Collaboration: Bespoke Verse

I've recently been working on some illustration and hand-lettering for the wonderful Bespoke Verse. Jo's poems are both touching and humorous, and made the nicest 'mini-briefs' for my illustration work. I really enjoyed working on these and think they'll make great gifts for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family! They're available through Not on the Highstreet, and there's more in the pipe line, so keep an eye out!

S x

New Christmas cards for 2014

My illustrated Christmas cards are now available in my shop singularly or in packs of six, I hope that you love them! 

Inspired by the winter here in Finland, they're made in the UK with 100% recycled card and come with natural coloured envelopes. They'll join my range of designs which sold out last year...

Followers of mine on Instagram will also have seen I've been dabbling with some new printed fabric to add to the range, which I'll be making up into sweet gifts soon! Like it or not, that time is creeping upon us once again! (In our books, it's the most wonderful time of the year!) 
S x

New in the shop...

'Sprig' and 'Fox' are new designs to my online shop and join 'Hare' in my walnut brooch collection.

Just in time for gift giving, warmer coats and woollies! X

Mural work at Gloucester Services Petrol Station

I didn't show you what I was up to before coming back to Finland a couple of weeks ago. More mural work at Gloucester Services, this time across in the petrol station...

I worked with Westmorland and came up with the above design, a story about the company, the site and architecture of the building and surrounding area, and the stream of traffic from the M5 which will use the station. It took me a week to paint onto the till area of the build...

I've had real fun over in the services as I've been slowly bringing different areas some colour and life, mural work is my absolute new favourite pastime! It's so rewarding to see a large area transformed, and also feels the perfect paring as we share the same 'eat-well' and local, green values. You can read about some of the other projects I've painted at Gloucester services by clicking on the photos below...

The A-Z of Gloucestershire, cafe area at Gloucester Services

The Anatomy of an English Picnic, Deli area at Gloucester Services

Map of South-West Suppliers, Shop area at Gloucester Services

Do get in touch if you'd like me to paint something on a wall for you! 

By the sea...

Things have been rather busy round here with my illustration project ongoing over at the new Gloucester Services, and then yesterday I was featured on Country Homes & Interiors blog talking about my work...all good of course, I love it when it's all go & full steam ahead!

I finally have a minute to show you my new tea towel design, part of my ever-growing seaside-inspired collection...

I dreamt this one up earlier this year whilst holidaying in St.Ives, a place I could happily be forever! Featuring everyone's favourite two (it seems) and a host of other nautical curiosities, each one is printed by hand with eco friendly inks in Britain. It matches my Lobster apron perfectly and comes individually or as a nice set, tied with twine. Paired with one of my cards or art prints and you'll find yourself instantly transported to your most favourite coastal spot! You can shop the collection here...hope you like what you see! 

I'm currently designing the paintings to go on the walls in the petrol station over at Gloucester Services, then I'll be heading back to Finland to get a good meal into that fella of mine...! It's been a while and I'm looking forward to the last of the summer sun over there and getting back to the drawing board...

S x

Project: The A-Z of Gloucestershire at Gloucester Services

I've been back at Westmorland's Gloucester Services on the M5 working on an illustrated A-Z of Gloucestershire for the restaurant area there. They interviewed me last week about the project over on their blog...

How did you begin the design process with the A-Z?

I worked with Westmorland on creating an A-Z of 'their Gloucestershire', including local landmarks, species and charities they work closely alongside. I wanted the designs to be simple but informative so they'd make a real impact from a distance in the services, and not too obvious- conversation starters! My designs start as hand-drawings, which I then place together and visualize on my laptop. The designs are finalized and I've now been busy on site painting them onto the walls of the cafe. Working on a project about home in Gloucestershire was a real pleasure, and cured a little pang of homesickness as I started the design work for it whilst I was still over in Finland!

There's no rest for the wicked, I'm onto the petrol station and butchers over there this week! You can see and hear about the rest of my mural work here. Will keep you posted...

Project: Artwork at the new M5 Gloucester Services

I finally got around to taking some photos of the completed artwork I painted onto the walls of the fantastic new Westmorland's Gloucester Services, situated on the M5. The mural commission saw a gigantic map of the suppliers which stock the services (me included!) across the southwest of the UK, plus the illustrated 'anatomy of an English picnic' in the deli area. I'm going to be going back to complete more areas of the services over the next few weeks, so if you stop by and spot me, do say hello! Will of course keep you posted along the way...

Studio

We took some shots of the 'studio' for my website and other stuff over the weekend, thought it would be nice to give you a peek into my work space...

Though it's little more than a desk in our studio apartment, I'm so lucky to have that view over the woodland area. It inspires me every day, I can spot hares and woodpeckers this time of year, there's always a string of dog walkers and when the snow sets in, it's entirely bleak and desolate looking, but equally as beautiful and enchanting...

S x

A trip to Stockholm and some cabin envy

I'll admit and apologize, the blog has got a little 'work' heavy recently. I don't post as often as I'd like to, so perhaps not that heavy on you, but I think it's always good to strike a personal/work balance so you get a bit of the 'behind the scenes' and stuff that inspires me and subsequently, my creative work. Besides, I like keeping a blog. When I don't live in Scandinavia anymore, I can look back and oggle in disbelief at the photos I took for granted whilst I was here and long to return...

I've been doing some really lovely things now the weather's better, so as I'm waiting on some emails thought I'd share a round-up of lately. To my future self, it's wonderful here.

I didn't show you any photos from our trip to Stockholm at Easter, we had such a great time exploring the various islands that make up the city, wondering under the cherry blossom, sitting by the sea in amazing cafes and soaking up the sun. Time well spent.

In case you're planning a trip, and looking for some things to plan I can recommend visiting the Vasa museum, photo above. We aren't normally too fussed about visiting museums whilst on hols, but this was fascinating and really well curated. Swedes are too cool.

Also, Rosendal on Djurgården, photos below. It might sound a bit odd, sending you to what is in fact a garden center, but this was really my favourite day in Stockholm. It's a little difficult for me to tell you how to get there but it's worth the stroll out of town. Djurgården in general is a really nice place to walk, with some nice old architecture too. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. There's also great lunch to be had whilst here, in among the wooden glass houses and plants.

A rare one or two of me, hello! I think I love Stockholm more each time I visit. 

Back in Helsinki, the grass has grown back nicely after winter, finally, and everything is looking lovely. There's some great exhibitions happening and yesterday, Museum day, we visited the island of Seurasaari which is home to a host of cabins and wooden dwellings from all over Finland across the ages- dismantled, then reconstructed here. Anyone with serious wanderlust, or like me, cabin envy, stick the kettle on and escape for 10...

I mean, just look at that hanging ship! I was told there's 10 weddings happening in the island's wooden chapel this summer, how do I get an invite? 

Sigh... I will stop before this post becomes even longer! Life is good and I return to the UK for a fair while next week to do some work stuff you'll hear about soon. See you! S x