Sketches From The Frog Chorus at Bedpop

Yesterday I had a shift at the Bedpop pop-up shop on Bedford High Street. I was manning the till and keeping an eye on the vintage exhibition by The Circus of Illustration (which is doing quite well! We are selling lots of lovely artwork!).

Whilst I was there, The Frog Chorus were there running an arts workshop especially for children and it was very lively indeed!

What Is the Frog Chorus?
The Frog Chorus is an interactive early years music group, based in Bedford. They perform songs live with rhymes and puppets and dancing. Kristine Wilkinson Hughes (aka Coco) led the 'Tadpole Jamboree' along with help from Tatty Bumpkin (aka Sam). Tatty Bumpkin runs children's yoga workshops which is like story telling with movement and lots of stretching!

I thought I'd try to sketch all the activities that were happening around me. Tricky since there was so much motion and gesticulation... But I gave it my best shot! Click on the images for a closer look!

Mimi provided the tea and cake as the proud parents look on.

Coco tells a story as parents and children eagerly listen

I forgot my sketchbook, so I had to doodle on loose paper. I added colour to the scans in Photoshop.

Stretching and floor exercises during Tatty Bumpkin yoga

More quick sketches from yoga class.

The Circus of Illustration Goes All 1950s at Bedpop.

Tickets are now available for Dress-Up Drawing, the exciting new collaboration between The Circus of Illustration, Bedpop Art School, Sarah's Doo-Wop Dos, Rose-tinted Vintage and Narnia Fancy Dress. These local organisations have clubbed together to arrange an exciting day (Saturday 17th May) of Dress-Up themed drawing activities culminating in an evening arty-partying with Vintage Life Drawing (led by Kristian Purcell) and drink and draw shenanigans with The Circus of Illustration. We would love for you to join in the festivities! Get tickets here! It's bring your own boozes, so let's do this!

Dress-Up Drawing also coincides with the opening of our Vintage Exhibition. It will be open every weekend until June 8th. Here's a VERY exclusive preview!

Simon Abbott's 1950s 'Bedford Pub' series

My 1950s embroiderd Sodapop Girl

Simon & Kristian admire Katie Allen's beautiful artwork

The incredible Agent Melon

Andrew Foster's work is bright, colourful and bloody amazing. 

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My 1950s Diner and cafe scene

Kristian Purcell has recently been exhibiting at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas

Andrew Foster's romantic diner illustrations. So cute!

Mr X Stitch Exhibition in Bedford

Last week I was featured in the Mr X Stitch exhibition in Bedford. He was curating a contemporary needlework show at the Bedpop shop on Bedford High Street.

"The colourful exhibition in the BedPop shop featured sewn works from Bedford, and around the globe, and had pieces which range from the whimsical to thought-provoking but all display extraordinary skill with a needle and thread... Jamie (Mr X Stitch) has been working for two months gathering the pieces, some he sourced via his stitching website (www.mrxstitch.com), others have been submitted by the Bedford branch of the Embroiderer’s Guild."

The Bedfordshire On Sunday

Jack and Trace check out Jamie's 3D Pokemon cross stitch

Cross Stitch Transformers

Trace admires Uoldbag's beautiful cross stitch suitcase

Ha! This is me standing along side my circular framed illustrated embroideries

Tracey demonstrates how to make lace

It looks complicated!

She's making a decoration to put around a Christmas bauble

Mr. X Stitch at Bedpop

Today until Saturday 3rd May, 10-4pm, at Bedpop, 68 High Street in Bedford there is a free contemporary (and super cool) textiles exhibition (unfortunately it's just for one week only... Boo!) curated by the incredible Mr X Stitch!

Embroidery with a graffiti flavour

On Saturday 3rd May there's going to be demos and workshops at the Bedpop shop too. There will be the Aragon Lacemakers, felt-making by Anne-Marie Stijelja, embroidery by Mr X Stitch himself and a workshop by textile artist Helen Jones. School of Craft are also having a fabric sale, so it will be a very busy Saturday indeed!

*Gasp* It's 3D and It's Pokemon!

I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the exhibition as some of my embroideres will be on display. It's an international affair with work from all over the world. Some crazy things that caught my eyes were the 3D cross-stitching (with 3D glasses, it really works) and a working transformer made out of cross-stitch. 

Needle and Thread just got twisted 

A beautiful embroidered suitcase by Lisa Tilley

Oh this is my work!

Cross stitch ain't just for girls. It's for robots too.

I wonder what that QR code does?

The Bloodpack Project

Thanks to Erica Roffe at the Bedford Clanger for letting me use her lovely photos!

1950s Illustration Exhibition at Bedpop

At the Diner 

At the Cafe

The Circus of Illustration have been given the opportunity to curate an exhibition in the Bedpop pop up shop on Bedford High Street. The opening date is on Saturday 17th May 2014.

We're predominantly looking for works of a mid-century flavour... Think 1950s fashion, diners, drive-thrus and juke boxes! We are looking for general work too, but the key focus of the exhibition will be on this vintage theme. The only criteria for acceptance is that we think it’s good! 

I've done a series especially for the new exhibition: 'At the Diner' and 'At the Cafe'. I am seriously contemplating a third piece called 'At the Drive-Thru' (in honour of one of my favourite bands ever), but I think I'm running out of time!

This exhibition will coincide with an amazing vintage 'Dress-up Drawing' evening workshop with 50's styled models in an extra special life-drawing event, as well as music and drawing games in the BedPop shop. There will also be a kid friendly 'Dress-Up Drawing' event that afternoon too with a fancy dress box and face painting for the little ones to get involved in. 

All the info on how to book is on the BedPop Art School  facebook page

If you have work you’d like to showcase, please send us images and descriptions of your work by email to bedfordshireillustrators@gmail.com.

The installation date is 11th May 2014, and therefore the CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS is MONDAY 5th MAY.

There is no charge for submissions, however you will be required to drop off and collect your work or cover cost of postage (both ways). We're really looking forward to hearing from you!

Bedpop

The second fanzine by The Circus of Illustration

Foldees By The Circus of Illustration

A Cute Little Illustrated A-Z Guide to Bedford written and illustrated by me!

Bedpop is a one-day-only pop-up shop at Bedford's tourist information centre that's showcasing unique products by Bedford designers and crafters. We'll be selling unusual yet beautiful creations about Bedford. It's part of the Bedford High Street Festival.

The Circus of illustration are selling gorgeous copies of our new fanzine 'On The Water' and DIY paper dolls (or 'foldees') of some famous people from Bedford's past and present. There's Dave the mayor, Olympic gold medalist, Etienne Stott and cricketer Alistair Cook (to name a few).

Scarlett and Kristina from the Circus will be leading a foldee workshop on the day too, so go between 2pm and 4pm to learn how to design and make your own. Wow your friends with your creativity! 

I've written and illustrated a cute A-Z guide to Bedford, where I share all the places and activities I personally love to do in my home town. Hopefully people will read it and realise what a wonderful town we live in.

Check out the amazing illustrated tea set by Lisa Tilley at Uoldbag too!

Bedpop is on Saturday 27th July at Bedford Tourist Infomation Centre between 9:30am - 4pm.