Music for charity...

My daughter has recorded one of her songs to raise money for the NSPCC, and it's on i-tunes...please listen to the preview of the song by clicking this i-tunes button, and if you like it, £0.79 from you can help her raise money for the National Society for the Protection of Children!

Chloe is only 12, and has been composing her own music for a couple of years. She didn't have the confidence to play in front of people, but gradually plucked up the courage to perform to small groups. Then she stunned everyone by putting on a surprise performance at a school year-end party!

Cross Stitch Crazy....

One of the Pepper and Friends characters makes a come-back in the next issue of Cross Stitch Crazy magazine..... due out on 15th March 2012!

February Issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft Mag..

This month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine has a 3 page spread using Neighbourwood. Some beautiful, innovative creations by Simonne Clay, designs for the "30 minute makes" section...... have you got your copy yet?!

What an honour!

I was asked for an interview with Alex at The Moon From My Attic blog; a delightful blog about art licensing and illustration. To see the interview go HERE

Happy New Year!

Get the children drawing this holiday!

With the holidays just around the corner, perhaps you're children would like to have a go at some step by step drawing projects? Email me via my website if you would like to receive a free worksheet showing how to draw this racing car....

Please see the post below regarding what these worksheets can and cannot be use for!

New Worksheet!

Sorry it's been a long time, but I've designed a new worksheet that is available for personal use and schools to learn how to draw this cute little polar bear! If you would like a PDf copy, please click on the link to my website and drop me an email.

If this is your first time at trying out these free worksheets, I need to let you know a couple of things..... firstly these are designed for personal use and for schools and charities to use, but not for advertising or promotional material.

All my images, including these, are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes or for reproduction. I love designing these worksheets for adults and children to try out, and can keep sharing them if everyone respects my copyright on the Internet and in the real world!

Thank you!

Neighbourwood

My latest craft designs are available now... whimsical woodland characters called Neighbourwood. Hope people enjoy them!!

Christmas Cards 2011

There are 2 new boxed sets of Christmas cards in the stores here in the UK.... the top one is a standard size, and the Snow, Joy, Love and Star are all a mini card set. All published by Paper House Group.

Mouth-watering new book

Derek Brazell, the AOI's Special Projects Manager, illustrator and creator's rights campaigner has just had a book published with co-author Jo Davies called MAKING GREAT ILLUSTRATION published by A & C Black.

A few weeks ago when I was in the AOI office, I got chance to see one fo the first editions of this splendid book. I really is a mouth-watering read packed with images and interviews with some of the top illustrators throughout the world.

I desperately wanted to sit and read through the whole book.... but saved that pleasure for when I bought the book. It is a MUST read for creatives, and certainly a book that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Derek and Jo have created a blog to share their travels around the world to meet and interview the featured illustrators... see it HERE.

Make a cuppa and enjoy half an hour travelling to the studios around the world of these inspiring creators!

Building your illustration business?

The Illustrators Guide to Business is an 11 week intensive evening course taught by specialists, that will give you the business skills to help you succeed as a professional illustrator.

It's my pleasure to present one of the course dates; "How to merchandise your work and maximise your income". I will explore how you can expand into the world of Brand Licensing, what clients and agents are looking for and the best ways to promote yourself in this market.

For further information, details of the course including other presentations, click HERE. Single course dates can be booked!

Brand Licensing 2011

I will be at Brand Licensing Europe, Olympia London from 18th - 20th October. I look forward to meeting some of my clients, and some new licensees, manufacturers and retailers. I'll be on stand E123, in the Art and Design section, and am now counting the days!

Wow, has it really been that long!

I can't believe it was June when I last posted on here! Things have been pretty busy, what with vacation time, school vacations, work and family... but here's a little something to show the effort has been worth it! A new collection of Christmas decoupage papers are now out, including little Snowbell shown here.

June Offer

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine are giving away a gift collection of the latest Bazoo range when you take out a subscription....

This offer ends 5th July 2011 and is subject to availability.

Talent for the future

Tonight I went to my nephew's school, to see the art and graphics GCSE and A / AS Level work on display. AWESOME is the only word I can use to describe the talent that our schools are nurturing. Considering the funds are so limited for these children (which means they are not using the best brushes, materials or products) the work on display is astounding and of a really high standard.

This time of year, most schools, colleges and unis are having their end of year shows. Go check out the talent this country is producing! These young people are the future of creativity, and creativity is what makes the human race progress.

The other thing that hit me tonight, was how the exam boards are reducing the way students can express their creativity.... in other words, exam boards are setting "briefs" for the students to work to in the graphics exam. Now, I think there is an argument for and against this, but if exam boards themselves are not accepting creative exploration of a "brief", then the whole concept of a creative exam is redundant!

Another thing that hit me was this... there were very few final pieces that were computer generated in the Art GCSE or A / AS Level display. Isn't it about time these exams welcomed the skill and knowledge that is now available through using software? Watching how fellow illustrators can create characters, scenery, animation etc using programmes makes me think we are perhaps being very snobby regarding the arts and are likely to squash rather than celebrate the future creativity in our children.

Facebook additions..

Some lovely new Bazoo designs have been shared with us on my Facebook page, courtesy of Rozzy and Maxine. Use the icon on the right of the page to pop over to Facebook, "like" the page and you will get to see what these clever ladies have done with Bazoo!

BAZOO has arrived....

The latest craft range has now arrived with Trimcraft and is winging it's way to the shops...

Meet a host of zoo animals, including a cheeky monkey, penguins, seal and the giraffes.

Retailers can find them at :

http://www.trimcraftdirect.co.uk

Copyright and the Internet

Some people seem to think that the internet is a free source of images, which allows them to profit from.

I've recently found 1000's of images are being copied onto CDs, as printable materials for crafting use, all for sale on Ebay.

This is an illegal form of copying, and it's called copyright infringement.

Having contacted a couple of the Ebay seller who are doing this, they appear to believe that the images are in the "public domain" (in the words of one seller who I contacted, the images are on the internet and in books) so are free for usage.

COPYRIGHT means the "right to copy" or reproduce work. People pay the creators for that right to reproduce work, and that's called a Copyright Licensing Agreement.

If you see CDs of images on Ebay, please ask the seller if these are licensed images and who the manufacturer is. If in doubt, please contact the designer who will be thrilled to know we are all looking out for one another. And report the item!

Art does not need to have the copyright symbol on it, for it to be copyright protected.... if you did not create it, then you don't own the rights to it.

Just because an image is found on the internet does not mean it's copyright free and in the public domain. It's never ok to use artwork without the creators permission... period.

If you think my artwork is being reproduced illegally, please let me know.

Please also remember the following:

Ask permission from the artists / designers when putting their work onto your blog, and credit them!

Make sure the images are small jpgs so they can't be easily copied.

Make sure the images have a watermarks / copyright information on them.... it all helps to protect images from being used without YOUR or my permission!

Thank you, Helz x

Cardmaking and Papercraft April 2011 Issue

The April issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine is just out... and there is a wonderful 3 page spread using the latest decoupage pads! Clever Dawn Phillips, a well know crafter and tutor, designed the cards using my little illustrated papers and they look fabulous. Get an issue before they're all gone... it's a great edition this month!

March Worksheet - Daffodils

If you would like to learn how to draw daffodils, ready for Mother's Day or Easter, you can get in touch with me HERE and I will send you a PDF "step-by-step" worksheet.

If this is your first time at trying out these free worksheets, I need to let you know a couple of things..... firstly these are designed for personal use and for schools and charities to use, but not for advertising or promotional material. All my images, including these, are copyright protected and cannot be used for commercial purposes or for reproduction.

I love designing these worksheets for adults and children to try out, and can keep sharing them if everyone respects my copyright on the Internet and in the real world!

Thank you!

Springing into Spring

Spring is in the air! Here's one Easter illustration altered for a variety of options....