This month I was invited to be Bristol Listings magazine’s artist of the month, which gave me the opportunity to plug my new show at the Grain Barge, show off some new work (and a new haircut, no less) and talk a little bit about what I do. Lovely!
Dawn Cooper Illustration
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Artist of the Month: Bristol Listings
Now Showing: Over Land & Sea
Just over a week ago, Lucy Davey and I spent a gloriously sunny morning on The Grain Barge (calmly) wrestling with cable ties and propping up images for our exhibition, Over Land & Sea, a medley of mythical landscapes and things from the sea.
I am a big fan of Lucy’s work, in particular her bold and brightly coloured screenprints, so I was thrilled to be sharing some wallspace with her on one of my favourite Bristol vessels (their puddings come highly recommended).
The exhibition is up until Sunday 30 March, so there’s plenty of time to take a look. I have prepared three new pieces for the show, including this quote from American philosopher, William James.
For more details about the show, hop over to the Grain Barge’s website here.
Joining forces with The Artworks
I am extremely happy to announce that I am now officially part of The Artworks, a brilliant London-based agency representing a small number of very talented illustrators, including Lucy Davey (who I’m thrilled to share a studio space with in Bristol).
The agency is run by a lovely team of ladies, who are passionate about promoting exciting new talent. I’ve already received a very warm welcome, and can’t wait to meet the other folks.
I’m currently the featured artist on The Artworks’ website, which you can see here.
Festive fayre
In my haste to hand-make gifts, and all the excitement of Christmas, I forgot to photograph the things I’d made, so I’ve mocked up some of the notebook covers onto some similar backgrounds.
These super motivational quotes were screen-printed onto recycled card, and lovingly bound with eye-catching end papers (recycled wrapping paper from nineteenseventythree).
I also screen-printed a bright red festive apron design (intended to look like the foliage is spilling out of the pocket). What do you think? I should probably have made one for myself, to contend with the amount of mess I made panic-baking these mini bakewell tarts on Christmas Eve. Yum!
Surprise post
The best post (second only to the hand-baked brioche I received some months ago), all the way from France.
It’s lovely when you’re sent work that you’ve done that you’re not expecting, especially when they’ve made it into a bag and packaged it up with Christmas paper and a heart-warming message.
Thanks Holly and Christophe!
Season’s greetings!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas indeed! It’s been a terrific year, meeting lots of new people, working with new clients, and being involved with several collaborative projects, pop-ups and shops.
I have been busy hand-making presents this year, which I can’t wait to share once they’ve been opened! I’d like to say I’m on top of things, but it’s likely I’ll be spending most of the day in the kitchen with my baking tools at the ready.
…Lots to share in the new year, but for now, Merry Christmas everyone! May your celebrations be long and bright.
Home and Garden 2014
It’s been a long journey, and boy do we know it, but Katy Christianson and I have made a calendar! Home & Garden 2014, celebrates all things homely and wholesome, with twelve multi-layered, individually hand-pulled screenprints of original illustrations.
Perfect for house-cats, home lovers and green-fingered gardeners, we hope that you will welcome this mighty A3 calendar into your home to see in the new year!
I have illustrated a quote by Jane Austen, to reflect the homely sentiment of the calendar, along with a cat on a mat, some butterflies, some garden vegetables, a lonely girl and a house and a pile of enticing books. Katy has illustrated all sorts of beautiful houses, intricate circles, birds and delicate line drawings.
The calendar is available from my shop and Katy’s shop, or at Spittalfields Market in London in the run-up until Christmas if you’d like a closer look!
Stocking up with stocking fillers
I seem to have developed something of a bug for screen-printing in the last month or so, preparing exciting new products for the festive season in line with the launch of Volume 4 (the Christmassy one) of The Print Shop.
If you head over to the shop in Quakers Friars, you’ll find a festive window display with big 3D wooden trees, adorned with handmade decorations, screen-printed snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, above wooden tables garnished with hand-crafted books, hand-printed bags, and a huge amount of Christmas cards!
If you’re not local, I’ve done a big re-stock of my Etsy shop, which you can find here, where you’ll be able to find these things (below)!
