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2006

The beginning of May was sunny, time spent painting and walking. In Abermawr the bluebells were back, filling the wood with powder blue perfume. On the beach, walking between the sea and the woods the sound of pebbles pulled hard by the waves on one side and grasshopper warblers on the other you could be forgiven for forgetting that there was an election taking place while our country is still engaged in an illegal war.

On May 7th our book group, The West Wales Children's Book Group celebrated its 6th birthday with a line up of wonderful authors who have all worked with us before. Malachy Doyle, Nicola Davies, Rob Lewis, Marnie Francis and Fran Evans all took part in readings and workshops at Treginnis Farm as part of the celebration.

There were over 120 children and adults, and the sun shone as people picnicked and painted.

As the crowds drifted away we all wondered off for a walk by the sea in the wind and the sunshine. All in all it was a hectic day but it was great to have a chance to catch up with friends and book gossip.

It was lovely to see people enjoying the sunshine and sharing the books.   Contract arrived for The Snow Leopard. Finished the Musician's Benevolent card (again) and sent it off and tried to come up with a title, and also finished the dragons for this years Terry Pratchett calendar, and then things began to get very hectic.

Friday 20th I was in London presenting Can You See a Little Bear to the sales staff of Frances Lincoln. Squeezed through the crowds waiting for the Carravagio to get into the National Gallery where it was a joy to see people leafing through James Mayhews "Katy" books. Had another look at the Wilton Dyptch.

On Sunday afternoon I went in search of Snow Leopards......

...........and found them. So beautiful with eyes that change colour, thick furred and huge pawed, silver grey and wonderful. So few left in the wild, elusive and mythical.

The next day I went to Venice with Egmont books. Not being much of a traveler I was nervous and when we arrived it was pouring with rain. The idea was to visit the factory where the books were printed and bound to get more of an idea of the process and what we could both expect and achieve. Egmont looked after us all so well. We saw the scanning process and printing and I found myself intrigued by the pipes filled with colour that fed the ever rolling printing presses, and the great tanks of pure colour hidden away in the back rooms. So, no photos of gondoliers, I'm afraid I found the idea of such a huge quantity of vibrant colours far more romantic. Must be my age.

In such a full few days it is difficult to find highlights when everything was so wonderful, but for me the chance to meet Nick Butterworth, whose birthday it was, such a lovely and gentle and funny man, and trying to get to grips with the cities in the water, the sunshine and beautiful buildings came a close first.

But most amazing of all was the reproduction of the 16th century bible, printed and bound by Lego and containing the most wonderful jewels of illustration from centuries ago. Animals and birds in clear detail shone out among he gilding, naturalistic, patterned and speaking across the years. I would love to see the sketchbooks of the crafts people who created these images in their studios with paint and pigment handground, meticulous detail, stunning design.

On the way out from Gatwick I tried to work out the collective noun for a group of illustrators, "a moan", "a brush" or " a draw"? On the way back, after touring with Egmont I decided it must be "a bliss of illustrators". Thank you Alison!

All that and The Seal Children being shortlisted for the Tir Na N'Og, May has been a busy month.