Frequently asked questions

Is your art for sale?

Technically?  Yes!  In principle? Absolutely!  The idea of people actually handing me money for something I made… be still, my beating heart!  Dream-come-true! Champagne corks! Gleeful jigs!  Balloons!… (maybe even some Scottish pipers-piping).

But, in practice?  Bwahahahahahaha!!! 🤣🤣 

Have you met me? 

I’m a certified menace when it comes to admin, and the word sales makes me want to melt into a puddle of cringe.  So… yes, my art is technically ‘for sale’… but… I don’t know how to sell it.

I probably need an agent, a fairy godmother, or a well-organised elf squad.  Know anyone?

I dunno — I’m open to suggestions.  Secretly, I’m kinda hoping a fairy godmother / art agent / publisher / wealthy benefactor stumbles onto this site, gasps, “Omigod!  I can fix this!” and swoops in with a master plan.

They’ll pat me on the head and say, “Hat, you just focus on creating. We’ll handle the boring bits like selling, promoting, admin, shipping. You write, draw, compose, design; we’ll take a commission; money magically appears in your bank account.  Everyone’s happy”

And I’ll say, “Where do I sign, and do you take souls… or just signatures?”

Nobody taught me to draw.  I’ve been drawing my whole life – for as long as I can remember.  It’s just… embedded in me. 

 

Nope.  No art degrees.  No art school.  Everything self-taught.

And it’s not that I didn’t want to attend an art school… I wasn’t anti art-education… it’s just that I was raised in a community / town that viewed ‘art’ as a hobby… as something superfluous and a bit… silly.  Something you fiddled with on weekends.  It never occurred to me that my life even could revolve around my creative-makings (art, writing & music)… I just automatically assumed that I’d need to suck it up and ‘get-a-real-job’ … just like everyone else.

Both.

It depends on what I’m drawing.

I use reference photos for my ‘realistic-looking’ digital illustrations (see the FAQ section following this one to learn more about that process)…

BUT…

Illustrations for my own books and stories all come straight from my (oversized) noggin.  Collages, character designs, cartoons, costume concepts (for film), watercolours, and most of my abstract work are also entirely imagined – no reference photos involved.  

Here’s a few examples of original artworks – the stuff that came directly from my imagination.  If you want to read the captions, click on the images and scroll. 

“Digital Illustrations” is a term I use to differentiate between the art I make using traditional media (paints, pencils, paper)… and the art I make drawing on my ipad.

What gadgets and apps do you use to create your digital illustrations?

I have an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil.  The app I use is called Procreate.  Once I’ve completed an artwork in Procreate, I’ll sometimes export it to a photo editor where I’ll fiddle around with textures and filters.

Why draw on an iPad when you can draw with a pencil?

I never thought I’d be keen to draw with a stylus on a tablet and for a long time, I was reluctant to even try.  These days, however, most of my art is created on my iPad.

I’ll always enjoy art’ing with traditional media but what I love about the iPad is the freedom it gives me.  I can ‘paint’ anywhere, anytime (whether I’m in bed, on a plane, or in a coffee shop).  It’s the ideal traveller’s tool (and I love to travel!).  I can generate any colour… work with an infinite variety of ‘brushes’ and ‘inks’… and the whole lot slots easily into my bag. 

‘Real’ art supplies – on the other hand – take up a lot of space, make a lot of mess and cost a lot of money.

Do you draw from your head or copy from a photo?

Both.

It depends on what I’m drawing.

As mentioned in the FAQ before this one, illustrations for my own books and stories all come straight from my head.  Collages, character designs, cartoons, costume concepts (for film), watercolours, and most of my abstract work are also entirely imagined — no reference photos involved. 

I create a huge amount of from-my-head art on my iPad too (almost all the illustrations for my upcoming books were drawn directly on the iPad, without a single reference photo).

BUT…

I also make plenty of art with reference photos!  My illustrated cities, street scenes, wildlife drawings, and any “realistic”-style portraits all begin with reference photos, which I trace before adding shading, texture, and colour.

You trace those city scenes first? But, isn't tracing taboo if you're an artist?

Perhaps if you’re a purist (which I’m not)… or have something to prove (which I don’t).

I can draw cities and faces ‘by eye’… I just don’t want to!  Getting the perspective and sizing right is time-consuming… and, to be honest, I find it tedious and boring.  I’d rather just get on with the fun stuff:  the shading, painting and playing with colours.

Yes… (mostly).

I’ll create digital illustrations of almost anything… as long as you can provide a good, high-resolution reference photo and pay a fair hourly rate.

Here’s the kind of things I’d be happy to draw for you:

  • Buildings, cities, and street scenes – from cosy Airbnbs and boutique guesthouses to cafés, farm stalls, hotels, and wine estates.  If you’ve got a lovely property, why not have it illustrated?  You could use it on your website, signage, thank-you cards, menus, or social media.  I also enjoy drawing streetscapes, small towns, markets, and those quirky little local landmarks that make a place feel special.

  • Tourism & marketing illustrations – perfect for brochures, travel guides, town maps, or anything that shows off your area.  I can combine landmarks, shopfronts, and familiar spots into one lively illustration that captures the feel of your town or region.

  • Animals & wildlife — including pet portraits (dogs, cats, parrots, hedgehogs… you name it).

  • People — I’m open to people portraits and celebrity illustrations based on clear reference photos.

    • Caveat:  I’m probably not the right artist if you’re after a “pretty” or “flattering” version of yourself or a relative.  I love the quirks, wrinkles, and imperfections that make faces unique… and I prefer not to be pressured into smoothing them away for the sake of egos or palatability.

    • But if you’re a publication looking for a distinctive, characterful portrait of a well-known face… I’m all ears!

I don’t take on commissions that involve inventing characters, worlds, or concepts from scratch (like illustrating books).  I save that kind of thing for my own books and projects… but if something truly exciting comes along (and the pay makes sense), I might be persuaded.