James Davies

1. Can you give us a little bit of your background?

I was raised in the muddy Welsh countryside, and since I’ve always lived really far away from everyone, drawing has always been a great companion. I started drawing tractors as soon as I could pick up a pencil, and haven’t stopped since. I graduated in 2009 from UWE Bristol. There, I realised that picture books were where I wanted to be, so that’s what I’ve been aiming for since. I’m happy to say it’s finally paid off!

2. Did anything in particular make you go into illustration?

I just love drawing, simple as that. And I’m not cool enough to be a rock star.

3. What inspires you?

I get my inspiration from my environment. I live on a kind of animal sanctuary, full of rescued creatures with various “special” conditions. My characters are always based around them and their stories, I find them fascinating. When I work, I try to make pieces that I would have loved as a kid; full of details, with new things to find every time you look. Oh, and I love Mr. Bean.

4. How do you work?

My work all starts with pencil drawings, which are usually done in bits over numerous sheets of printer paper (I get a bit anal when I try to do it all in one). I then add some shading in with coloured pencil or watercolour, then scan it in. In Photoshop I stick in the midtones and highlights, then stick on some textures – usually more pencil scans.
All this between changing the cat litter, eating rice pudding, and doubting myself.
I listen to audiobooks and podcasts when I work, and a good dose of Radio 4 (when it’s not melodramatic period drama full of crying.)

5. What’s your favourite medium to work with?

I recently discovered coloured pencil, which I’ve somehow avoided until now. I got a beautiful set of Caran Dache “Supracolour Soft” watercolour pencils and my work’s improved since. Can’t beat the trusty 0.5mm Pentel P205 pencil though, it’s always with me.

6. Which piece of work are you most proud of?

My first attempt at a picture book; Monster and Grub. It’s not my best work by any means, but it got a Highly Commended award in the Macmillan Prize and made it really clear that picture books were something I could do.

7. What are you up to right now?

Suddenly it’s all taken off! I signed last summer with the Bright Agency, who are the nicest bunch of people I’ve ever met. They’ve been so encouraging, and I currently find myself working on loads at once. Super busy until the summer. I also spend a lot of time walking our eight dogs and talking to the three cats about their lives.

8. Anything else you think we should know?

I can’t burp.

You can find my portfolio here and my twitter here

Alexandre Honore

I live in a little and cute town in the North-West of France (Normandie, not really far from Beachs of D-Day) in countryside… So, I have drawn since I could pick up a pencil and I never stopped! I went to art school for one year, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to work hard and put in lots of effort. It was a difficult period of four years. My first job was covers for a paper. Then, I started to show my work in galleries and art festivals. And now I’m working for Frenches and foreign Publishers and I still show my artworks in galleries…

I really love drawing and painting, it lives in me, I need to do it everyday.  I can’t explain it! I was born with it! I’m addicted!

I draw my inspiration from old fairy tales, fantastic and sometimes fantasy. I grew up with the Lord of the Rings and Grimm tales… So I cannot imagine drawing something completely realistic. I need to bring something magic and poetic to my pieces. I love to put details all over. I want each item and characters to have a story to tell. Regrettably, I only can do that for private collections or shows. Sometime schedules or periods are too short with publishers… 

I work at home, that’s the best for me. No stress, no late, freedome… My « workshop » take place in the landing, between bedroom and lounge.

Like lots of artists, I still begin artwork with some sketches. Then when I find a good sketch I scan it on my computer. With Photoshop, I realize a rough with the lights, shadows and the atmospheres of colours. After that, I define a size and I reproduce the sketch in details. Then I paint…

I work with acrylic, I love this medium, you can do everything you want ! Sometimes I use watercolor… I still have with me watercolour pencils, to make some final touches. 

My big mac works all the day with podcasts or deezer playlists… and to stay connected with the world!

Oh I forgot, I have loads of stuff, incredibly useless, that lives on my desk : a Spider-man found in the street, two paper goblins in little bottles, pine cones, studs, an old key, a paper dragon who moves when you change your glance, matches… and a wonderful orchid !

I signed with Bright 2 month ago. I’m really happy to be aboard with this dynamic and nice team!

I’m sorry but I have to leave, I have so much incredible work to do ! Time is running out…

My portfolio : http://thebrightagency.com/collections/artist/6?artist_id=298

Jamie Smith

Most days of my life begin with a cocker spaniel leaping onto the bed, lying flat on my chest and requesting a walk. It’s possibly the most snuggly alarm clock on the market, albeit one with the stinkiest breath - but tripe will have that effect.

Once dressed and fed, man and dog take to the countryside of Surrey. Walking the canal towpaths in the company of breakfast stalking heron and the wide-eyed, and overly suspicious deer; or we head to the golf course, where I throw a frisbee as far as my creaking bones will allow.

The morning walk refreshes the mind and, returning home, I take the 16 stepping stone commute to my garden studio, ideally there should be 17 stones so my final step is in the mud, which I squelch through my carpet. In the summer months I’ll throw open the windows and doors, if it’s winter I’ll slide across the floor on my belly to fire up the fan heater as quickly as is humanly possible.

Now we’re in the studio you might expect to view a photograph of an interesting and inspirational artistic workspace. Sadly my walls are constructed from the least adhesive material you’re ever likely to find - a roll of duct tape won’t hold a postcard to the wall when faced with the tremors caused by a sparrow landing on the roof.

So here is my functional space.  The wardrobe (that came with the house) cunningly doubles as a bookcase and has a conveniently placed mirror, for the illustrator to contort his face into that of a bear bothered by a fly, or a stomping troll.

A studio re-design is required, so you’re likely to find colourful piles of books sprouting like the hardy perennials that surround them in the garden.

There is inspiration to be taken from my surroundings though. The green woodpecker who delved headfirst into an ants nest, covering himself from head to toe with scurrying food. Or the baby blue tit, who bravely leapt from our nesting box only to discover that flying wasn’t as easy as mother made it sound, so he scuttled behind my studio door until he was sure the coast was clear. The perplexed pheasant, the resident grasshopper, the fearsome flying ants, and not forgetting the visit of a thousand starlings, which brought Hitchcock’s The Birds to my very own doorstep ; it all goes on in a garden.

My university years fell when the macintosh was something to be worn in the rain, so I started life as a dip pen and watercolour artist. My work now begins with a 2B pencil, and over the years I’ve migrated to the computer. It’s an ever evolving process and, with the recent addition of the Cintiq, I feel that I have many exciting avenues to explore ahead of me. I still use a dip pen and wash on occasions, I paint textures to export to the computer; but mostly my process consists of a pencil, my trusty moleskine, the whir of a scanner and photoshop.

I feel very lucky to have worked as a full time illustrator for over 15 years, as I boy I carried a sketchbook everywhere - even the bright lights of Blackpool could not compete. There have been bumps and re-inventions along the way but I’m as excited by my work now as I ever have been. Much of my career has been spent working with American clients, so I’m hoping that my recent arrival with Bright and a quick MOT test might bring a re-introduction to my nearest neighbours.

My day ends with a pulling down of the studio blinds, a locking of the door and a squelch where the 17th step should be, through the back door and a cuddle with tripe breath (or the wife, whoever I happen to meet first).

…and then to watch a little television, or read a book by the log fire.

Click here for Jamie Smith’s Portfolio

Airlie Anderson

I live just north of Princeton, New Jersey. It’s great to live in a University town that has beautiful countryside, and only an hour away from New York City.
My husband and I live in the smaller part of a big old farm house. 
I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2000, majoring in Illustration.

I work in gouache (opaque watercolor). My studio moves around quite a bit - my favorite place to work is in the barn. But if it’s too hot or too cold, I move my stuff inside. Or if a skunk gets in there and sprays, which happened once. 

Right now it’s too cold to work in the barn, so I’m in the living room. I keep the imac upstairs. That way I’m not too tempted by all the fun stuff to do on the internet. 
It was easier not to get distracted when I only had my little (old) laptop!

In the mornings I go for a run or to the gym, come home and eat, and then get to work. I’ll doodle with mechanical pencil just to get warmed up. 
If I’m having the winter blues, or just need to find a spark, I’ll go to our local Princeton coffee shop, or Labyrinth, our fantastic independent book store.
I got married to a chef this past September, and he works late. I’m usually doing artwork until he gets home.

I love taking the train to Manhattan to meet with our US agent Kirsten. We like to go to City Bakery on 18th street, eat cookies, and get inspired!
Books of Wonder, a magical book shop, is right across the street from City Bakery. I hope to get my books in there sometime soon!

Favorite books of the moment:
Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck
On Audiobooks: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin (a fellow New Jersey-ite!)
Lane Smith’s Grandpa Green

Airlie Anderson’s full illustration portfolio