Yesterday was International Dog Day, which is always a bit of a celebration around here. I know so many of you are as dog crazy as I am, and of course Otto got extra cuddles and tickles. I even gave him scrambled eggs for tea, his favourite!

To celebrate, I released a brand new print called ‘School Photo’. I’ve absolutely loved seeing which faces you’ve all spotted and hearing which characters have made you smile.

But it occurred to me that while you’ve all been choosing your favourite faces, I haven’t actually introduced you to the class...

Because they all have names. And personalities. Obviously!

Some of the characters in the print are dogs (and cat!) commissions, some are dogs I know - and some are simply my own illustrations. They all had names before I brought them together for the ‘School Photo’, which I think makes it even funnier.

I was wondering how best to introduce them all without it becoming completely confusing, so I decided on a diagram…

Starting bottom left:

Dougie - a loyal, sociable character that everyone loves. Good at agility.

Spencer - the oldest in class. Likes to sleep. A lot!

Polly - full of cheeky energy and always happy to meet a new friend.

Dawn - her face says it all. She doesn’t listen, is highly disobedient, but everybody loves her and she gives the best licks.

Berta - a cheeky little dachshund with her own agenda. Barks a lot but nobody minds because she is so cute.

Henrietta - a nervous little soul who worries about everything. She is also irresistibly cute.

Faye - friendly and just a bit naughty at times. Has chewed up many a sock!

Next, the middle row:

Lorenzo - confident and loud, causes trouble and makes everybody laugh.

Dudley - loyal and steadfast, highly trained and reliable.

Willoughby - full of bounce and energy. She doesn’t realise how big she is. Loves ear scratches.

Lotti - cute, cuddly and lovable. Loves a tummy tickle.

And the top row:

Sunday - has to wear a coat when she gets chilly. A sensitive soul who loves her bed.

Atlas - pure mischief and great fun. You can’t help but smile when you see him.

Loki - slick, smooth and most definitely The Boss.

Ollie - curious, kind and cuddly. Just a lovely character.

Hector - sincere and soulful but highly disobedient. Will happily run in the opposite direction when you call him and will only sit when he chooses!

I’ve always said that part of the reason I love drawing dogs is because they show their souls in their faces. There’s no hiding how they feel. From vulnerable to ecstatically happy, you can see it all in their expressions.

They are also all so wildly different in appearance. Wire-haired, curly, fluffy, smooth, almost bald! Yet somehow we humans can look at a dog’s face and understand exactly what they are thinking.

That’s what I wanted to capture in ‘School Photo’. That classic class photograph where everyone has been asked to sit nicely in a line for a split second, but somehow all their individual personalities are still completely obvious.

Imagine being the photographer trying to get this lot to sit still?! The thought makes me laugh.

In my work I try to capture not only how an animal looks, but a little moment of their personality too. I have stories in my head about all the characters I draw, I could tell you so much about every single one. I think I have to imagine them outside my illustration - in order to give them spirit and make them come alive.

I really love sharing that little bit of behind the scenes with you all, and the way everybody has spotted something different in this sea of faces is exactly what I hoped would happen.

The reaction to this print has made me smile from ear to ear, literally. I released it last night and I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but there are only a few left.

If you’d like your own ‘School Photo’, you can find the remaining prints here.

View the print...

Thank you, as always, for being so wonderfully enthusiastic about the things I make - and for being here.

Have a lovely evening,

But after spending the whole month sharing a new little drawing with you every evening, I just couldn’t quite let July slip away without one final surprise.

So here she is...

Coral Corgi & the Ladybird

Coral might just have the fluffiest ears I’ve ever painted. She’s only a puppy, soft paws and oversized ears, watching a tiny ladybird wander past.

You all know by now that I love tucking little unexpected creatures into my artwork. A butterfly, a dragonfly, a snail... and now a ladybird. I think they somehow make each scene feel a bit more alive, as though there’s a whole tiny world carrying on around my animals.

There’s something I love about the contrast too. Coral is all paws and fluff, while the ladybird is almost impossibly small. It really shouldn’t work... but somehow it does.

It also felt rather fitting to finish (for real this time!) with a dog. If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ll know just how much I love drawing them.

A huge thank you ❤️

This month has been extraordinary.

Thank you for following along every evening. Thank you for your lovely comments, emails and messages. Thank you for welcoming these little characters into your homes.

Every July, this project reminds me why I love making art, and because of you it has become my favourite month of the whole year.

So this really is goodbye until next July’s adventure.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being part of it.

Coral Corgi & the Ladybird is available now.

And this time... I really do mean it when I say...

The End. 🐞

She’s enjoying a precious little moment with her new snail friend, watching him happily make his way through beautiful foliage.

I love hiding unexpected little creatures in my drawings. Butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds... and now a tiny snail! There always seems to be someone small making their own way into the story.

The final print is now available…

I can’t quite believe we’ve reached the end.

Thank you for following along every single day, for every order, every kind message, every comment and every bit of encouragement. Knowing these little animals have found homes all over the world has been such a joy :)

find molly here...

This little tradition has quietly become my favourite part of the year. Every July I spend the month sharing one new drawing each evening, and somehow it never loses its magic.

So thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for joining me once again. I couldn’t do it without you.

If you’ve ever tried to take a family photograph, you’ll know there’s always one person who looks away just as you press the button. That’s exactly what I was thinking about when I painted these three…

For one quick moment Bryony and Betsy are sitting beautifully still… but Bethany has spotted a dragonfly fluttering past and simply can’t resist watching it. I love that tiny little story hiding inside the drawing. It makes me smile every time I look at her.

Kittens are such lovely little creatures to draw. They seem to bounce through life with endless curiosity, and I wanted this trio to capture a little of that playful energy-along with the soft whiskers, fluffy fur and those inquisitive expressions.

If Bryony, Betsy and Bethany have found their way into your heart, today’s limited edition print is now available.

Find them here…

Tomorrow is the final day of 30 Prints in 30 Days. I can’t quite believe we’ve made it to the end, and I have one last little animal waiting to meet you.

Day 27: Amelia & Barry Guinea Pigs 🐹

I’ve had several guinea pigs over the years, so they were always going to make an appearance in this year’s collection. They have such funny little personalities and wonderfully expressive little faces.

Amelia and Barry have the cheekiest hairdos! Those fabulous tufts standing proudly on top of their heads. I imagined them sitting together amongst the dandelions, enjoying a quiet little squeaky chat. I can’t help wondering what they’re discussing!

View Amelia & Barry

Day 28: Elizabeth & Douglas Ducks 🦆

If you enjoyed Stephanie & Mikey earlier in the month, I’d love you to meet Elizabeth and Douglas…

I’ve always loved painting ducks. The contrast between the Douglas’s jade-green feathers and the softer, beautiful speckled browns of the Elizabeth is fascinating. They look as though they’ve just wandered back from an afternoon paddle… perfectly content in one another’s company.

And I can’t help imagining there are a few fluffy ducklings just out of sight, trying to keep up!

see Elizabeth and Douglas!

We’re into the final few days now - I can’t believe how quickly July has disappeared.

I hope these little creatures make you smile today.

There are some drawings that make me want to reach straight into the paper for a cuddle, and this is definitely one of them.

I imagined these three snuggling up together after a busy day of exploring, all warm noses, floppy ears and lovely soft fur. I loved drawing the way they’ve nestled into one another, each with their own little personality, but happiest when they’re all together.

Find them here...

Tomorrow we’ll be down to the final three prints, which hardly seems possible. Thank you so much for coming along on this journey with me.

Carol, Amy and Tim are having a proper little chat amongst themselves here. Three seriously sweet faces, all bursting with personality.

I love imagining what they’re might be talking about. They look as though they’ve got something very important to discuss, and each one has such a different little expression…

Find them here...

I hope they make you smile.

I’ll see you tomorrow for Day Twenty-Six.

I’ve always loved drawing foxes. They have such intelligent, inquisitive faces - even when they’re completely relaxed, they always seem to be watching the world around them….

For this painting I imagined Vivian sitting amongst a sea of foxgloves on a warm summer afternoon. The flowers are painted in watercolour and liquid acrylics, with just a touch of sparkly arylic ink to catch the light.

There’s something really calm about Vivian. She’s not rushing anywhere, she’s just enjoying a quiet moment amongst the flowers. I hope she brings a little of that feeling to your day too.

Meet Vivian

Only six days to go now... I can’t quite believe how quickly this month has disappeared. I don’t want it to end! Thank you, as always, for being here.

If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ll know I have a real soft spot for dachshunds. My own little Otto has completely stolen my heart-and even inspired his own picture book, Otto the Top Dog.

Beatrice and Belinda are a mother and puppy, and I wanted this drawing to celebrate that wonderful bond. There’s something lovely about them together. I loved painting their expressive little faces, those wonderfully scruffy whiskers, and the wiry texture of their coats.

Sometimes the simplest drawings are the ones that make me smile the most, and I hope this pair does exactly the same for you :)

View Today's Print...

With only a handful of days left now, I can’t quite believe how quickly this month has flown by! See you tomorrow…

There’s something wonderfully peaceful about a little woodland bird perched quietly amongst the wildflowers. I imagined Joseph taking a moment for himself on a foxglove, enjoying the morning air before the woodland wakes around him.

I always love painting birds like this. Their soft, rounded shapes and gently fluffed feathers somehow capture that feeling of a cool morning perfectly. The foxgloves were just as much a joy to paint, adding little pockets of colour that frame Joseph without taking the spotlight away from him.

If Joseph has found his way into your heart, today’s limited edition print is now available.

find Joseph here...

With just eight prints still to come, I hope you’re enjoying this year’s collection as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it for you.

I’ve always had a soft spot for owls. There’s something about their curious expressions that makes each one seem to have a completely different personality, and these three certainly do.

Kevin, Lloyd and Derek may be unlikely friends, but I like to imagine them happily perched together on a branch, chatting away about the day’s adventures. I had so much fun painting their different expressions—each one made me smile as they gradually came to life on the paper.

If you already have Ruby, or Gwen & Rose, perhaps it’s time to start your own little parliament of owls.

If this cheeky trio has stolen your heart, today’s limited edition print is now available.

Here's The Print...

Only nine prints remain after today, which feels completely surreal. Thank you for being part of this wonderful July adventure.

There’s something about hedgehogs that always makes me smile, and I imagined Clovis stappong for a quiet moment to enjoy the scent of the magnolia on a warm spring morning.

The magnolia flowers were inspired by the beautiful tree in my own garden. I loved building up all those soft pinks layer by layer, until the petals had that delicate, papery quality they seem to catch in the sunlight.

I think spring flowers and hedgehogs belong together somehow.

If Clovis has found his way into your heart, today’s limited edition print is now available.

We’re now into the final third of this year’s 30 Prints in 30 Days, which feels impossible to believe. Thank you so much for following along-it really has been such a joy sharing these drawings with you…

Clovis is here...

My very first picture book, all the way back when I was a student, was about a tiger called Augustus. I spent hours watching the tigers at Edinburgh Zoo, sketchbook in hand, trying to understand every movement and expression. I think that’s where my love of drawing tigers really began.

Bryan has such a big personality. I wanted him to have a wonderfully warm, friendly face, full of whiskers and character. He’s one of those animals I immediately wanted to be friends with, and I hope, if you met him, you’d feel exactly the same.

If Bryan has found his way into your heart, today’s limited edition print is now available.

View Today's Print

Tomorrow evening I’ll be back with another brand new illustration to share with you.

Thank you so much for joining me on this little July adventure. I honestly look forward to sharing these drawings with you every single day.

I like to imagine these two as old friends, enjoying a proper catch-up together. The sort of conversation you can only have with someone who’s known you for years.

I loved drawing them nose to nose like this, getting into the little details of their faces and eyes as they chat away. I also decided to leave the background completely clear, so the beautiful black and white contrast of their fur could really take centre stage.

I hope they make you smile as much as they made me whilst I was drawing them.

View Today's Print

Tomorrow I’ll be back with another brand new illustration... and if you’re a panda lover, you might want to keep an eye out for tomorrow’s too.

Thank you, as always, for following along. It means such a lot to have you here, sharing these little moments with me

I’ve had so many messages asking if there would be a red panda this year, so I was very happy to finally introduce Mandy and Maddy.

They’re one of those animals I never get tired of drawing. I loved building up all the texture in their striped tails layer by layer, until they felt wonderfully soft and fluffy. But more than anything, I loved the little moment between them.

Maddy is looking up at Mandy with such trust and affection as they snuggle together.

Today’s limited edition print is available now on my website.

View Today’s Print

As always, there are just 10 editions (plus one Artist’s Proof), each signed and numbered by hand.

If you’re collecting more than one print this month, remember you can write HOLD in the comments at checkout and I’ll combine your order at the end of July. And if you’re in the EU, send me a message before ordering and I’ll let you know if the EU copy is still available.

I hope they make you smile.

She’s joined here by Gracey, a younger friend, and the two of them are painted in beautiful metallic inks that shimmer in the light.

I like to imagine Abigail teaching Gracey how to count. If you’ve read Abigail, you’ll know counting is one of her favourite things to do - whether it’s zebra stripes, cheetah spots, or anything else that stays still long enough!

Today’s limited edition print is available now on my website.

As always, there are just 10 editions (plus one Artist’s Proof), each signed and numbered by hand.

And, if you’ve never met Abigail before, I’ve also included a link to the picture book that first introduced her. It felt only right to let today’s print and her story sit together.

I hope she makes you smile.

I can’t quite believe we’re already halfway through this year’s 30 Prints in 30 Days.

So today I thought we’d celebrate with a little surprise.

Instead of one new limited edition print… today there are two.

Miriam

Miriam began life as one of my Daily Drawings, surrounded by soft blush-pink summer flowers. There’s something so gentle about her, and I loved building up all those tiny white spots across her coat.

⸻

Martha

Martha couldn’t be more different. She’s enjoying a quiet spring morning amongst daffodils and hyacinths, with a tiny blue tit who’s stopped by for a chat. Those fresh yellows and purples were such a joy to paint.

⸻

Although they were created separately, they felt like the perfect pair to mark this little milestone.

Today’s two limited edition prints are now available.

View Today's Prints

Thank you so much for joining me every evening this July. I so look forward to sharing these drawings with you, and I can’t quite believe there are only fifteen more to go…

Today’s print is Lowry, Ottie & Phyllis.

I think this might be one of my favourite prints from the whole collection.

The expressions on these three make me laugh every time I look at them. They’re all completely different, but they seem so deep in conversation. I especially love Phyllis’s sideways glance towards the other two, as if she’s quietly thinking, “Uh huh... I know exactly what’s going on here.”

I loved drawing the dogs themselves, but one of my favourite parts of this piece was something I hadn’t planned at all. As I worked, the negative space between them gradually became part of the composition - a happy accident that ended up feeling just as important as the dogs themselves.

I really hope they make you smile as much as they make me smile.

Today’s limited edition print is now available.

View Today's Print

Tomorrow marks the halfway point of this year’s 30 Prints in 30 Days, and I’ve got a little surprise planned...

Keep an eye out.

I absolutely loved drawing these two cheeky little pups. They’re completely different from one another, but somehow they both have exactly the same mischievous sparkle in their eyes…

Whenever I draw puppies, there always seems to be a little bit of mischief that finds its way into their expressions. Tilt of an ear, a sideways glance, or that look that says they’ve already decided to ignore whatever you’ve just told them...

If you share your home with a dog, I suspect you’ll know exactly what I mean.

They’re such a happy little pair.

Today’s limited edition print is now available.

View Today's Prints

I have a feeling these two might make quite a few dog lovers smile today. Thank you, as always, for following along with this year's collection - I love sharing each new drawing with you.

Today’s print is Thelma & Wilma Hares.

Thelma looks as though she’s gently comforting Wilma after a busy day exploring together. There’s such a softness to the way they’re looking at one another that I couldn’t resist imagining them as a mother and daughter sharing a quiet moment.

One of my favourite things about drawing woodland creatures is building up all those tiny whiskers and soft layers of fur. I worked slowly in coloured pencil, adding layer upon layer until they felt as soft as I hoped they would.

They’re one of the gentlest drawings in this year’s collection, and I hope they bring a little calm to your day.

Today’s limited edition print is now available.

View Today's Print

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend, and thank you, as always, for sharing this little July tradition with me. It really is one of my favourite parts of the year.