Simon Burdge

Red Lips

Red Lips is a handmade collage greeting card built around a carefully cropped section of a woman's face. We only see part of the image — the chin, lips, cheek, ear, and the lower edge of one eye — but the close-up creates a powerful sense of intimacy and mystery. The vivid red lipstick immediately draws attention, balanced by the reflective silver earring and soft neutral tones surrounding it.

What interests me about collage is how removing context changes the meaning of an image. A magazine photograph designed for one purpose becomes something entirely different when reduced to fragments and rearranged. In this piece, the cropped composition encourages the viewer to focus on texture, colour, and shape rather than identity. The result feels cinematic, contemporary, and slightly enigmatic.

The clean white border frames the image almost like a gallery piece, allowing the bold colours and minimal composition to stand out. Although simple at first glance, the card invites closer attention — the subtle skin textures, the sharp edge of the cut paper, and the contrast between glamour and abstraction all become part of the experience.

Two People in a Boat

There is something timeless about two figures travelling together across water. Two People in a Boat is a handmade greeting card inspired by movement, companionship, and the feeling of heading towards something unknown. The image captures two people travelling quickly in a small boat, their faces fixed forward, focused on the horizon ahead. Wind moves through their hair, birds circle above, and the landscape blurs into a colour and energy.

This card began as an intuitive drawing using ink, watercolour, and layered marks. Loose expressive lines create the sensation of speed and atmosphere, while the bold green shape of the boat grounds the composition. The combination of sketch-like movement and painterly textures gives the piece a spontaneous and emotional quality.

I enjoy creating cards that feel alive rather than overly polished. Each mark remains visible, keeping the energy of the drawing process present in the final artwork. The card balances abstraction with storytelling, leaving space for the viewer to imagine where the travellers are going and what they are searching for.

This handmade greeting card works beautifully for many occasions: birthdays, friendship, encouragement, travel lovers, anniversaries, or simply sending a thoughtful handwritten message. It also works as a small collectable artwork that can be framed or displayed after use.

The expressive style draws inspiration from sketchbooks, coastal journeys, and the unpredictable movement of weather and water. I wanted the artwork to feel immediate and emotional — almost like a fleeting memory captured in paint and ink.

Printed on quality card stock, Two People in a Boat combines contemporary illustration with the character of original handmade art. The square format gives the image room to breathe while keeping the composition intimate and personal.

Whether you are drawn to expressive drawing, abstract figurative art, or unique independent design, this card offers something distinctive and full of movement.

My handmade collage greeting cards combine recycled newspapers and magazine clippings with original drawings, paint, chalk, and oil pastel to create one-of-a-kind mixed-media pieces. Each Card reflects an intuitive, creative process and a commitment to transforming discarded materials into meaningful, handmade art.

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Life drawing is where I always return.

This piece of Jane captures not only the form but also the rhythm and energy of being present in the life room.

A Tree by Worthing Station – A Sketch in Transit

Finding Beauty in the In-Between Trains

While waiting for a train to Brighton, I found myself outside—or maybe on the platform—at Worthing Station. In front of me stood a tree. With a few minutes to spare, I reached for a black felt-tip pen and let the moment take over. It wasn't planned, polished, or part of any series—just a sketch done quickly, instinctively, and without fuss. There might've even been a pint involved, courtesy of a public house across the road.

What makes this drawing special for me is its simplicity. It reminds me that drawing isn't always about grand plans or hours of effort. It can be about capturing something quickly, without judgment. And strangely, those sketches—made in passing—often stay with you the longest.

This black-ink sketch evokes the tree studies by John Ruskin in the 19th century. Ruskin, too, believed in drawing as a means of seeing. While his work was often more detailed and academic, his quick tree studies—especially from travels—show a similar urge: to capture the essence of something fleeting, a form before it vanishes into memory.

Like Ruskin's sketches, mine also were not meant to be "finished." Just felt. And that's why I still like it.

Newport Cathedral, South Wales: This watercolour on paper depicts Newport Cathedral—also known as St Woolos Cathedral—perched peacefully atop Stow Hill. Painted a few years ago, I recall the steep climb to reach it (definitely deserved a rest at the top!). The contrast between the towering stone architecture and the softness of the surrounding landscape inspired this work. There’s a calming stillness in this scene, where nature and heritage coexist in gentle harmony.

"What if?" has always been a doorway for me. This collage began life in a 2018 A4 diary—unused, until one afternoon when I started piecing together thoughts with shapes and colour. Rust-toned squares, soft grey curves, and bold black gestures weave like a necklace along a leather cord. This is play, this is pause, this is process

Title: Guardian of the Amulet Sketched at the British Museum, this drawing was inspired by an amethyst carving that seemed to waver between a figure holding a sword and clasping its own hands. The deep blues and angular strokes reminded me of a hard, ancient sky—something sacred and protective. In ancient times, an amulet like this may have been worn for protection, buried with the dead, or kept close as a symbol of strength. Today, we might see it as a reminder—a spiritual anchor, or a quiet protector in our pockets or homes.

A quick life drawing, capturing the figure as she looks over her shoulder. I filled in the background and flesh tones later. I’ve written "frozen moment of action; the critical moment" on the piece, which might have been the theme during that life drawing session.