June bulletin
Hello! Sorry for the silence over here. June was much busier than I expected, and due to family arrangements, summer is always a tricky time for me to work so I have struggled to find a spare minute to chat about anything on here.
Happy Pride!
As June was pride month I felt like it was about time I bought some new books for our book shelves. I have been meaning to buy these for AGES!
Grandad’s Camper and Grandad’s Pride, both written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate. Both are really beautiful, very special books that help us discuss different types of relationships and family dynamics. I strongly believe that helping children understand and celebrate all the different types of people in this world will ensure they grow up to be accepting, compassionate and open minded adults.
What am I reading?
This month I have been really enjoying Gay Club! By Simon James Green. I am not finished yet (so no spoilers please!) but I am really loving it so much. Simon has such a brilliant way of writing characters that feel so so real, and you can tell his own lived experiences play a vital part in creating that authenticity.
An I can’t believe it’s taken me this long, as I love love loved the Netflix series when it was realised on Netflix last year, but I have finally started reading Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. I am really loving the diverse range of graphic novels that have been coming out over the last few years and I have been reading all that I can get my hands on. As an illustrator that is keen to get into telling my own stories, (and as someone who is more of a Netflix binger than a book reader), using panels and images to convey emotions and show dialogue and action feels so much more intuitive. Perhaps next month I’ll do a run down of my current fave graphic novels.
In memory of Jo Neal
Reach adult, RAW mentor and trustee Jo sadly passed away at her home with her family last Christmas Eve. Jo touched the lives of so many members of the charity, including friends, the kids at camp and those she worked alongside as a mentor and trustee. As the local branch coordinator for Reach, I was truly honoured to attend a wonderful event, organised by her friends and family, who very generously raised a huge amount for the charity in Jo’s memory.
As a Reach volunteer and mother of a child with a limb difference, I am so grateful for amazing adults like Jo that continue to inspire our children and encourage them to grow up with confidence and happiness. Although it was of course sad to all be brought together for this reason, it was so wonderful to meet Jo’s friends and family and hear all about the person she was, and for them to meet Beau as well. We are so grateful for the money that has been raised and know it will go towards vital activities and programs that help children growing up with an upper limb difference.
Michael Book Launch!
The story of a young sausage dog's journey from unknown pup to Hollywoof sensation and global su-paw-star!
I was so happy to join writer Terrie Chilvers and illustrator Tim Budgen for the launch of this wonderful new book! I hadn’t attended a book launch before so felt like a real life member of the publishing world! Hopefully there will be many more in the future, maybe even one for a book I have illustrated!
Plum Day Out
Last Friday I joined my wonderful agents and fellow Plum artists for a day out in London. We sat in Regent’s Park and drew cute dogs, before finding a pub and having some delicious food and some great chats. It was so great to meet many of the artists for the first time and hopefully this will be the first of many more social events. As I started my illustration career during lockdown, events like this weren’t a thing for the first 2 years, so it feels so great to be getting out and about and attending events in person. Were you an illustrator before the pandemic? What are the main differences you have noticed? I imagine there are far more online events happening now, which is great for accessibility. I’d love to know if you think things have changed fr the better, or worse, or if you feel everything has shifted back to how they were before the pandemic. Feel free to comment or send me a message.
