New Walker Site

My publisher Walker Books have just launched their new site with 40% off all books until the end of the month.

Robert Dunbar Archive

HI! I'm just back from a week in Tuscany in Italy, to rain! This is a photo of me in the Studio above The Natural Shoe Store in Dublin. My good friend Dermot who ran the shoe store encouraged me through my 'early years'. I used to work downstairs selling Birkenstock and lovely roundy toes shoes for part of the week and doodle and paint in between times upstairs in the attic. Children's Books Ireland has just made available a collection of interviews in which Robert Dunbar meets with authors and illustrators to discuss their work. Many of these conversations were first broadcast as part of The Pied Piper series. Robert interviewed me about ten years ago around the same era as the photo, as part of this series and you can hear it here. Make sure to listen to the rest including one with PJ Lynch.

Illustrators Ireland

If you have a moment to spare take a peek at my new page on Illustrators Ireland

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

I came across this excellent blog that reviews children's books, it's a mine of information. The link below is a link to an interview with Polly Dunbar. I met Polly a few weeks ago when she was giving a talk as part of the CBI Summer School. If you don't have a copy of her book Penguin, run out and buy a copy now.
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
I'm off to Italy next Monday to Tuscany so I'm wrapping up loose strings this week. Starting with a review of the Summer Picture Books for the Irish Times. Its been fascinating, publishers are getting really creative with the marketing of their books: one book has a blog tour, another picture book has trailers on u tube!
The book worm above is an illustration that I did for the International Research Society for Children's Literature Summer Conference in 2006.

Thinking Cap

I have been asked to illustrate a single cover for my cousins' band Blue Syndrome. It will be out in August. I will post nearer the time to let you know. We are just working on the idea stage now which is really fun. I did some quick ink portraits of the four guys which had them laughing last night. The Illustration will look different to my normal children's book work so watch this space.

A Home for Neebu

I am hoping I can find a home for Neebu. She is a character that I have been working on. I came up with a comic strip style story for her. I always start my ideas in my notebooks in pen and ink and pencil. I would love to do a book or project in this style. I designed sets and costumes and posters for A Midsummers Night's Dream for Barabbas Theatre a few years ago and they used my inky rough style for the poster and invites. Neebu says 'Tra la la!'

Summer!

It is so hot in my studio, it's after eleven o'clock at night and I have both windows wide open. Is this Summer? It sure feels like it! I have been asked to do an illustration for the Argosy Christmas Catalogue so I have spent the evening thinking of Christmas, Santa and reindeers and cold things. This seems to be a recurring theme to my summers. I painted Santasaurus in the 'heat' of an Irish summer.  Another year I did a series of illustrations for the Ottakar's Christmas Window Display. Last year a Christmas card commission in July! Is someone trying to tell me something?