Francis Jennings

Francis Jennings is a man who likes to work with his hands as much as his mind and loves nothing better than to be exploring beneath the waves.  He is well respected as the leader of Hexley's Oceanography Centre and has contributed to scientific advances through his research of the sea.  As part of his research he has also developed a number of vessels including the whale submarine, D.O.R.A. and the 'Jennings Diving Bell'.

For a while I've had rough ideas for new Hexley illustrations floating around in my head but I've been finding it difficult to come up with a working image.  Finally I settled on this one of Francis Jennings.  It took a few days for me to draw in pencil and paint in watercolours, then it was finished digitally with some scanned textures.

Available in my Etsy shop to buy as a print very soon! :) www.hazelfishercreations.etsy.com

Hexley update

As promised, here is an update on my Hexley project!

I've spent some time working in my sketchbook developing some of the background to the town as well as researching costumes and everyday Victorian things to use in my illustrations.

The six outer settlements around the town of Hexley are now villages with proper names:

* Little Hexing __ (Welcome Centre)

* Cogcott __ (Transporation Centre)

* Swinworth __ (Zoologoy Centre)

* Hytheby __ (Oceanography Centre)

* Totfeld __ (Climatology Centre)

* Ryeham __ (Farming and Botany Centre)

Inspired by Victorian photographs, I have also been working on a series of illustrations on the people of Hexley. Here is a rough idea for Elizabeth Bridges - made using a combination of scanned pencil sketches and digital painting.

I've had a busy few weeks - it's not quite over yet either. On Saturday I will be exhibiting 2 paintings in the art exhibition at the Tendring Show. It's a big annual country show with over 20,000 visitors. I'm looking forward to visiting - especially seeing all the animals, it should be a good day for gathering reference photographs, sketching and having fun too!

Over the next few weeks I'm hoping that I can find a better balance between working on my online shops (photographing/ listing items etc) and creating new illustrations. There are so many ideas I have for new designs, it's just trying to get everything done! There is my new exciting project to be working on too - I'm organising a Christmas Craft Fayre in my village. I'm in the very early stages of planning still but should be finalising details like time/ place/ number of stalls etc soon. :)

Hexley update

It's been a while since I have made any new Hexley paintings but I have a new sketchbook and lots of ideas so you can expect more to be appearing soon! With Christmas being a busy time I don't expect to be doing much Hexley work over the next couple of weeks but will definately be working on it in the new year.

For now here is an unfinished, practise piece I have been working on. It started as a pencil drawing which I used to practise my digital painting.

The People of Hexley - Kate Alston

I've finally finished the second illustration in my 'People of Hexley' series! Kate Alston, like Elizabeth Bridges, has been drawn in dip pen and ink then painted with watercolours.

Born in Hexley, Kate Alston has lived in the area her whole life. Following in her father's foosteps, she works at the Transportation Centre - one of Hexley's six main outer settlements. The balloon carriages are her speciality but with a natural talent for all things mechanical she can work on any of the town's modes of transport and have them fixed in no time!

This illustration of Kate Alston, along with my other Hexley illustrations, is available to buy as a print in my Etsy shop.