Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. What a place! My only complaint was that I was too old to play on the Catbus. An outrage.

Akaoni Takoyaki restaurant

Another Takoyaki restaurant on Dotonbori, Osaka. This is one is called "Aka-Oni" (Red Demon) for obvious reasons. Well, perhaps not that obvious in black and white.

Teahouse, Nara Park

Another Japan drawing, this time a teahouse in Nara Park.

Pontochō, Kyoto

Another Japan sketch, this time it's Pontochō in Kyoto. Narrow streets full of tea houses, geisha houses and restaurants. There's no way I could ever do it justice in a drawing!

Takoyaki Restaurant/Konamon museum, Osaka

Another drawing of a Dotonbori restaurant. These are studies for what will hopefully be a series of colour illustrations/prints.

UPDATE - Now available as a limited edition print here.

Kinryu Ramen Bar, Osaka

A sketch based on a few photos of I took in Dotonbori, Osaka last year. This is the Kinryu Ramen bar. Famous for it's huge ornamental dragon. Dotonbori is the only place in the world where you can become blasé about giant anamatronic crabs! I miss it.

Full-Moon Mobsters

A few recent gangster wolves (Wolfgangsters?) from my sketchbook.

Tentacles, towers and tall sculptures.

Some pages from my sketchbook over the last few days. I want to start building massive abstract sculptures now. Don't think my neighbours are going to be impressed.

Too Late - It's Dark in London

"It's Dark in London" is a crime anthology I originally contributed to back in 1996. Last March I was told by the curator and fellow contributor Oscar Zarate that it was being reprinted by Self Made Hero and I had the option to redraw my section. I couldn't resist. I was 24 when it originally came out so returning to it at 39 was an odd feeling. My original artwork was dip pen and ink (just before I turned to the brush) and wasn't touched digitally at all (it was, after all, a few years before I bought my first computer - not counting a ZX Spectrum.). I'd like another go at drawing it again now as I knew NOTHING last year. I was just a child! This could go on and on.. Above is a panel from the new version of "Too Late" written by Stewart Home.

I'm in great company. The book features contributions from Alan Moore, Steve Bell, Woodrow Phoenix, Carl Flint, Ilya, Warren Pleece, Chris Webster, Oscar Zarate, Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman and many more. Buy it HERE.

Illostribute - Jim Flora

Here's my contribution to the excellent Illostribute blog (curated by the equally excellent Toby Thane Neighbors). The subject this time was Jim Flora. A real challenge. As soon as you start to reference his work it immediately tends to take over. Such a strong, distinctive style. Below is the Flora original that mine is based on. Once again, really great work from everyone involved.

Coffee Shop Sketchbook Round Up

Some sketchbook pages from last week. A mixture of Foyles Cafe and Fix 126 on Curtain Road. The bloke on the last page with his head in his hands was reading a book. I felt I should point that out in case you thought I was drawing the vulnerable!