press, 2017). This is an ancient Indian fable rewritten by Narinder Dhami and aimed at primary school children, Years 4-6.
Here's a peek at some of the illustrations. The colours alternate between purple and reddish tones.

Discover Author Arts Award log book

As a big lover of books, I am thrilled to see Bolton library's Arts Awards log books now in print, along with my illustrations. This is an author-related Arts Award aimed at 7-11 year olds, where children find out about books and an author or illustrator, put their findings into a log book and share with others.

The illustrations consist of the front cover (with Bolton museum's dramatic entrance) and interior borders on the theme of 'discover' and 'share'. They can be coloured-in, added to and pasted over, depending on how the child wants to personalise their log book.

What a super project to be involved with!

Illustrations for 'The Singing Tortoise'

Yay, The Singing Tortoise (author Kate Scott) is out, illustrated by me in diluted inks. Published by Oxford University Press (Oxford Reading Tree, All Stars, level 11), a young reader's book aimed at 6-7 year olds. Here's a taster from over 50 b&w illustrations.

Waiting to go in the kiln

Some clay models I made of hare, tortoise and elephant, waiting to go in the kiln. The owl was inspired by ceramist Rosemary Wren. These have helped with some recent illustrations I've been doing, to be published next year.

At Seven Stories

Thrilled to be part of the scbwi touring showcase exhibition, now exhibiting at the cafe at Seven Stories, alongside some wonderful illustrators (see scbwi showcase).

Roald Dahl re-imagined: The Enormous Crocodile