Sketchbook
Here are some quick sketches, ideas and roughs so you can see what happens behind the scenes (we all like to peek inside other peoples sketchbooks!). Most of these are the initial sketches for characters who appear in my books.
Sleepy Augustus
A very early sketchbook drawing of Augustus the tiger having a well deserved rest. (Painted in Ink and watercolour.)
(‘Augustus’ is from the book ‘Augustus and his Smile’. Written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Little Tiger 2006)
Shop NowThe Chit-Chat Bird
…she is one of my favourite characters from ‘The Go-Away Bird’. She is painted with pearlescent inks so her feathers reflect the light.
(The Go-Away Bird, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Macmillan, 2019)
Shop NowFinlay
A colour rough I made of Finlay in ‘Hello, Horse’ when I was trying to figure out exactly how he would look.
(‘Hello, Horse’ Written by Vivian French and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Walker Books, 2018)
Shop NowOlga da Polga
This is an early sketch of Olga da Polga. painted in watercolour with pencil.
(‘The Tales of Olga da Polga’. Written by Michael Bond, illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Edition published by OUP 2015)
Shop NowShannon and Finlay
Here is a quick sketch of Finlay giving Shannon her lunch!
(‘Hello, Horse’ Written by Vivian French and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Walker Books, 2018)
Shop Now"Playful Wrangler"
I couldn’t resist drawing Posy’s spotty tummy over and over again in my sketchbook.
(‘Posy’ written by Linda Newberry and illustrated by Catherine Rayner - this book is currently being re-printed but will be available again in a new format in 2020)
Shop NowDucks
Some doodles I did before I made my silk screen print of Bridget & Glen
Shannon sketches...
I drew my horse, Shannon over and over again in pencil for the book I illustrated all about her.
(‘Hello, Horse’ Written by Vivian French and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Walker Books, 2018)
Shop Now'Sylvia'
This is the first painting I did of her where I felt her face and her colours were ‘just right’.
('Sylvia and Bird’ written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Little Tiger, 2009)
Shop NowERNEST
This is the original cover rough I painted to work out how I wanted the hardback cover to look. The background colour changed in the end - but Ernest’s pose remains the same.
(‘Ernest’ written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Macmillan 2009)
Shop Now'Spider Catcher'
A rough doodle for one of the pages in the book where ‘Posy’ is catching a spider!
(‘Posy’ written by Linda Newberry and illustrated by Catherine Rayner - this book is currently being re-printed but will be available again in a new format in 2020)
Shop NowAugustus Swimming
A colour rough for 'Augustus and his Smile' Here I was working our the design for one of the pages.
(‘Augustus’ is from the book ‘Augustus and his Smile’. Written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Little Tiger 2006)
Shop NowSolomon Crocodile
A colour doodle of Solomon looking rather naughty!
(‘Solomon Crocodile’ written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner, published by Macmillan 2007)
Shop NowThe Go-Away Bird
This is the very first drawing I did of The Go-Away Bird. Later I gave her much bigger eyebrows to make her look a bit more grumpy!
(The Go-Away Bird, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Macmillan, 2019)
Shop NowAbigail
The first colour character drawing of 'Abigail' the giraffe. I went on to write a whole book about her…
(‘Abigail’ written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Little Tiger)
Shop NowSMelly Louie
A rough for page two in Smelly Louie. Here is is smelling of roses and apple blossom!
(‘Smelly Louie’ written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner, published by Macmillan)
Shop NowHare Doodles
(I love drawing their noses and whiskers)
Shannon
Shannon in watercolour pencil, liquid acrylic and ink.
(‘Hello, Horse’ Written by Vivian French and illustrated by Catherine Rayner. Published by Walker Books, 2018)
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