Busiest. Month. Ever.

So August, we are having fun eh? After a whirlwind week or so at Oasis and some extra visits beyond that, I can show you this:

(The finished window complete with castle backdrop)

And this:

(The finished window complete with castle backdrop CLOSE UP. oooh)

And this:

(A photo booth screen that I drew all over and is now in store for customers to sit in front of and say cheeeeese)

And finally this:

(A photo of my bag in the 'Wardrobe must-haves' section of the Scotsman on Saturday. Yes, really!)

But it doesn't stop here. I finish at the book festival in one week, before which I will be live drawing (eek) with the lovely amazing author Viv French at the book festival's "Are you sitting comfortably?" storytime session this Sunday. THEN I will be diving headfirst into my residency at ECA and I can't wait. Got a few exciting commissions and meetings lined up. It's all go! Speaking of which, I start work in half an hour....

The Month of Windows: Part Two (completed!)

Donedonedonedone....DONE! Four days, three windows, too many coffees and exactly the right number of pens. I'm exhausted but it was so worth it. I'm really proud of how the windows are looking, and the experience was amazing. I met lovely staff at Oasis and lovely visiting public. Personal high points included the little girl who sat tracing the lines I drew with her finger for about an hour (her poor mum) and giving me encouraging 'whoop's and thumbs up. I felt like an athlete! But one that eats chocolate and sits cross-legged for hours. Here are some photos from today:

This last one is the very last thing I drew. A sleepy Sir Walter Scott, chilling out under his monument. My favourite bit.

And already something exciting has happened! I was mentioned in an article as an emerging young british designer! Here is the link:

http://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/young-brittania-emerging-british-graphic-artists/%0A

SO. That's quite enough excitement for one week. I start working at the Edinburgh Book Festival tomorrow, bright and early. So I'm off to recharge. DONE.

The Month of Windows: Part Two (day one)

Wow, what a day. Remember that mysterious comment from the last post? Well the wait is over (phew, right?) I can reveal that I am illustrating in the window of Oasis in the Princes Mall, Edinburgh. The reason I kept it to myself: Fear. And I'm glad to say that after today the fear is gone! I had a brilliant day, and completed the first of the three windows. It now looks like this:

And from the inside (where I was curled up - doodling and occasionally grinning like an idiot at people - but for the most part in my own wee world) it looks like this:

                                               

Please do come down over the next three days if you are in Edinburgh and have the time. There's a silent auction - ten prints of my work all fancily printed up and framed (thanks Oasis!) are up for grabs and there are tote bags for sale for just £5...

ALL PROCEEDS TO A BRILLIANT CHARITY (that was accidental caps lock but it is staying in!) The Maggie Centre in Edinburgh helps people affected by cancer, my lovely Mum to name one. It is one of a few organisations that were able to provide some help to my Mum and our family through her illness and the tough time we had. The centre runs activities and holds workshops and events, but is also there as a calm sanctuary on the hospital grounds where patients and their loved ones can go to talk (or not), drink tea, or just step outside the hospital environment and take stock. Find out more here:

http://www.maggiescentres.org/edinburgh/introduction.html

I'd also like to say that all the staff at Oasis Princes Mall were so lovely to me today. I am genuinely excited to get back to work tomorrow!