As some of you may know, I recently participated in an interesting book project by Amelia Gregory, the founder of Amelia's Magazine. She got a bunch of illustrators and writers to create a piece of art under the theme 'That Which We Do Not Understand' - a mystical and inspiring subject that spawned a lot of awesome and intriguing words and images. 

My piece, Shamaness, is available as an A3 size faux gold leaf print for just £45 - it's a limited edition of 10 so once it's gone, it's gone for good! 

You can get the print as well as the anniversary book and other prints from Amelia's Magazine's online store here.

Amelia's Magazine celebrates 10 years this year, and to mark the occasion it's founder Amelia Gregory is producing a limited run print book entitled That Which We Do Not Understand. Inspired by folklore, mysticism and the unknown, it also relates heavily to Amelia's own difficult year in which she had suffered miscarriages. Many of us have known friends who have gone through similar loss and it highlights how miscarriages are still sadly so common and have little understanding around them.

I wanted to submit to this book as it will of course be a magnificent collection of creative writing and art, but also because I have grown as an Illustrator through working with Amelia's Magazine and it felt important to submit to something that marked 10 years.

I decided to look at my own unknown ailment of migraines which effects my life and ability to want to do anything or feel good humoured. I found a kind of Old Wives Tale from Europe that states, if a bird makes a nest with your shorn locks of hair, that you will suffer from a headache as a result.

Below you can see my submission which has been selected to be included in the book. There is an absolute wealth of talent so far, and it is an honour to be part of.

So please, help get this project off the ground and help us reach the Kickstarter target! We are nearly there and just need a bit more to get it published. Not only will this be typically colourful, but it will also be gilded in gold!

A Herbal Inheritance

I’m really pleased to be a contributing illustrator to Amelia Gregory’s special edition of Amelia’s Magazine, which celebrates its 10th anniversary with the intruiging theme, That Which We Do Not Understand. A gold-foiled limited edition artists book will be produced, featuring the work of over 60 artists and writers, as well as art prints.

When the open brief came out, I came up with a couple of thoughts - the traditions of wishing, and of our age-old connection to plants and herbs.

 My mum has a cupboard of spices and herbs, and as a child I was always fascinated by it. Coloured bottles, leaf bunches and magazine clippings, it is a treasure trove of natural remedies as well as for seasoning the cooking pot. She’d often let me in on a theory, remedy or property of a certain plant. Ginger for the stomach, St John's Wort for worry, evening primrose for women’s health. Having had diabetes for well over 20 years, I’ve read that cinnamon that is said to help even out blood sugars, Poring over the family copy of Culpepper’s Herbal (written centuries ago), I found cures for tooth ache, biting of serpents, blisters, almonds in the ears, wind….the index opened up a visual treasure trove of plants and equipment waiting to be drawn.

I began by drawing out, in crayon and brush pen a variety of plants and also equipment - like spoons, vials, pestle and mortar which are used within herbalism. Images of hearts, clouds and hands followed - to weave in a touch of magic and mystery. I also included the book - the root of the knowledge that is ever growing and adapting through generations. I love to create texture in my work and enjoyed building up the layers of colour to make the objects and plants stand out.

The separate elements were then scanned into Photoshop to move around and position. I created a unit of pattern and then repeated this in blocks, going back, filling spaces, shifting things around. What was previously just a collection of single images had more impact and movement when repeated. I have been working with illustrative patterns in my spare time for some time - I enjoy creating a rhythm and movement as motifs, sketches and narratives repeat and shift throughout. I only used about half of the objects drawn - wanting to use the images that visually connected. The old scales, kilner jars, dandelions and bunches of sage will be saved for another project!

It was exciting to bear the gold layer in mind. I chose the clouds, certain flowers and the book pages to make gold - I’m looking forward to seeing how it transforms the pattern. I wanted this pattern to evoke the power of plants, even within the modern age. It was a really interesting subject to research and create, and I already have a few ideas as to how I’d like to work with the subject further when I have a bit more time.