Category Archives: Stories

New Book Cover Revealed – Walker – the boy who can talk to dogs

Today is the official reveal of my new book, Walker – the boy who can talk to dogs.

I’ve just finished the artwork and I’m so looking forward to introducing this book to children – I hope to have early copies for World Book Day. I’m booked for World Book Day week, but still have room the weeks either side.

Walker has always wanted a dog, but his mums hyper-allergic to dogs, so he can’t have one. Something he see’s on a visit to his aunt, gives him and idea, and soon he and Stella are bonding, throwing and catching sticks in Foxley Fields. Walker has no idea what is about to happen or the incredible adventure that is about to unfold.

You can pre-order at Amazon – pay no attention to what they say… publication day is 14th March. Find out a whole lot more at @ FireflyPress

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Nearly Finished Artwork for Walker- The boy who can talk to dogs


In this video I do a lot of drawing and painting and talking about artwork and making children’s books as I create the final artwork for the image I prepared as a rough in the previous video 

My Editor, Janet, loved the sketches I sent her and now it is a race against time to finish the artwork for the print deadline. I need to paint at least eight images a day, preferably more. It doesn’t help that Mrs Rayner is going away for a week and I have to spend a day in London and we have builders in, who I have to lease with, and cook supper for my aged Mother and go shopping for her and me and my son… but I will get there in time, even if I have to work late in the evenings. It’s part of the “Glamour” of being an illustrator.

Actually, that sounds like the title of a video blog!

It is all painted greyscale as It is going to be a back and white book.The colour I use is:
Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint
http://amzn.to/2ymFRJI in the UK
http://amzn.to/2Cbk5f5 in the USA
http://amzn.to/2E5E3t4 in Canada

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Work stops work!

I’m currently working of the finished artwork for my forthcoming middle-grade novel, Walker – the boy who can talk to dogs. It’s a bit of a thriller and adventure and has lot and lots of dogs in it!

I love it and am putting together the the beginnings of Walker’s next adventure while I’m doing the artwork and my creative juices are flowing and my mind and visual memory filled with the characters.

Meanwhile my other project goes o hold a bit.

Other project?

Yes, Later this month I will be launching a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to publish  anew picture book called Special Delivery. The story revolves around Penni and Benni, who have their own website already!

I began the website before Christmas to really get these characters in my head. They have no idea what is about to hit them, later this month. It is a bit weird posting blogs, as if I were these two characters. Penni is a fashion blogger – her role has quite changed my outlook – I now linger longer over the fashion pages in the colour magazines!

Go and have a look at Penni and Benni in their quiet, before the storm hits them and why not join their instagram account?

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