Q: Any tips for budding Illustrators?
A: Work Hard. Meet Deadlines. Be easy to work with. Stand up for yourself. Be prolific.

Q: How do I get started as a professional illustrator?
A: Start with editorial work. Editorial Art Directors don't mind taking risks on newer illustrators because the work has a shorter lifespan. Check out magazines and publications that are relevant to your work, find out the Art Director's email address (usually in the magazine at the beginning or on their website) and send them a SHORT email with a couple of your best images attached and a link to your site. Unless you have any big clients, don't mention any of that stuff. Your work should be able to speak for itself.

Q: Can you tell us about your process?

A: I start with research - subject/place/era/art etc. until I’m confident I know enough about what I’m illustrating. Then I start writing words and phrases that best sum up the theme of the illustration. I move onto compositional thumbnails and possible character designs. I sketch out the final images in pencil, scan them into Photoshop and colour it digitally.

Q: Have you always wanted to be an artist?
A: Yeah pretty much. I spent my whole childhood drawing anything and everything. I wanted to write and illustrate children’s books when I grew up

Q: What things in your studio could you not live without?
A: Internet. Paper. Books