Simon Bartram: Bob and Barry: Curse of the Werefleas

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

Neal Layton wins School Library Association Award

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

You can be an Expert

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

Crackanory

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

Alexander Jackson

Phosphor Art are very pleased to welcome Edinburgh College of Art graduate Alexander Jackson. His quirky portraits featuring an interesting use of line and pattern really caught our eye. We can't wait to see who he draws next!

James Gifford

The Phosphor Art agents met James Gifford at a portfolio review whilst manning the SAA stand at New Designers this summer. His graphic novels and character illustrations really impressed the team and we have since welcomed him to join our diverse range of talent. 

Terry Pratchett Calendar for 2015

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Sean Sims

This great artwork is from Sean Sims’ regular commission with BA Business Life. Each month Sean is asked to illustrate a different business theme in his trademark graphic retro style. 

Sean Sims is represented by New Division

Rich Wake

Rich Wake created this cool cat for Specsavers. Rich was asked to illustrate a set of giveaway certificates, which celebrate a child's first pair of glasses, Rich's fun style was the perfect choice for this brilliant project.

Rich Wake is represented by New Division

Country gents: New exhibition by Sutherland surrealist

Sutherland-based artist Mark Edwards  has another brilliant show at the Catto Gallery in Hampstead from October 2nd - 21st October .... His wonderful paintings depict scenes of men in great coats and bowler hats in snowy, wooded landscapes.  Working from a former shepherd's cottage, his "The White Wood" series has led him to being "described as a modern master of a very British form of surrealism".

The Catto Gallery in Hampstead, London, will exhibit 24 new original canvases from the series next month.

Edwards, who also illustrates books, said: "For me The White Wood is to do with silence, memory, separation and things that I still don't really understand, occasionally humorous yet sometimes disturbing.But where I once felt uncomfortable and tense, now I'm far more at home with the surreal and intangible"

Edwards studied fine art at London's Medway Art College and then Walthamstow College of Art in the 1960s. He then moved north to the rundown property on the shores of Loch Hope.

Alongside his painting, he worked as a gillie on the neighbouring Duke of Westminster estate, but  stopped in 2007 and began creating art from which The White Wood series emerged.

 Edwards now paints from his remote studio in a cottage in Sutherland.

Read this article on Creative Review www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2014/october/enigmatic-paintings-by-mark-edwards-on-show-at-catto-gallery

Mark Edwards is represented by www.artistpartners.com