Week 26 - Mark A Chambers

We're back! Apologies for the radio silence, we have had to make a few changes to the project and now we're back to cover the journey of the final 5. So it's illustrator number 26, the ace Mark A Chambers!

Mark was born in Aberdeen on a cold and windy day in 1980 and shortly afterwards moved to warmer climates down south in rural Lincolnshire. Although he wanted to be a golfer, chef, fighter pilot and master Lego builder (not all at the same time) he found that his skills were much more suited to becoming a professional doodler.

Mark graduated with a 2:1 in Illustration from Lincoln University in 2003 and the Bright Agency started to represent him a few months later. He now works from a studio which is a short walk from his house and shares it with a lobster, a Mogwai and a giant prawn!

Since joining Bright, Mark has managed to secure picture book deals with publishers such as Templar, Little Tiger Press, Simon & Schuster, Usborne and Random House. He was also selected to illustrate ‘Animal Adventure’ at ZSL London Zoo, the new children's zoo area. This has lead to further work securing major London Zoo book commissions with Bloomsbury. He won the NASEN picture book award in 2008 for his book, ‘Best Friends’. ‘Pandamonium’ illustrated by Mark and written by Dan Crisp made the final of The People’s Book Award and 'Pirate house Swap', written by Abie Longstaff, has been shortlisted for the 2012 Stockport Schools Picture Book Award. He is also the illustrator of the popular 'Stinky & Jinks'  titles published by Templar.

Mark’s first self-authored picture book, ‘Brian the Smelly Bear’, was published in October 2012. And from one bear to another, here's Mark's studio and peeks of his spread...

Thanks, Mark for a brilliant spread (and showing the book the sights in Lincolnshire). To see more of Mark's work check out his blog, Facebook fan page, instagram and follow him on twitter. Now the book is on it's way down south to Buckinghamshire to see author/illustrator, Jason Ruddy. Until next time...

Week 18 - Steven Lenton

The choccy eggs have well and truly been polished off so its back to reporting on how our travelling sketch book is doing. The book travels to London once again to visit animator & illustrator extraordinaire Steven Lenton.

Steven hails from Congleton in Cheshire and works from his studio in Soho, London. For years he has worked on numerous animated tv shows and advertisements but in 2010 decided to venture into the realm of children's books. He uses a mixture of pencil line and digital colour to create his characters and loves to draw dogs at every given opportunity. Steven's first board book was published last year (October 2012) called 'Five Christmas Penguins' and his first picture book 'Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam' will be published May 2013.  He is currently working on his first author/illustrator title and is very excited to be part of the 'Bear With Me' project.

 

Thanks to Steven for his great spread and not getting chocolate finger prints all over the book. To see more of Steven's illustrator and animation visit his brand new website. You can also follow his latest hi-jinxs on his blog and twitter page. The book stays in London to be with our next ace cat drawing illustrator, Jim Field. Until next week...