Wednesday 30 April 2014

New cover for London Calls! 
(Dark cloud reversed - actually white with black writing)

London Calls! Latest cover
London Calls - detail

Wednesday 23 April 2014

THERE’S ANOTHER ME THAT’S NAUGHTY

There's another me that's naughty...
When my second son was very young, each time he did something he knew he wasn't supposed to do (like take chocolate from the fridge or draw on the walls - to be honest, I can't remember many of the naughty things he did but he was a joyfully ebullient boy!) he would say: "The Shadow R did it…" or sometimes: "The Bad R did it". 
It was way too funny for us to ever be cross and it got him out of a lot of trouble...This imaginary other self that did all the naughty stuff was really a very clever tactic indeed…We could all do with one of those.

The picture on the right was a character from one of his early comics - I say that as if he still draws them - sadly he doesn't. This guy looks like a pyro - not sure what the M is for - R can't remember either - nor what his superpower is, although presumably it's something to do with fire: Matchman? Maybe it's just a boy incarnation of Messy Monster!

Anyway, I was thinking about "The Shadow R" a while back and came up with this...

There’s another me that’s naughty

There’s another me that’s naughty
And it’s very plain to see
That the other naughty person
Absolutely isn’t me.

When I tidy up my bedroom
I make sure it’s spic and span
But the other me that’s naughty
Doesn’t buy into my plan!

So with everything I put away
The naughty me will shout
That he hasn’t finished playing,
And leave all the best toys out…

When my clothes are in a jumble
Don’t you see, it’s just the same?
It’s not me that left them messy
It’s the naughty me to blame!

Oh that special bar of chocolate
That went missing from the drawer,
It’s the naughty me who took it
(Like the many times before…)

And if someone trampled mud in,
Well there’s no use in asking: “Who?”
It’s the naughty me that just forgot
The thing he had to do.

So remember when you think it’s me
I’m really not the one
It’s the naughty me that’s far too fond
Of having all the fun!

© GD December 2013

Tuesday 22 April 2014


A little bit of romance on this wet Tuesday…

Sun and Moon by Dame Barbara Hepworth

Sun and Moon: A Love Song II


The Sun, he rises high above
As Moon, she sleeps and dreams of love,
And as she lifts to light the night
The setting Sun retreats from sight..

“Sun, come warm me with your glow!”
“I can’t” cries sun, “it’s time to go…
And I must blaze and heat and burn
While you must spin and glide and turn!”

They briefly catch each other’s eyes
One needs to set, the other rise…
And so this dance of love goes on
Through days and nights, they sing their song -

“My Moon, please Moon, come out to play?”
“I can’t,” cries Moon, “it’s still the day!
And I must spin and glide and turn,
While you must blaze and heat and burn!”

Two planets ever passing by
Like lonely ships across the sky…
They never touch each other’s lips
And only meet when they eclipse.

© GD 2009


Saturday 12 April 2014

Feel the need to do a list of "#APossumsTail spotted!"
What fine company we are in - so many beautiful books - and what wonderful book/shops!

Tales on Moon Lane Bookshop window, Herne Hill

Waterstone's window, Picadilly

Daunt Books, Chelsea

Saatchi Gallery shop, Chelsea
Ooh! #MessyMonster too!!
Serpentine Gallery shop, Kensington

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
Tate Modern Shop, Bankside
GOSH comics window, Soho


National Theatre bookshop window, Southbank




Wednesday 9 April 2014


I ran the Bungay Half Marathon on Sunday to raise much-needed funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, in memory of our friends' wonderful son, Silas.
It was his birthday yesterday. 
He would have been 12 years old.
x x x x x
Take a look at the JustGiving page


Friday 4 April 2014

And here's The Seed Song (click to listen) from the latest Okido…beautifully illustrated by Alex Barrow and made into an adorable song by the very talenteMarie Merlet 


Thursday 3 April 2014

BACKGROUND information...

My first picture book - called A Possum's Tail - is a collaboration with brilliant illustrator Alex Barrow and came out 6th February 2014. A second book called London Calls! is a whistle-stop tour of London, led by a Pearly grandma and her granddaughter. London Calls! came out on 4th September 2014 and is my second book with Alex Barrow. A Possum's Tail was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.
Both books are by Tate Publishing.

Please see my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE or CURRICULUM VITAE for more details & updates.

As well as writing children's books, for children's television and two award-winning children's magazines, I do both private and commercial art commissions, a selection of which you can see here.

The children's shoes are part of an ongoing series of "first shoes", including several cards commissioned by the Almanac Gallery.

Hand-drawn, bespoke invitations, announcements, portraits and menus, such as the examples here are also available upon request..

Any enquiries please email: gabbydawnay@gmail.com

OKIDO MAGAZINE AND TV

I've been a regular contributor to children's art and science magazine OKIDO since 2007. HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY (WOW) beautiful Okido!

An Okido animated kids tv show, based on characters from the magazine is currently in production with Doodle/Squintopera http://www.doodle-productions.com. The original adaptation of the show (co-created/adapted by myself, producer Ceri Barnes and Doodle Productions) was acquired by CBeebies. 52 x 11 minute episodes will be coming to a screen near you soon in 2015.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................
MESSY GOES TO OKIDO Series ONE & TWO is now available to stream on Netflix & most episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Series THREE is currently in production.

CBeebies

CBeebies
OKIDO

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet
Okido Cartoon Forum 2011

Happy Birthday OKIDO!

Happy Birthday OKIDO!
Okido was 5 years old this issue...the wonderful art and science magazine for kids I've been lucky enough to have worked on for the past - 8 - years now