'Secret London'- Serco Prize for Illustration 2012

The 2012 Association of Illustrators Serco Prize exhibition is currently on at the London Transport Museum. This year's theme was Secret London, with entries tasked with exploring hidden and lesser-known aspects of the capital's history, culture and geography. My illustration, London's Ancient Trees, can be seen there along with the other selected entries until December 10th.

Many thanks to the AOI, Serco and the LTM for putting a great show together, and a brilliant opening night. Congratulations to the winners, and look out for Finn Clark's winning design on posters throughout the tube network.

Serco Prize for Illustration 2012- London's Ancient Trees

My entry to the AOI's  Serco Prize for Illustration has been chosen to exhibit at the London Transport Museum again this year.

This year's theme was 'Secret London'- exploring a hidden side to the capital. My subject is the great ancient trees that populate London's parks, streets and gardens. I sought to convey the strength and grandeur of these elder residents of the city. As they grow to many hundreds of years old, each tree seems to take on a unique personality of its own. They grow to huge size, twist into bizarre forms, support ecosystems and watch patiently as the world goes on around them, tiny humans scuttling to and fro cocking things up.

At risk of sounding overtly hippyish... trees are pretty damn awesome.

The tree sketch I posted previously, drawn from life in Kensington Gardens, formed the basis of the finished image. I exaggerated and simplified the form and size of the tree, gave it a sprinkling of new buds to make sure it didn't look dead, and added a few awe-struck Londoners. Penciled, inked mostly with a brush, and Photoshopped.

It was a cracking exhibition last year and I'm greatly looking forward to the 2012 show.

Full info on the competition and the exhibiting illustrators can be found on the AOI.

Private View Illustration Agency

Myself and my pictures are now represented by Private View Illustration Agency. They have some super-good artists on their books and I'm very excited to be alongside them.

Have a peek at www.pvuk.com

(Though my entry on the site is in a pre-formatted state at present)

I'd also recommend that you avoid reading my embarrassing self-penned biography!

Very happy!

Also, I received a nice email to say that my piece from the London Transport Museum is among 12 pieces from the exhibition chosen to be displayed at the Serco head office for the next 5 weeks or so. 

I hope everyone is well!

Bus Blinds

At the LTM there's a display of bus destination blinds hanging from the ceiling. They're really really long.

Strong biceps on those old bus drivers.

Serco Prize for Illustration Exhibition

My entry for the AOI & London Transport Museum competition (HERE) has been selected to appear in the Serco Prize for Illustration exhibition next month. I've seen a couple of the other chosen pieces and it looks like the exhibition is going to be great!


I'm really looking forward to this, off to pick up my print tomorrow.


The exhibition runs from the 10th May- 3rd June at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, so be sure to pop over and check it out yeah.

Thames Poster

I did this for that London Transport Museum/ AOI competition- a poster for the Thames. This is based on the under-appreciated stretch of the river beyond the Thames Barrier. The image is based on my sketchbook scrawls from a morning visit. Going to give it a couple more hours' loving soon I think.