What's New

Here's where I keep you up to date with my current work, commissioned or personal, with a little more background and insight into the process.

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JUN
30
0

Spice Market: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Spice Market: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
I actually did this in 2020 for the Summer collection, but completely forgot to post it.  So here it is, a year late.  Image used as print and digital promo.  At the time of writing, I've completed Autumn 2021, and I do believe the next brief is on its way.  But in these 'unprecedented' times - as people are so fond of...
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  762 Hits
762 Hits
FEB
04
0

Double portrait

Double portrait
About 4 years ago, I had an idea: I know, I'll paint 13 of my special friends and colleagues and have an exhibition of them. They'll be large canvasses, about 3' x 4' or so. I worked out what I'd call it and contacted a local business to sponsor it. I wouldn't have the exhibition launch in a gallery, it would be in the business premises of my spons...
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  883 Hits
883 Hits
AUG
20
0

Stockholm: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Stockholm: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
So, in Autumn 2020, the mood is all about Stockholm for the Autumn/Winter 2020 collection.  Image used as Point of Sale, advertising, print & Social Media.
  1119 Hits
1119 Hits
MAY
21
0

Elephant Festival Jaipur: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Elephant Festival Jaipur: for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
​So, in Spring 2020, the archetypal 'Dessin Family' are visiting Jaipur, having been in Shetland over the winter.  They really do get out and about.  And who knows where they'll be in the Summer, not to mention Autumn?  I do, because I've already done those illustrations, but, you know, client confidentiality...
  1892 Hits
1892 Hits
FEB
12
0

Ponies in pullovers

Ponies in pullovers
Who knew what the world of illustration would throw at me for Christmas 2019?  From my long-running association with client 'Dessin' in Japan, the winter season is all about Shetland and ponies in pullovers - Scotland's National Tourism Organisation's marketing ploy to encourage visitors...
  2246 Hits
2246 Hits
JAN
29
0

Oscar

Oscar
This is Oscar.  Oscar is my step-grandson.  He's now 9 years old and I have drawn him since he was tiny, so he's completely immune to my attention - often, however, because I choose to draw him when he is transfixed with gaming. There are more drawings of him here in my family sketchbook section.
  1375 Hits
1375 Hits
DEC
19
0

Game of dominoes at a rumshack in Holetown, Barbados

Game of dominoes at a rumshack in Holetown, Barbados
Just sold this from my Etsy shop and it's winging its way to California for Christmas as I write.  It's watercolour, painted from life while sitting in the hollow of a tree, using Coca-Cola and not in fact water as I recall.  I think I was suffering a violent hangover at the time as well, which I used to find curiously good in terms of al...
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  1526 Hits
1526 Hits
DEC
03
0

Whitby Harbour

Whitby Harbour
Just sold this on Etsy.  I love images of the same scene at different times.  You can see more and buy other images from this series from my Etsy shop 
  1450 Hits
1450 Hits
NOV
21
0

Art to buy for Christmas: The Times 21 November 2019, Mile End poster by Andrew Bylo

Art to buy for Christmas: The Times 21 November 2019, Mile End poster by Andrew Bylo
Here's a poster commissioned earlier this century by Transport for London in The Times today 21 November 2019 in their 'Art to buy for Christmas' listing.  It's always nice when you find your work picked up by someone else as something special to buy.  It was one of a pair, the other image was 'London's Garden Squares by bus, Tube and riv...
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  1502 Hits
1502 Hits
OCT
15
0

The JUDGES!

The JUDGES!
I love Strictly Come Dancing.  Here are the judges in all their glory, drawn from TV, which is a thing I rather like doing - I've just made a new page here - I can feel plenty more incoming.  The Wall, and the Antiques Roadshow beckon...
  1480 Hits
1480 Hits
OCT
04
0

Autumn image: map of Shetland for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Autumn image: map of Shetland for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
​Here we are in autumn, and it's all about wool and The Shetland Islands.  It's the first map I've had commissioned in years and was a pleasure to do.  I've already completed Winter 2019, and as I write, am waiting on approval on my Spring 2020 rough.
  1712 Hits
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1712 Hits
AUG
19
0

Summer 2019 image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Summer 2019 image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
As Summer already looks like turning to Autumn, here's the image my faithful client in Japan commissioned for their summer collection.  I've already completed the Autumn and Winter images and briefing will be turning shortly to Spring 2020...  
  1829 Hits
1829 Hits
JUL
11
0

I was thinking of a hot summer's day

I was thinking of a hot summer's day
I've always loved painting against the sun when the white paper in front of you almost blinds you.  It forces absolute concentration, and simple tonal & colour decisions, quickly.  Even better if you're in an uncomfortable position and have to get the thing done speedily.  It's only when you look at the result later that you know...
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  1618 Hits
1618 Hits
JUN
17
0

Portrait of my mum

Mum30Jun2019
I've been drawing my mum again - I know she looks sad here, but actually she wasn't - boredom and gravity affect all sitters! She was bright and utterly engaged with the experience of being drawn again - but then, she's no stranger to it. 'You're 88, Mum.' 'Am I REALLY?' she says. 'I suppose that's what I look like.' 
  1492 Hits
1492 Hits
MAY
17
0

New portfolio

New portfolio
​New to you I'm sure - not quite so new to me - but I've just uploaded a selection of drawings made during 3 weeks in Ukraine staying with my cousins - daughters of my Dad's eldest brother - and their families.
  1644 Hits
1644 Hits
MAR
22
0

Spring 2019 image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

06MoroccoSpring2019
My ever loyal client in Tokyo continues to put more work my way.  As Isaku Omine, President of Dessin, said "Andrew has been a key member in diving deep into what Dessin is and can be, speedily and efficiently. Andrew's work is Dessin's great fortune." See What my clients say for more... 
  1640 Hits
1640 Hits
DEC
07
0

Winter 2018 image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Winter 2018 image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan
The latest image for my devoted and loyal client in Japan to promote their winter campaign, completed - as is normal in this industry - during the heat of a lovely summer!  Predictably enough, the Spring image is already complete and going to print now and the Summer brief is due within a week, so I will shortly be imagining myself in the boil...
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  1578 Hits
1578 Hits
NOV
16
0

The artist's mother

The artist's mother
My mum's 88 years and 7 months old now.  As she gets older, it gets more important to me to draw or paint her as often as I can.  The last portrait I painted of her was about 10 years ago and she is much more frail these days.
  1675 Hits
1675 Hits
AUG
30
0

Autumn season's image for clothing brand 'Dessin' in Japan

Cape_Cod
From my first illustration in 2014 for Dessin via my Far East agent, Cross World Connections in Tokyo, this client has proved remarkably loyal, commissioning 4 illustrations a year from me - quite something in the often fickle world of illustration. What I find most rewarding is how the client relationship builds a mutual understanding and respect,...
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  1797 Hits
1797 Hits
AUG
02
0

Portrait: Cock o' The North

Cock o' The North
I'm really delighted to have sold this portrait - Cock o' The North, painted about 2 years ago - size: 91.5cm x 76cm. Acrylic on canvas, painted partly from life during a 2 hour sitting - mostly working on the face - and subsequently completed in the studio from photographic reference.  The initial stage after about 2 hours is on the right.&nb...
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  1702 Hits
1702 Hits