Wednesday, November 20, 2019

• DRAWING CONCLUSIONS •
Thirty years ago I had my first book published. 
No not a children's book but a collection of political postcards and cartoons. Over the years I've produced many cards for various campaigns such as The Miners, CND, Anti-Apartheid etc mostly through Leeds Postcards.
Following the miners strike and the success of the Miners Support pack we decided to collect all my work together into one small booklet, full colour cover and black and white inside.
Drawing Conclusions was sold throughout the UK via a series of press campaigns and reviews. Remember, no social media in those days to shout out about your project.




 Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's chair Monsignor Bruce Kent was kind enough to offer a foreword to the book which I was flattered and very proud of. I'd met him at afternoon tea hosted by the mayor in Barnsley Town Hall and he had remembered meeting me.

The Thatcher Therapy dot-dot puzzle postcard became quite famous and was featured in other publications. It spawned the follow up Reagan puzzle, and more recently, the David Cameron 'Smug Face Wipe'.




Please feel free to print off the Thatcher picture, laminate it and enjoy the satisfaction that thousands of sufferers sought in the 1980's and 90's.
Thatcher was such a shock to the system that she spawned thousands of political cartoons and I've created my fair share. Here's another produced for the "I support the Miners' pack of cards raising money for striking miners




I am very proud to be able to say that these cards helped raise over £30,000 for families living below the breadline as the Tory government turned the screw.



I sold the book at various events. 
Here in Roundhay Park Leeds at a Peace festival.



And, also in Leeds, with a window display on Sherratt & Hughes bookshop.



I still have a few hundred copies of the book left and keep thinking about putting them online.
If I do they will be around £10 each including p&p.
I'll post again if this happen, but if anyone would like a copy meanwhile, please email.



"Screamin Tabloids" for Campain for Press and Broadcasting Freedom


© All images are strictly copyright ©

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Monday, November 18, 2019

• VILLAINOUS DISNEY •
Sooooo, I'm quite embarrassed really to admit that I haven't managed to post on here for some 4 months! It's unforgivable - but I have some very good excuses!
Firstly, the commissioned work I've had in is still mostly under wraps and embargoed.
Secondly, the other work I've been doing, and which has taken up 90% of my time, is writing and illustrating my first children's book!!!
Well, it was worth the effort, as my book Bug Belly the ever hungry frog will be published next Spring by Five Quills.
Much, much more on that later I promise. In fact there will be a brand new Bug Belly website with all the colourful details. I shall share that as soon as it's ready.
Meanwhile, some of the commissioned work I CAN shout out about is a great little job for Disney and their Villainous board game.

I was asked by the great team at Funko (Formerly Forrest Pruzan in Seattle) to juice-up their raw renderings of the plastic game play pieces. Although the render was quite good it lacked the sexy highlights, refractions and reflections that real plastic would possess. Also, they wanted flaws in the plastic to be noticeable to add that extra realism.

To really demonstrate the 'before and after' effect of my illustrative involvement I sought the help of my friend Gary Fabbri. (http://www.garyfabbri.com)
 Gary is a skilled illustrator AND talented film maker and he created this great little video wipe promo for me, using After Effects and Adobe Premier. Please remember that all images are strictly copyright. ©






And here are some of the other characters from the game that were a pleasure to work on. 





The game is decribed thus -  
An epic contest of sinister power, you take on the role of a Disney Villain and strive to achieve your own devious objective. Discover your character's unique abilities and winning strategy while dealing twists of fate to thwart your opponents' schemes. Find out who will triumph over the forces of good and win it all!

You can enter the game play as one of six iconic Disney Villains (Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, Prince John, Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook)
Each Villain has their own oversized sculpted mover
The game where being the bad guy is a good thing
Fate cards allow you to meddle with other Villain's objectives!