Autism guide for FE teachers

As part of my teacher training I have been tasked with putting together a short guide for a chosen learning difficulty for teachers. It didn't have to be illustrated but of course I illustrated it. You can see the whole thing here: http://www.lloydjonesillustration.com/images/illustration/guide1lowrez.pdf

The Princess and the Fog release date

I am pleased to announce that The Princess And The Fog, my children's book about depression, will be released in June 2015 in the UK and the US, and July 2015 in Australia and Canada to Jessica Kingsley Publishing. More dates may be to follow as they have distribution offices in other countries as well. This will be a very important book to a lot of young people in a very difficult situation and their parents who may need a bit of help, as this will be one of the first books written specifically for children who are living with depression ever published. There will be a special guide for parents in there written by child psychologists Dr Melinda Nettleton and Dr Linda Bayliss, on how best to support a depressed child and to use the story in the best possible way.

Obviously I am WICKED-STOKED ABOUT THIS.

Most of the illustrations you have seen so far on this blog are in the book, but some have since been redone or updated or removed as some revisions to the story have taken place in the last couple of months but I assure you the book will be just as beautiful and awesome as it has ever been.

I'll post more dev pics soon. Spread the word!

Food Kiosks image dump

Some of the other concept illustrations and logo designs completed since April as part of my ongoing branding work for Food Kiosks inc.
Plus, a shot of the first open kiosk, opened in Southampton Central Station last month. I handpainted the sign, and handwrote the blackboards on the back wall and a lot of the display cards.

The Princess and the Fog is NEARLY FINISHED

My upcoming childrens' picture book, The Princess and the Fog, is coming to the last stages of its development and I couldn't be happier with how it's turning out! Here are some of the finished illustrations so far, totally out of context. Click em to big em!

And here are some sketchbook bits as well because I like posting sketchbook bits:

Cucina Della Piazza food kiosks

Recent illustrations produced for a sales pitch. If it goes ahead, this will be the start of two new chains of food kiosks in and around train stations all around the country. They already had technical drawings and plans drawn up but I was commissioned to illustrate the kiosks in action. Certain details such as logos, uniforms, colour schemes are only preliminary but the idea was to give the viewers of the presentation a general feel for the environment the new kiosks would create and how people would use them.

AboutMyArea Portsmouth

Profile/promo image made for the AboutMyArea Portsmouth Facebook page. Including some major and minor landmarks of the area and the owner of the page's dog who often features as something of an unofficial mascot.

Tried something a bit different with this one. Each landmark/component was drawn on different materials at different sizes and then assembled in Photoshop later to create a visually diverse style that reflects the bustling diversity of the city that inspired it.

Road to Blissfields 2014

Click to enlarge

Poster produced for the battle of the bands gig in the leadup to the annual Blissfields music festival. The winner of the battle wins a place in the festival lineup! The theme of the festival this year is "A Walk On The Wild Side." I had a lot of fun with this!

The Princess and the Fog, post II

More sketchbook stuff from the picture book I'm developing as part of a body of work about depression in childhood. A happy, brave, smart princess in a big, lovely castle in a happy, peaceful kingdom is suddenly attacked by a cold, dark fog that envelops her head and makes her sad and tired and unable to do anything and she doesn't know why.

Her mum and dad (the King and Queen) do their best to help but they're a bit out of their depth and nothing seems to work. In the end, thanks to the help a friend of hers from school they're able to figure out what to do.

The story encourages young people going through a difficult time that they can't understand and can't seem to fix not to shut themselves out from the world, not to give up, and that it's okay to ask for help even when it seems like you're alone or that nobody will understand or care.
It also encourages parents not to PANIC, and that they can do a world of good just by being there.
As well as being a funny and happy story it will also be a valuable resource for parents and guardians alike.

Leo and Lucy

I made this a few weeks ago but I couldn't blog about it then because it was a Christmas present for someone. Two beloved family pets. Acrylic paint on canvas. I'll get a larger resolution photo soon.