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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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.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.'
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.
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...
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...
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.
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,...
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...
Just sold this image of Mile End from my Etsy shop to a very happy client for whom the location has a special association - it's the preliminary visual I submitted to Transport for London for a poster I did in 2004. The final poster is here too - client made considerable adjustments to the colour and cropped the bottom part as they used it at diffe...
When I'm between jobs, I love to lose myself on top of a cliff and do some drawing. This is one of a series I have available as giclée prints (largely because I used felt pen and Tippex a lot in them and they will degrade very swiftly - I just liked the immediacy of what they can do). You have to make the most of the sun when it's here....