Frances McKay Illustration

A Pritty World

 
'Greetings Big and Small' - The Art Group.

Christmas isn't over yet, so to continue on the theme here is just a few of the more than fifty cards, posters and ceramic designs Mandy Pritty has produced for The Art Group.  

The First Snowfall

 
Lilly was dressing up warm. It was the first day of the Christmas Holiday and Jack Frost had been about. He had left no footprints on the new carpet of snow that covered the ground. But each window pane had frosted to his touch, and the wind seemed keen to rush indoors; you can always tell when Jack Frost has been about.

Season's Greetings

 

'Nativity' - Jane Eccles.

Visit: Jane's Folksy shop, Jane's Blogs, Jane on Twitter, and Jane Eccles Blog Spot.

 

Christmassy Christina

 
Some festive illustrations from Christina Bretschneider.....

The Independent - Books of the Year: Children's books

 
It's been quite a year for James de la Rue. He's been in huge demand and flat out working for Walker ('Emily's Surprising Voyage'), Puffin (four 'Spy Dog' and 'Spy Pups' books), Penguin ('Great Expectations'), Hodder ('Gladiator Boy' editions 13 - 15) and Random House ('A Girl Called Dog'). To top if off he scooped the AOI Best of British Illustration - Images 34 Children's Books Bronze Award 2010 in September, and earlier this month featured in The Independent's 'Books of the Year: Children's books - Bears, rabbits, tigers, flies (and snot-caked bullies)' By Inbali Iserles.

Cards, Cats and Kabat-Zinn

 
I am happily busy with lots of commissions for pictures and cards - am currently working on a wedding picture and a birthday one and have recently done my first Civil Partnership card.

What's in the Woods

 
This is a little project I've been beavering away on of late, just a bit of fun to amuse myself and escape a bit from briefs and editorials. The idea originally came to me while on a trip in the foothills of the Andes ages ago. In South America the main way of travelling is by incredibly long bus journeys (32 hours was my longest) so that gave plenty of time for an idea to germinate. Of course being back home and finding the time to actually do it is another story.

A Girl Called Dog

 
This is a working version of a cover for a new book for Random House, plus a rough for one of the interior pages.

The story features a destitute young girl – downtrodden, beaten, neglected, but surely destined for greater things – and further convinces me I’m carving my little niche in depicting such pathos-inducing characters. I rejoice that there’s always plenty of room for more pathos in this game.