Once Upon A...Tale

My fab friend Estelle has just finished editing a documentary about me and my work. It's called Once Upon A Tale. I will have it posted up as soon as I figure out how you get it online! Myself and Estelle were in college together and she is a brilliant photographer. This is an old photo she took of me in college... dreaming of how I am going to get that illustration project handed in on time.

 

Early Hugglewug

Just looking back through old Hugglewugs sketches. This was one of my first doodles of what a Hugglewug could look like. Characters often go through lots of different stages. This is a watercolour sketch. I really like using this medium because its fast!!! And you get an instant idea of the character. I would usually make lots of these versions before I find the real character. 

Amazon

Cinderella!

First finished copy of Cinderella arrived by courier today!

Its always really exciting to see the finished book. For this book I did research in Early Printed Books in Trinity College. I was inspired by Books of Hours:  I made sketches from original 16th Century manuscripts in the reading room. The hats, costumes and settings were inspired from original 16th century books. Here is a sketch from one of my notebooks that shows the early outfit that inspired the wicked stepmother's. Cinderella will be published in September by Walker Books and Candlewick Press in the US.

Amazon
Candlewick

Space Chicken and Rocket Dog!

March 2008: This is one of three large murals that myself, my super talented sister Emer and fellow illustrator Olywn Whelan painted in my daughter's school in Skerries.

Are you the hungriest animal of all?

Gobble up the new edition of The Ravenous Beast with DVD. Available now, it’s animated by King Rollo Films and narrated by Kevin Whatley. Now that’s what I call hungry!
Amazon

Hugglewug news!

December 2007: Exciting news!
I’m a Happy Hugglewug has jointly won the top prize
for the picture book category of the Highland Children’s Books Award. Hurray!
Thanks to all the children in Scotland who voted for Hugglewugs.
The Highland Council
Amazon

Magic dust and fairy godmothers!

November 2007: I have just put the finishing touches to my new book Cinderella - retold by Max Eilenburg. After lots of research into early printed manuscripts in Trinity College and doodling in my notebook I started painting last November. A year later all the sparkle has been added to the fairy godmother, the pumpkin coach, and to Cinderella'a magical dresses. To be published by Walker Books in September 2008.

To pre-order Cinderella, visit Amazon