Tuesday, November 25, 2008

My illustrations on ITV3




I was recently commissioned to supply 3 illustrations for the ITV3 TV series 'Martina Cole's Lady Killers', depicting the 16th century murderer, Countess Elizabeth Bathory (immortalised in the Hammer Horror film, 'Countess Dracula', by actress Ingrid Pitt). The episode was screened last monday, and repeated last Saturday. My first artwork for television!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008



Latest comics art I'm working on.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Some of my artwork

A few samples of recent artwork.












1.Connery as Bond (Acrylic on canvas), 2. Craig as Bond (Acrylic on canvas paper), 3. The
cover of my comic book, 'BORDERLINERS: Ceremony Of Innocence' (May 2008), 4. 'Donna & The Doctor' (Acrylic on canvas paper), and 5. 'The Doctor & The Sontarans' (Acrylic on paper).

'A Taste Of Honey' (Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre)

Despite dying of a cold, I managed to struggle along in the Manchester rain to see a 50th anniversary production of Shelagh Delaney's classic kitchen sink drama 'A Taste Of Honey'. Thanks to the 60s film starring the irrepressible Dora Bryan, and the young Rita Tushingham, this was a must-see play for Salfordians and Mancunians. Starring Coronation Street's Sally Lindsay as Helen (the mother-from-hell), and Jodie McNee as her much-troubled teen-age daughter Jo, this was a mixed bag of a production. The regular use of hit songs from the likes of Joy Division, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses was certainly enjoyable but added little to the atmosphere of a drama set in the late 1950s. The whole evening seemed more like a Manchester/Salford theme night, and jollied up what is actually a poignant and depressing piece of theatre. Many of Helen's bitter put-downs elicited a variety of chuckles and belly laughs rather than the twinges of disgust they were surely meant to invoke. WHY do audiences feel the need to laugh at ANYTHING even remotely 'amusing'???? Is it just me? Do people NEED to laugh all the bloody time? Yes, there ARE some nice one-liners, but nothing that would trouble Armando Iannucci for God's sake! Sheesh!!!!

Thoughts on 'Thought Bubble', Leeds

Last Saturday I managed to stagger on to a late train in order to get to Leeds for the evening booze-up following this year's 'Thought Bubble' event. Nice posh casino, and a great bunch of people. Special mention to Adam Cadwell, the new 'Austin Powers', whom I think I verbally battered all night. I seem to remember saying goodbye by accosting him with a teaspoon in a Basil Fawlty/Manuel inspired moment of lunacy. That was down to my having eaten only two slices of toast that entire day! Boy, am I dumb!! I do remember a rather fetching young lady in a Japanese style dress which left little to the imagination. Down, boy! And thanks go to the ever fragrant Ella Wredenfors for her generous hospitality and drinking-pal-ness (!).

Saturday, November 08, 2008

'Vworp! Vworp!' Dr Who comics event
















Just a word about the event I helped out with last month at The Lass O'Gowrie pub. We had a fantastic time with the likes of artists LEE SULLIVAN, ADE SALMON, and D'ISRAELI. Plus writers IAN EDGINGTON, TONY LEE, GARY RUSSELL, PAUL CORNELL, etc., etc. And the legendary DEZ SKINN (founding editor of Dr Who Weekly, Starburst, Warrior, etc). A few pix....