Jessica Barrah: http://www.thebrightagency.com/artists/view/235

I do most of my work digitally, so I can work on my laptop anywhere - but I often sit in the corner of the kitchen, since it is one of the sunniest rooms in the flat. I can put Marloe (aged four months), in his bouncy chair, or let him kick his legs on a blanket. I’m not looking forward to him learning to crawl – I’ll be chasing after him all the time!

The kitchen looks onto our little decking area – I leave the door open in summer, or work in a deckchair in the shade. I made this magpie collage sitting out there – but ended up with lots of bits of paper blowing all over the place.

At Christmas I like to listen to Kate Rusby’s Christmas album, ‘Sweet Bells’,  make some stem ginger biscuits, and relax in the corner while they are in the oven. Maybe with a cuppa and a magazine…

Put a brew on

I have an obsession with tea - I lived in Mexico for a while, teaching English, and my mum had to post me packets of PG Tips!

I now have to operate a ‘one in one out’ policy with mugs and vintage cups and saucers. If I see a nice design, I have trouble stopping myself buying it.

I had some mugs printed to give to friends last Christmas, and also made some tea towels. I drive my boyfriend mad by only drinking half my tea, and leaving the rest to go cold. This one says ‘Hove’ – since that’s where we live! You can see the sea at the end of the road. I often go for a walk on the seafront – the colours of the beach hut doors clash fantastically, and the sea and sky are always changing.

Shades of Beige

I love bright colours, but recently I experimented, using only shades of brown – as shown in the ‘tea’ tea towel design, and also the beach scene. That was inspired by the pebbly beach in Brighton and Hove. I did have to use a few different colours in that one for contrast – it just didn’t seem right to have a beige sea. 

Inspiration

I collect cards and postcards, and swap them around regularly.  I used to have a whole wall, but I’m trying to be a bit more minimalist!

I am a great fan of charity shops, and have found some fantastic books which have really inspired me.

I love craft books from the seventies – patchwork toys for example have really influenced some of my designs, like these elephant and kangaroo canvases in Marloe’s room.

My favourite illustrations are in this book is ‘Stories from Everywhere’ . I love the bright yet muted colours and the slightly messy, free look to the illustrations.

 Rockin’ Robin

My boyfriend is the bass player in a band, and lots of our friends are musically minded – so this I made a ‘Rockin’ Robin’ design for our Christmas cards.

I thought it appropriate to give him a ‘Flying Vee’ style guitar!

Wishing everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year

Kirsteen Harris-Jones: http://www.thebrightagency.com/artists/view/270

Well it looks as if I’m not wanted in the house, I’ve been moved along from my shed, my  corner of the bedroom and my office( which is now the games room and bedroom of my eldest son)

My husband has had a delivery of a loft ladder, flooring and furniture, so it looks as if  I am to be banished to the attic!

I work at the moment in the corner of my bedroom and if it gets chilly, I trudge downstairs to be next to the log burner, much to the families annoyance as I take up so much room.
My day consists of school drop off at 9.00 then a clean the house if it can be called that, as I have so many animals it takes a while. 3 dogs, 4 cats, Two rabbits  a guinea pig, 8 ducks and a partridge in a pear tree! It’s regular Beatrixpotterville most of the time

I have done all my books and illustrations so far from this little corner, it is always a hive of activity. I really love what I do for a living!  It can get quite messy  at times and I have a filing system that would confuse confucius …..
Recently I have been made the resident ‘ART LADY’ at the local school on a Monday and Tuesday, so we are always doing some exciting project or other. The children are fantastic they are a very talented bunch of students and very inspiring.

Rosie my nine year old daughter and I have just had our Brooklyn Library sketchbooks to be part of the Brooklyn sketchbook project 2011, so we are both busy drawing and filling it with very inventive illustrations. Rosie likes to add lots of detail to her pictures as I do, it’s lovely to see her so absorbed with her artwork.

I have been asked  to design the set for a panto in February which is going to be a scream! I’m looking forward to that a lot, as my hubby could be cast as either a dame or villain…
Work on my desk at the present moment in time is a  self directed picture book that I am going to send out in dummy form in the new year hopefully, so says the queen of procrastination!

I have just had a Christmas card licence sold by Bright, which is my first piece of work with them so far,  since joining them this year, Whoooah!!! Lets hope there is more to come. Any future scribbling’s will all happen in the attic from the New Year onwards I’m sure!