Five months ago I didn't even know what a Victorian bathing machine was...
I created two versions, one in coloured pencils, placed on a flat background, for the invites and for use on the web, and one in acrylics for the poster and programmes. Prints of these will be available soon.

Sketching ideas for a story without text about the special bond between my little nephew and the family cat Branwell.

A quick  water-soluble pencil sketch and wash of Joan and her two-legged on Barna Pier. I had never met a canine Joan before.

A pencil sketch of my four-month-old nephew - photo taken with winter afternoon sunlight streaming in (see gigantic pencil shadow!)

I have added two more Jumbo drawings to our Etsy shop. Somehow more than a year has passed since my sister and I opened it, and we still haven't really announced it yet!

Finally putting these into book form years after the idea was hatched (a collaboration with the one and only Rab Swannock Fulton). Watch this space!

We had our book launch for Jumbo Wants to be a Hippo earlier this month, as part of the 'Writers present...' event for Múscailt, the Spring Arts Festival at NUI Galway. 

Lionel and I talked about how the story and our collaboration developed, and Lionel read an excerpt (video to follow!). We also played the wonderful song "Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud", which features in the book, and had tea and cake. It was such a warm, cosy atmosphere, and we were delighted people turned up despite the apocalyptic weather. The third person involved in the making of the book couldn't make the launch - Conor Gallagher, who did the design and layout and colour washes, and without whom Jumbo would still be a pile of paper and an idea.

Thank you to everyone who made this book and the event possible, to everyone who has bought the book, and to the lovely audience! Special thanks to Fionnuala Gallagher, Deirdre Lydon and Rab Fulton. 

If you want to purchase a copy, please contact me via the Contact page above. Thank you! The book is also available in various bookshops in Galway, Sligo and Dublin, including Charlie Byrne's in Galway City.

This is the first story in a trilogy, and parts 2 and 3 will be out soon!

(click on the images to enlarge)

Jumbo Wants to be a Hippo is the first book in a trilogy written by Lionel Gallagher and illustrated by me.
Conor Gallagher did the design and put it all together and added the lovely subtle colour to my drawings, 'colour-coding' the different animals.

This collaboration has been so much fun. Thank you to everyone who has bought the book so far; we really appreciate your support. I have copies to sell here in Galway (price: 7,50 euro); e-mail me if you would like to purchase a book.