Paper collage on canvas: coloured card, tissue paper, floral patterns printed from the internet, Hobbycraft hearts, acrylic paint, gold pen and pva glue.

This was drawn of a customer in Caffe Nero in Hitchin. My initial sketch was slightly hampered by not being able to see the dog or the woman’s face clearly. However, she liked it and wanted a copy so I tidied the image up a little when I got home. Sometimes this can loose the spontaneity of the original sketch so I tried to keep it a little scruffy. An interesting exercise in drawing not just a dog, but its owner too.

This illustration was drawn a few days ago after a recent visit to Fishpool Valley at the National Trust property of Croft Castle in north Herefordshire. I didn’t want to draw on location as I wanted to create a more thought-through illustrated piece - and it wasn’t the time or place to sit for an hour or so sketching. When I was back at home I decided to add this piece of writing and, without having taken any notes at the time, I had to rely on my memory of the visit. *** My