• I was asked this morning if I’d take over James Mayhew’s spot at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, as he’s got tonsillitis and isn’t really up for it. Having spent a lot of my youth and grown up years with frequent bouts of tonsillitis, I feel for him and hope he gets better.

    For those of you looking forward to meeting James on Wednesday, I hope I’ll do him proud. It is to be a illustration based talk, so I’m looking out all sorts of things to bring along and show you. See you on Wednesday morning.

    My wife and I went to the festival yesterday, on the way home from my brother’s birthday party in Oxford. We went to see the film star, Michael Caine, talk about his new book – not many people know that, (well, they do now I’ve written about it on the internet!)


  • Hoooowwwwll! We’re coming up to halloween, so I thought I should do some scary drawing lessons! Actually, he’s not that scary – he’s from my book – Werewolf Wail (Monster Boy)


  • Fir trees work differently to deciduous trees. They are more pointy! Watch this video and learn how to draw them.