JUMP! illustration

Thrilled to see my Curious Creatures article about Midwife Toads go live in Jump! magazine today...

Nice one Okido!

Observer Magazine 23rd June 2013

Stag Beetle on brickwork

After really quite a strange and traumatic day yesterday, I noticed this magnificent beastie resting next to a pipe on the back wall of our house. The sight of it caused an almost child-like delight in me (I love these creatures) and it certainly took my mind off bleaker thoughts.

"Draw it!" urged my friend.

So I did...

Lucanus cervus

Observing the details of this beast; its careful movements and tentative antenna prods, it's subtle textures and colours, how it clung to the wall with its delicate legs - was engrossing and wonderful. Actually, it was totally Art Therapy in action.

I remember walking home from the park with my daughter a few years ago and hearing a tremendously deep humming/whirling sound - the sort of noise you might imagine a mini-helicopter making. We saw a dark shape hovering and realised it was a stag beetle in flight, like some kind of remote-controlled toy. I experienced the same sense of "how do they do that?" that you get when you see a bumblebee fly; all the dipping and bobbing as they apparently struggle to keep in the air...

Read more about these extraordinary and beautiful creatures here: Wild London

The Midwife Toad - Alytes obstetricans

Have written a Curious Creatures piece for a new online girls magazine called JUMP! It's all about Midwife Toads and I did this little illustration to go with it.

Save the Southbank Skatepark!

Eldest son wants to be a tattoo artist when he grows up...

                                           ...I'm still pushing for surgeon/barrister.

Have I posted this already? No matter - it needs a replay!
Fabulous animation by the very talented Leslie Barnes, whose cake-eating animals brought The Animal Zoo to life!

Giddy with excitement at the prospect of French supernatural thriller THE RETURNED arriving on channel 4 soon: What happens when coach load of kids killed in tragic road accident return to their village with no memory of the crash?

Came across this beautiful film: London in 1927

Reminded me of the new book!

Cynthia click to listen
A friend of mine took this guy on a while ago. He's called Brad Schmauss of band No Coward Soul and this is such a great song but I can't even download it. Belongs in an indie movie.

To write an entire movie around favourite songs; I heard an interview with Almodovar years ago where he said he'd done exactly that. Like that idea very much indeed.