My Blog

Working mummy!

Hi Guys, hope you're all doing well. It's been a while since I blogged, I have to say! After a few months off having my lovely Olivia, I've been thrown back into a new colouring book thanks to the lovely people at Usborne. So I'm mummy by day, illustrator by night which is hard work but lots of fun :) Naturally I'm having to keep the drawings hush hush but I'll be updating you all when it's out, V. Excited! For now here's a little doodle I did the other day for my brother who very kindly lent us lots of baby things!

West Rise Junior School Illustration entries

First of all Happy New Year all! It was a busy end to 2012 for me with my little Olivia being born and she's certainly keeping me on my toes :)

I was delighted just before christmas to receive the splendid illustration entries from pupils at West Rise Junior School. After having gone there to be interviewed for their school paper, (see previous posts) pupils created their own "Sophie Style" illustrations of what they thought their school would be like as an animal kingdom! Below are the 3 Year 4 winners, each awarded with one of my very own Phuket Colouring Books! Well done to all who entered, your visions certainly made me laugh!

In the playground by Ruby Venor 4H
3 Striking characters with great facial expressions!

ICT Lesson by Sophie Briffith 4L
An original subject, love the bright colours and high stools!

Football practice and detention by Charlotte Bray 4H
Such a careful observation of pigs and the duck is a great character!

Little Olivia

A long awaited beauty - My daughter Olivia Leelawadee Crichton

Born 27th October 2012 9lbs 10 0z

- Having been conceived on our cherished trip to Thailand, we chose Olivia's middle name "Leelawadee" - from the Thai word for the Frangipani flower :) Already a little character, I think she's set to inspire many a future illo! Welcome to the world of blogging little one! x

Time to nest

With just over a week to go till our new arrival, I'm feeling more and more like an animal. Yesterday my walk resembled that of a large penguin. Today I think I'm preparing to nest, perhaps in a drawer somewhere, like a cat! The countdown to becoming a mum begins... Will keep you posted!

The West Rise and Shine

Yesterday I had the pleasure to be invited to attend an interview at West Rise Junior school in Eastbourne.
http://www.westrisejunior.co.uk/

Pupils at the school produce their own fabulous newspaper "The West Rise and Shine" and are currently running a series of reports on "Inspiring Vocations". I was invited to talk to Mrs Stringfellow's Year 6T journalists about what it's like to be an illustrator!

I can't wait to see the end feature from these talented students in next months paper. There will be an illustration competition also to feature alongside my interview, that I will have the pleasure of judging!

Follow my blog over the following weeks and also the pupil's very own "Studio Blog" http://storiesfromthestudiowrj.wordpress.com/ for the result!

Back home

Hi all, It's been a bit long since my last blog post and so sorry if I've let things slip a bit in my online presence of late! Very bad, but I've been mega busy moving countries again and preparing for our new baby, due in just 4 weeks! Very exciting!

Anyway, I'm back on Uk soil now and after a fabulous year away in Thailand experiencing some incredible culture and producing "The Phuket Colouring Book" http://www.sophieillustration.co.uk/book.php it feels rather lovely to be back home amongst friends and family and a newly acquired residence, in the lovely village of Hurstpierpoint!

Illustration News, last month I was delighted to be asked to work on a commission from Canada for a series of promotional images for "The Snowflake Charity Ball" to be held in May 2013 in the countries Capital. The beneficiaries are the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and Screen Colons Canada, so all great causes I'm glad to be contributing towards.

The theme for the event is "Springtime in Paris", here's a sneak peak at the image I produced to be transferred onto various promo items around the Capital. And yes... you guessed it, I couldn't help but sneak in a few dogs...French dogs obviously ;)