Fantastic Beasts at Seven Stories

I am delighted to be doing an event at Seven Stories, Newcastle, to launch the new book, for anyone who would like to come along. Friday 10th November, 6pm, more details here:

https://www.sevenstories.org.uk/whats-on/events/123441/exclusive-launch-of-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-illustrated-by-olivia-lomenech-gill

This will be a chaired event, with a ‘slideshow’ and signed books available. All welcome.

 

‘Fantastic Beasts’ – Publication Day!

 After many months of work in the studio, and several months in production, the wait is over. The launch and publication of the fully illustrated version of ‘Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them’ is on 7th November, 7pm at House of Illustration, London.

For more information: http://www.houseofillustration.org.uk/whats-on/current-future-events/olivia-lomenech-gill-illustrating-harry-potter-315

So, forget the movie, this is 140 pages of full colour ‘magizoology’, the book that Newt Scamander wrote on his return from his travels, with a bit of help from JK Rowling.  Originally published in 1927, it found it’s way onto the shelves of Hogwarts Library and there was found by a small boy called Harry Potter. The rest as they say, is history.

Published by Bloomsbury, with the most exquisite design and production, the book will, from 7th November, be available from all good bookshops, so anyone who would like a copy, please support them. Bookshops are FANTASTIC!

(And this also supports the author/artist royalties which is actually really important, especially in this case when two marvellous charities are the beneficiaries).

http://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch

End of sermon.

 

British Library ‘Magic Show’

 ‘Harry Potter, The History of Magic’ exhibition at The British Library is now open. It is a fantastic collection of artefacts from the BL’s own collection such as this herbal manuscript…

 And items loaned from elsewhere, including this real witches broomstick from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle…

 And accompanying these fascinating artefacts are original artworks and manuscripts from the world of Harry Potter, including many of Jim Kay’s fantastic illustrations and a couple of the Fantastic Beasts!

For more information:

https://www.bl.uk/events/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic

 

Fantastic Beasts Book

 ‘Fantastic Beasts’ by JK Rowling. This is the cover…

A lovely design job by Bloomsbury. Publication date 7th November.

Belford Arts Festival Exhibition 22nd-23rd July

New work on show for the Belford Arts Festival, opening this weekend, at our Belford workshop Lomenech Gill & Fils

http://lomenechgill.com/wp/index.php/2017/07/19/belford-arts-festival-exhibition

Recent  illustration and artwork on display, artwork and signed books available for sale.

A few Midsummer Night’s left in Aldeburgh

A real Midsummer Night’s Dream at Snape Maltings.

 

The exhibition has now ended, but work will remain up for a few days more. If anyone would like to still visit, please get in touch: a.cuddigan@btinternet.com or call 01728 452035.

 

Bon Route…

Someone said yesterday that we never talk politics in this house.

(I am not on Twitter or Facebook or anything else, so for more of the above, go here https://mobile.twitter.com/euflagmafia?lang=en

A bientot et, erm, bon route!

Another link, to an alarming article by George Monbiot:

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/28/paid-leave-vote-funding-brexit-public-inquiry

…and there is ‘Hope’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the wonderful species I got to meet and draw last year at Kielder Water Bird of Prey Centre, for the book I was working on. Having worked every weekend since, I had made a pledge to return at the first opportunity so off we went to do battle with the midges of Kielder once more. Incidentally, I have discovered why it is that the French have such good motorhomes with which to recreate the civilisation of being ‘chez eu’ mais ‘en marche’, (comme La Republique in fact!) and it is because they don’t like putting up tents. So being party to a Frenchman erecting our canvas palace whilst doing mortal combat with professional midges is something to behold. Only a 2yr old uttering the word ‘pooh’, just as all the poles were balanced in position for the flysheet to go on, and the realisation the toilet block is 500yrds away, could have increased the dramatic potential of the scenario!

But I digress. We love camping. And it was great to be back at KWBOPC, not just to see the many species of owls, hawks and eagles, from all over the world, but people who are so passionate that they spend everyday looking after these remarkable creatures and educating us ordinary folk about some of the incredible wildlife we share the planet with, (I say ‘share’, if only we were better at it…!). ‘Hope’ the Steller’s Sea Eagle has gone to another centre for a while, but ‘Sima’ the Sea Eagle still holds court and this time we also saw a Bateleur Eagle, a 2 month old Golden Eagle, an Ashy Faced Owl, as well as the now fully grown Barn Owl ‘Eden’ who I drew last time as a chick. Thank you to Ray Lowden and all the staff and volunteers for another inspiring and educational visit.

 

Puck & the World

 Having almost circled the earth, (or at least travelled the length of the A1 which is pretty much equivalent in terms of time), Puck (modelled for superbly by Gabhran) is going to stay in Aldeburgh. A bit of a wrench because it is a special one for me and the paint is only just dry but I am delighted it has found a good home! My first time working with gold leaf, and indeed, painting flowers.

  The ‘wild Thyme’, ‘woodbine’, ‘violets’ and ‘oxlips’ of Oberon’s famous verse, and perhaps my favourite part of Britten’s opera. Also some forget-me-nots thrown in too.

Lots of other works still available for sale at Sandhill, Aldeburgh. 

For more information call: 01728 452035, the exhibition runs until 25th June

“I’ll put a girdle round the earth…”

Puck did it in 40 minutes, it took us somewhat longer, but nevertheless it was with some reluctance we left the beautiful realm of Sandhill, Aldeburgh to head back north and home. All thanks to Anne Cuddigan for the best exhibition opening, ‘the stuff that dreams are made of’, and to everyone for their kind hospitality. Apologies to anyone in East Anglia looking for oysters, as I fear there might be a shortage after the visit of a certain Breton, nothing to do with Brexit though, he just hasn’t had any for a while…

A great privilege to meet Matthew Rose and friends, thank you very much for coming and for the most incredible music and being patrons of pictures too!

EXHIBITION CONTINUES 11-5 daily until SUNDAY 25th JUNE