The SAA are very pleased to be supporting the World Illustration Awards by sponsoring The SAA Agents Award for New Talent.
Day: October 13, 2014 
Christina K was commissioned to produce an illustration for the entrance and windows of the Smooth You Spa in Dalston Square. She designed the image to work across the 2.5m x 10m window area and reflect the relaxing experience of the treatments the spa offers it’s customers.
Christina K is represented by Debut Art
Yehrin Tong illustrated the cover for Michel Faber's latest novel 'The Book of Strange New Things'. Commissioned by Canongate's Art Director Rafi Romaya, Yehrin's work has a quality, beauty and sensitivity that married perfectly with the cover Rafi wanted to create.
Rafi explains that "for award-winning writer Michel Faber’s first novel in over twelve years we wanted to create a jacket that was something rather special. However, the brief itself was pretty open in terms of how we could achieve this and create an iconic jacket that reflects the emotion of the novel in an original and fresh way."
"It’s a book about relationships and environments...the cover was conceived as a droplet that could also represent a human tear of both joy or sadness. I really liked simplicity and symbolism the teardrop shape gave. I wanted the teardrops to dance like a musical script and the jacket to give you a sense of wonder, a sense of possibilities – like shining a magnifying glass on a universe made up of the same stardust that created all of us. It was also a great central motif that’s a very pure icon for such big ideas."
"First visuals toyed with the idea of raindrops/teardrops, shattered lettering, metal covers even to create a very tactile object. The concept developed with the teardrop as the central icon. Texture was created through the illustration and the use of a foil to create a 'stardust' effect on the jacket."
"There's a theme of repetition and rhythm to my work" describes Yehrin, "much like a musical riff with subtle nuances, that lends itself well to the sense of undulating fluidity, warmth and emotion that we were looking for."
On finally receiving her copy of the book Yehrin said: "The final effect is mesmerising. It looks beautiful as the light changes and plays with the foil giving it a feeling of movement. The texture of the foil has a very tactile braille-like quality to it. It looks timeless, other-worldly and I'm delighted with the result."
The cover art has been really well received so far with by far the best review from the author, Michel Faber himself, who comments: “...you produced a thing of great beauty. The design is elegant, it repays a long gaze (beguilingly detailed without being fussy -- a sort of intricate minimalism), it's very relevant to the book's themes, and it's irresistibly tactile.”
'The Book of Strange New Things' is now published and available to buy from Canongate books.
Yehrin Tong is represented by Debut Art
This image is Christopher Gibbs' eye catching cover illustration for Edward Cox's debut fantasy novel, The Relic Guild, published by Gollancz.
"Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh. The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls."
Chris bumped into Edward at Loncon 3, The World Science Fiction Convention this year - and they got on like a house on fire. Edward's debut is already receiving some great reviews, so we hope it becomes a series!
Christopher Gibbs is represented by Arena
Simon Bartram's Bob and Barry's Lunar Adventures continue in Curse of the Werefleas, published this month by Templar.
A big, hairy asteroid clips the moon and it take Bob and his dog, Barry, ages to clear up the itchy dust. Next morning Bob finds the itching is worse, and he has a strange hunger for - meat! Under a microscope all becomes clear, the dust was actually thousands of WEREFLEAS, travelling across the galaxy, turning planets and asteroids into hairy, scary, werewolf -infested places with their cursed bite! Can Bob save the Moon from the same fate, especially if he's feeling hair-raisingly unusual himself? Fortunately, Barry is there to help him, canine-to-canine!
Simon Bartram is represented by Arena
Congratulations to Neal Layton whose book, The Story of Stars, has won the SLA Information Book Award for the under 7's category. The judges said that his book is… "a superb simple and straightforward book which informs through being totally entertaining: with working pop-ups, humour and an imaginative progression - it is a totally engaging delight."
Neal's interest in life, the universe and everything has led to an amazing amount of research and his collaboration with paper engineer, Richard Ferguson has created a unique, child friendly view of the stars, solar systems and galaxies. Neal poses and answers the big questions that you might ask when you look up at the night sky full of stars and wonder: "what are they and where are they?". This book is the third in the series, published by Hodder Children's Books.
Neal Layton is represented by Arena
Duncan Beedie designs a poster for Scholastic in the US.
One of Duncan's most recent commissions is now hanging on the walls of classrooms and conveys an inspirational message; 'The expert in anything was once a beginner'. The campaign is to encourage children to dream and achieve in their choice of career, Duncan's child friendly illustrations do the job perfectly.
Duncan Beedie is represented by Illustration
Joint London commission Ruth Palmer for these retro portraits for Dave's Crackanory.
Currently splashed over the underground, the 48 sheet posters of six celebrities were painted in the style of 60's and 70's children's book illustrations. And to promote Dave's new Crackanory series, the portraits include David Mitchell, Vic Reeves, Johnny Vegas and Ruby Wax. Ruth says "I love the painting styles of the old picture books and so this was a really enjoyable project to work on."
Ruth Palmer is represented by Illustration
