Bristol wallpaper is coming really soon!

I'm so excited that my first wallpaper designs will be available soon (aiming for early August) that I thought I'd do a little blog about it. Although it's my first professional foray into wallpaper design, I'm no stranger to illustration. In fact yesterday I found some of my earliest efforts which I did in my first job as a junior designer. We didn't even have computers, it was so long ago!

Those ski suits really date it!

Luckily I've moved on since then, I was after all fresh out of uni...

I did a lot of commercial work over the years including these crazy characters...

And these collectable glasses, which were where I really found my own style of illustration. Apparently (so I'm told) one of the people who worked at the company that printed the illustrations on the glasses decided to get a tattoo of the design on his leg!

My illustration style has developed over the years into something which feels like mine. Often over my career I was asked to emulate someone else's style, or was directed to tackle very specific subject matter. But now I'm drawing things I love with the freedom to direct myself!

So I've just ordered my first set of samples of my Bristol wallpaper and as soon as they arrive, they will be available in my shop. Then if you decide to buy, the wallpaper will be printed to order, by John Mark Ltd. one of the UK's best and most experienced wallpaper manufacturers. Bath will be next...I have all the illustrations ready to go.

In the meantime I have been working on some new illustrations. A friend suggested I look at a regional design, so I have started with my beloved North East, where I was born and brought up. Not that each North East city doesn't deserve a wallpaper of its own of course! Here's a sneak preview of my most recent drawing.

Who doesn't love puffins!