I’m back and the book is out

I’ve been away for three weeks. I was in Prague to start with. I did a couple of talks and met lots of nice people who like books and picture books in particular.

I even met one of my favourite artists and book illustrators – Kvete Pacovska! She signed my book!

Later I travelled to the south of the Czech Republic and spent two weeks in the woods and meadows, counting dears and woodpeckers.

I do this trip to the wild every autumn. I write new ideas for books, I paint and I walk in the woods.Woods are so inspiring. You have to be very careful not to step on something beautiful. I love these mushrooms, they are like little flames in the middle of the woods.

Autumn is my favourite part of the year. Just the sunsets….they are so amazing.

I paint outside, but it’s not always easy. One day the fog lasted for a whole day!

I still finished my picture though.

Here are two more paintings I did.

The whole trip to my home country was great. I did lots of writing and painting. It’s too early to be sure, but I think I have an idea for a nice book!

It’s always hard to go back to the city, but this time I had no chance to think about it. As soon as I came back I did a master class at the University of Worcester and then an exhibition opening of  ”The Worldwide Picture Book Illustration Competition”. What amazing work was there to be seen!

And look what a nice poster was done for me!

I then went to the Crickhowell book festival and did an event with Nicola Davies and now I’m off to do the same at the Cheltenham Literary Festival. I’ll be doing a school visit in Ewhurst and I’m in Cheltenham again on Friday…and then Totnes book festival on Saturday…

…and in the middle of everything “A FIRST BOOK OF ANIMALS” by Nicola and me was published! How exciting! I’m off to London to sign a stock of 500 copies. My hand will hurt, I’m sure, but I’m so excited about the book. It was such a fun to work on it.

THANK YOU NICOLA AND WALKER BOOKS for giving me such a wonderful book to illustrate!