Well, we're into June...Halfway through the year and heading for the longest day later this month. Where did the year go?

I have been very fortunate for the past month working with Scholastic books. They have given me a series of five books to illustrate which have been great fun and with an amazing picture researcher who is a joy to work for. It has kept me busy and on my toes.

I have also started work with a new agent who has submitted one of my children's book ideas for publication. I have no idea what will happen but I will keep my fingers crossed.

Because I have been busy I have no illustrations to post. I don't think it's good to upload images I have been drawing before they come out in print.

I will have some new ones soon and they will be uploaded as soon as they are done.

Enjoy June

Two more cards for the series from the.......Suit of clubs. I know, its not even funny!!!

A few watercolour illustrations. No reason...it's just the way the mind works...my mind.

Summer's coming, the rain is getting warmer. What do we all have to do in summer? That's right swim in the pool. And if you haven't got a pool you can use the kid's pool. Aaaaahhhhhhh!

Anyone that knows me knows I have a great interest in aircraft and WW2. This is a drawing I have done to try and capture a squadron scramble during WW2. The planes in the background should have been Spitfires but the discerning eye will be able to tell that they are Mustangs. On the other hand....who cares. I just enjoyed doing the drawing.

I've recently started to design a new deck of cards. The roughs for the hearts suit is pretty much complete. I'm currently working on the Diamonds. I'll upload them as they get completed.

The British tourist abroad. We all have to remember that we have a reputation to uphold. It is our remit to stand out against the crowd even if it does include socks with sandals....Oh well.....

The Wedding. One of the happiest times of our lives...'We can pick our friends but we can't pick our relatives'. Isn't that how the saying goes? Just to let you know, this one ended happily ever after.

Yeah.....another drawing for January....Yippee! It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Aaaah, the New Year. Snow on the ground everywhere. Stuck inside, the family moaning, the dog doesn't want to go outside and is prepared to hold his bladder until the thaw.

I've been doing quite a few of these crowd scenes. I like illustrations where you look around and see new things all the time. Look for the Easter eggs under the pyramid in the background.....You didn't really look did you?

This will be my last upload onto the blog for this year. I worked for around six months in a small ice cream company in Gloucester. The company was called Tartaglias and they produced some of the best ice-cream in the country. I don't know if it's still going but I hope so. Anyway, I sometimes took out the ice cream van. It was good fun. I used to insist that if they wanted a particular ice cream they asked for it by name. Ah, the Lollygobblechocbomb. I probably didn't sell many of these.

I've just heard that an old school friend of mine looks at the site at times so if you're looking this time, Hi Martin Collins, long time no see. Take care and have a great New Year. To everyone else, Merry Christmas, Thank you for taking the time to look at the site. Please leave me an occassional message and Have a Great 2010.

Well, it's coming to the end of the year. It's been eventful. It didn't live up to its expectations but then again they seldom do. Still, those around me have done well. My kids continue to thrive and shine and that makes up for any other dissapointments I may have had.

I know I'm a lucky guy to be surrounded by a great family....what else could you want? Have a great Christmas and New Year.

Another 'gathering' illustration. I like to do this type of illustration. I like looking at crowds of people. There's always something interesting going on somewhere. I like to put as much of that as I can in these illustrations. I have only personnaly been on a couple of camping forays but the idea of it appeals to me. My wife has never been one to rough it so the closest we have ever been to 'going camping' was to stay at a Travelodge hotel.

A selection of characters

The rat girl

She is supposed to be small. It's not a giant rat!