Spring/Summer

"Spring/Summer", lineart drawn in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop

This is an image that I think I drew last year in between other projects and never posted. The weather here in London is pretty terrible at the moment, hopefuly this image won't jinx us with further bad weather.

Otherworld Sailor

Otherworld Sailor Page 1, lineart created in Manga Studio

I recently completed another short story, "Otherworld Sailor", with my frequent collaborator, writer and editor Matt Gibbs. The story is being published in "Overload #1" which is launching at Kapow next week. Cribbed once again from Matt's site;

Overload #1 launches at the Kapow! Comic Convention on May 19-20th, 2012. A black and white anthology put together by Martin Conaghan, its aim is to showcase the work of established talent in the UK and introduce new creators to the comics industry.

This issue features a story by James Reekie and I called Otherworld Sailor, which is set in a Viking village soon after their conversion to Christianity and tells the story of the community dealing with a strange visitation.

FutureQuake 19: Yesterday Today

Page 1 of "Yesterday Today", Written by Matt Gibbs, Art by James Reekie

FutureQuake 19, a regular anthology of 2000AD Future Shock-style stories from FutureQuakePress, is now available. It features a whole host of writers and artists, plus a story from Matt Gibbs and I called Yesterday Today. Go check it out!

Spirit of Hope - Wave Man

Crop from "Wave Man" by Matt Gibbs, artwork created in Manga Studio and Photoshop

This post is grossly delayed and I should have put something up much sooner. Shortly after the devastating earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand earlier this year, my frequent collaborator and pal, Matt Gibbs, asked me if I wanted to illustrate a short story for the "Spirit of Hope" an anthology being put together to raise money for disaster victims. You can read the full tale of the anthology here, see a list of the wonderful artists involved here, and buy the book here. 

Matt sent me over a quick outline and in four crazy days we produced the strip which you can read in it's entirety below. I hope you like it and do us a favour and get yourself a copy of the anthology. A fantastic book for a very worthy cause.

Have a great week!

Storyboard Examples

Storyboard examples, drawn in Manga Studio.

Here are some storyboard examples that I recently produced for a pitch for a client. I won the work, then the client went bankrupt! Sign of our times I guess.

Have a great week

The Ballad of Frank Sartre

Panel art from "The Ballad of Frank Sartre", Artwork produced in Manga Studio

For the best part of the last two years, in my downtime, evenings and weekends, I have been working on an original graphic novel, "The Ballad of Frank Sartre". On Friday we launched a website to publish the entire book, online for free, in 4 page instalments. Below is the blurb with a little more detail about the story.

THE BALLAD OF FRANK SARTRE - By James Peaty & James Reekie

"What have you done?"

Washed up club singer FRANK SARTRE is in the grip of depression. A depression fuelled by haunting, recurring dreams of a girl. A girl that holds the key to so many answers… yet seems forever out of reach.

As Frank fumbles around the surreal city of COSMOPOLIS, desperately trying to resurrect his career and find meaning, a mysterious killer is on the loose, terrifying the freaks and oddities that populate the metropolis. Intrepid reporter SAM PARADISE has smelt a connection, but can he join the dots between Frank and the killer before it's too late?

The Ballad of Frank Sartre is a original graphic novel, recommended for mature audiences, that will be published in it's entirety for free online every Friday on www.franksartre.com starting on Friday 15th July.

Please do go check the website out and have a great week!

New Sketches

Sketchbook drawing, ink on paper

I finished a sketchbook recently which seems like as good a time as any to post up some of my recent sketches. As per usual, these are all drawn from magazine shoots or adverts using a various pens and brushes.

Have a great week!

Photoshoot sketches

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

These sketches are for a pitch of photoshoot, unfortunately I can't reveal who for...! All these sketches had to do was to convey the feel and direction that the proposed shoot would take. It was great to work nice and loose and not have to worry too much about finish.

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

Photoshoot rough sketch, digital art created in Manga Studio

Have a great week!

Tug O'War

"Tug O'War" for Marketing Magazine, lineart in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop

An image I produced for Marketing Magazine, illustrating the struggle between the marketing and retail departments.

Art direction was by Carl Golsby. Have a great week!

High Tea

"Canton", Concept art for "High Tea", Line and colour in Manga Studio

In December 2010 I was hired by the guys at Preloaded to produce some character designs and miscellaneous art for a new flash game "High Tea" about the Opium Wars and tea trade between the British empire and China in the 19th century. The game is part of the High Society exhibition discussing the history of drug trading at the Welcome Collection in London.

My main task was to design the characters for the game based on historical figures. The art direction I received from Preloaded was to draw the characters a little more cartoony than my usual style and use cross hatching to give a flavour of the art from the period.

"Queen Victoria", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

"Smuggler", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

"King William IV", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

"Lin Zexu", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

Complete Character Sheet, line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

I also produced some concept images for splash screens and drawings of general objects to use throughout the game.

"Tea Clipper", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

"Misc Objects", line art in Manga Studio, colour in Photoshop.

Have a great week and be sure to try the game out!