Since printing my previous set of designs, Winter Wildlife, the opportunity has been put to me to have some of my work on sale in this years Christmas shop in Eastgate, Harlow.

So that has motivated me to create a new design to sit on the shelf along side my last set of cards.

I wanted to create something a bit more simple, a one colour print, and what would be better in the theme of christmas then a page full of penguins.

Rather then just having cards stocked in the shop, my aim was to create A5 note/sketch books and a larger artprint too.

The process of printing often generates off cuts and misprints, so rather then throwing them away I decided to print on my off-cuts and cut up my misprints leaving me with loads of little squares of print, which I then turned into gift tags and greeting cards.

The shop opens on the 15th of December in Eastgate Gallery, Harlow.

On the 6th of November I attended the private view of a very inspiring exhibition at the Gibberd Gallery called Xenotopia.
I left feeling very excited by all the pieces I could relate to, and quite confused by some of those pieces that I couldn't quite understand.

Today I returned to Xenotopia for a 'Walk and Talk' with the curator Louise Clarke. This gave me, along with many others who attended, the opportunity to see the artworks again. This time with a guided tour explaining the idea behind the exhibition, along with information about some of the pieces on display, and the artists who created them.

The evening was very insightful, with a relaxed atmosphere, giving us all the chance to ask questions about the exhibition. I would strongly advise any one interested in art and print to check out Xenotopia before the 17th of December.

Staple Tye is a very interesting place with some amazing architecture. Unfortunately the original shopping centre of Staple Tye was demolished back in the 1990's, which I remember well as a young lad growing up in the area seeing all the big diggers and construction vehicles. The current shopping centre built in its place is sadly a very unexciting feature of Harlow in comparison.

Luckily most of the original council estates remain, and as I walk across the estates of staple tie, I am left in awe at Gibberd and his team of architects, for there stunning use of diverse shape and form in the structures they've designed, and in the way in which they have arranged them. I'm not just walking along a straight road beside a row of houses but down cul-de-sacs though alleyways and cut throughs, each area so unique from the last giving that sense of adventure and curiosity as to what I'll find around the corner.

I had a great day walking around the estates many of which I haven't been since I was about 13, I feel asthough I have barely touched the surface of Staple Tye though, so many more inspireing sights too sketch, I'll have to return another day to cover it again in more detail.

Another day out sketching with Leon Webb, Rob Davies, Hong Voong, and Hanh Vong. This time we took a trip to the Old Town. Old Harlow pre-dates the first written record in the Domesday Book of 1086, so it is unknown when the town first came into existence. 

We started off at the lodge in East Park, which when built in the 19th century was the former Gate House for the main entrance to the Mark Hall Manor & estate.

Across the road from The Lodge is Fawbert and Barnard school founded in the 1840's by the Fawbert and Barnard Foundation. In 1895 an new building was build to house two schools, one for girls and infants and the other for boys.

High Street is the main shopping centre for people living in the Old Harlow and Churchgate Street area, It consists of many shops, restaurants and cafes, including Dorrington Bakery.

This was the first of Ernest Dorrington's shops to open back in 1924. There are now 15 shops across Hertfordshire, Essex & Cambridgeshire.

Opposite High Street runs Fore Street and Market Street, where there are three of the Old Town pubs, the Chequers, the Marquis of Granby and the Crown. Another very old building which catches the eye right on the corner is this beautiful grade II listed building, The Gables.

Along Market Street is St. John’s ARC, which is a community Arts and Recreation Centre. The ARC offer a varied programme of activities such as concerts, exhibitions and workshops.

On the other side of Old Harlow is The Victoria Hall, built in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The building has housed many events, which is now part of Harlow's history.

The residential areas of Old Harlow are very different from the council estates of the new town, with their overground cables stretching cross the streets, and their huge old chimneys rowed up along the roof tops, they hold a lot of charm.

I think between the four of us we captured Old Harlow well, If only we had more hours of daylight to get some more of the old buildings and pubs in Market Street.

The last couple of weeks I've been busy designing and creating my Winter Wildlife greetings cards.

I'm pretty pleased with the final results of all three designs. I can never be too sure how there going to look exactly before I start printing, but they turned out pretty much as I had planed.

So I'm quite happy to sell them in my new online Market.
I Think they will make good pieces of framed artwork once they have finished serving their purpose as cards.

Robin £3.50

Hedgehog £3.50

Reindeer £3.50

Limited Edition Buy Now!!

Took a wonder through Temple Fields, and drew this sketch of one of the old factories up there while I was waiting for my acetates from the printers. Lucky I happened to have my sketchbook on me.

I've always been fascinated by industrial architecture, and have noticed this one several times over the years. I was pleased to take the opportunity to sketch it. Might have to take my sketch book up that way again some time.

Robin illustration, singing his little heart out. Another seek peek of one of my winter cards.