How to Make a Heron Happy - out now

The first book I've worked on is out now. "How to make a heron happy" by Lari Don is about a boy who sees a grumpy looking heron in a park, and sets about trying to make the heron happy. It is published by Floris Books.

Illustration Friday - Winter

I started out with the intention of drawing some winter birds and ended up with this little guy. Happy New Year everyone! My New Year's resolution is to do Illustration Friday every week.

How to Make a Heron Happy

'Hamish is worried about the heron in the park. It always looks sad and grumpy, with its hunched-up shoulders and long frowning eyebrows. So Hamish decides to cheer it up: first he brings bread crusts and biscuit crumbs to the park. But the heron still looks grumpy. Next he brings his family to tidy up the heron's polluted pond. But the heron still looks grumpy. Then he brings his class to plant flowers around the pond. But the heron still looks grumpy. Finally he brings everyone he knows to have a party for the heron. But the heron still looks grumpy. Hamish looks at the heron and wonders: maybe the heron isn't unhappy after all? Each page of this delightful story from popular children's author and storyteller, Lari Don, is brought to life with vibrant illustrations. Colour and activity build up as the book progresses and the drab inner-city park is brought to life.'

- as you can see, just sent off the final artwork for How To Make A Heron Happy! For more information visit www.florisbooks.co.uk

Arnie's Problem

Here are a few excerpts from my offering for the Macmillan Prize, a children's book competition. What was supposed to be a relatively quick project turned into a mammoth 7 week struggle, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome.