Goodbye Blogspot...

I've just launched a brand new website that incorporates a blog, so I will now be posting all of my latest news on there.  It means that this blog will no longer be active.  The new website can be found at:

www.ardillustration.com

Thanks to all of you who have followed this blog and I hope you won't mind making the short trip over to my website and/or Facebook page to see my latest work.  The new site also has a shop, so you can now buy original artwork.  Have a look around, it would be great to hear from you! 

Garden Sculpture

You may love or hate these three-dimensional forms of personal expression but that is the main point, they are personal to the individual who placed them there. This illustration accompanies an article where Alan Titchmarsh discusses the pros and cons of adorning your garden with the traditional gnome or abstract sculpture.

Silent Flight

I have only ever seen an owl on one occasion.  I was driving up the M1 at dawn when an owl glided over the road and disappeared into the trees.  I hope to see one again, perhaps in an environment more like this.

A British Garden

Madame Narbonne tries to add a little bit of Britishness to the garden of her expat neighbour.  Read the full story in April issue of Living France Magazine.

Love and Hate

For my latest Gardeners' World illustration I was asked to depict our illogical preference for one animal over the next.  A flock of doves is a beautiful thing, but a woodpigeon, a grey squirrel or rabbit are often considered pests and not enjoyed to the same degree.  Perhaps it is what they do that is the problem rather than what they look like?

Night Flight

A painting inspired by a song...

The Green Man

Since reading 'The Magic Spring', an excellent book about English folklore by Richard Lewis, I have become increasingly interested in these 'traditional' stories.  The tale of The Green Man is especially inspirational for an Illustrator-a spirit of the woodland, made of leaves, surrounded by nature.  So with that in mind I created this painting...

Squirrels!

The joys of gardening are described in an article I illustrated for Gardeners' World.  You spend all year creating the perfect lawn and these pesky creatures come and destroy your hard work.  That combined with knotted hosepipes and trees dumping leaves everywhere, makes the garden not the most relaxing of environments.

Zumba

I've never been to a Zumba class, but I hope this illustration for Living France Magazine, accurately describes one...

Paintings

Over the past few months I have dusted of my neglected paint brushes and created a few gouache paintings that depict scenes inspired by many different things.  I've observed some of these events and imagined others.  It is a nice change to be looking at something other than a computer screen when creating imagery and I intend to produce more of these paintings, time allowing.  If you like what you see, these pieces are for sale so please get in touch.

You can see more of my work, on my Facebook page...

Unwelcome Guests

My latest illustration for Living France Magazine depicts the dangers of living abroad- becoming a holiday home for family and friends. This guy seems to be enjoying the host's wine a little too much!

Cats and Carp

I'm currently illustrating the monthly column of Alan Titchmarsh for Gardeners' World Magazine. This month, Alan describes the mystery of the miraculous fish in his pond. He has never introduced a fish to the pond, not even a golden one, but nonetheless it is now teeming with Roach and perhaps even a few monster sized Carp. Weird...

Lost

This is a rather autumnal image, produced for Living France Magazine. It shows how a road trip around the French countryside was saved after getting the correct directions from a local hunter.