Frances McKay Illustration

Small Change for Stuart

Last February I finished illustrating a book by author Lissa Evans called Small Change for Stuart. I drew on A4 drawing paper, a pad of which I bought from Trago Mills (a department shop in Falmouth) about 4 years ago. It was going slightly yellow, and I spilt Ribena on it a while back. I used a pen also bought from the same shop – I stockpiled, as they were going really cheap at the time.

A New Studio and a Big Pink Bird

I think that I must be a creature of habit when it comes to working and I wonder if it's a trait common among illustrators? At the bottom of my garden is a beautiful new studio, designed by my architectural illustrator dad. By chance the house behind ours came up for sale and my parents seeking to move from just outside Bath bought it.

Dad, at 76, still works and wanted to replicate the studio he had built in the garden of the previous house. The idea was to have a shared workspace for us both and so designs were drawn up and Jim the Builder set about clearing their garden and laying the base, all in the freezing cold of last January. Originally planning permission hadn't been required as the building was within the acceptable limits for width and height, but once the shingled roof had gone up the neighbours began to fret and grumble and the planning people were sent round to measure up.

Apparently the requirements had changed and now planning permission was needed..there followed much distress to everyone, not least to Jim who had worked so hard. The whole building would have to be fireproofed and the lovely shingles taken off and fire retardant ones put on instead. The roof was too high and would have to be lowered, which was a very dramatic event. Jim did it himself using Strongboy masonry prop supports and gradually lower the roof inch by inch. We all agreed that actually the proportions were much better after lowering somehow!

Work continued and by the summer the building was complete. We had a party for the neighbours to celebrate in September and Dad works happily in there. However, as I mentioned at the beginning, I am truly a creature of habit it seems and have not been able to extricate myself from the tiny upstairs room in my house which is just about wide enough for my desk. I can sit in the familiar organised chaos that is my work space, reaching to my left for the light box, to the right for my inks. I can listen to Radio 4 or not, or play CDs I don't have to be polite and cheery to anyone.

But I do feel guilty because Dad would love the company, however I am superstitious about leaving what works for me - even though I'd be somewhere with my lovely father, lots of space, excellent light and a cappuccino maker. Spring is on the way and maybe that will bring a fresh start for me........watch this space.

Jane Eccles

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Jim May -The Builder

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