I was recently contacted by Health Assured who were looking to improve on the outcomes they got when approaching potential clients. Health Assured are a specialist provider of Occupational Healthcare and Employee Assistance Programmes, so in these tighter economic times they wanted to ensure they made an impact at point of first contact that made the prospective client stop, read, think and, with luck, smile. They already knew exactly what they wanted to say, so with script in hand it was down to me to get it visualised. The strip was rather fun to do, but I also thought it was a worthwhile example of combining a colourful cartoon and an effective marketing message.

One in the eye for Harold

OK. So he was already in colour. I used to supply the artwork in mono and it was coloured at the Toxic offices, but as of this strip I’m now colouring them myself, which I have to say I’m rather enjoying. If you don’t know Toxic, it’s a comic published fortnightly by Egmont… In fact, find out more here. What I don’t do, though, is letter the strip, so if you want to know why Fanboy Roy is dressed as Wallace then you’ll have to pop out and buy a copy!

© Egmont UK Ltd

Coffee, milk and 1 sugar, please

Finally, my first set of mugs are available to buy via the online shop. Never worry about people having to ask how you take your tea or coffee again with these handy pictorial drinking vessels. Get the kettle on!

Plenty of designs available to suit your particular taste. Have a closer look right here.

Last weekend saw the completion of my cartoon drawing courses at Winchester Discovery Centre. Fridays were for adults and Saturdays were for children, and I think it’s safe to say that both students and teacher enjoyed the experience. The majority of adults arrived with some form of artistic skill whereas the children (with perhaps one exception) were pretty much a blank slate, so it was interesting watching them all tackle the course from differing angles. What it also meant, as the weeks went by, was that the needs of the two groups diverged wildly, so although we started from the same point, Fridays and Saturdays were soon being tailored to accommodate their needs. I’ve already had some encouraging feedback and, it has to be said, a bottle of wine, a chocolate rabbit, and a number of original cartoons, including one showing me overcoming my initial nerves! I’ve certainly learnt a thing or two myself along the way and I look forward to repeating it in the future.

Thank you to Mary and everyone at Pepperbox Preschool in Whiteparish for the warm welcome today. Holding the attention of three-year-olds for a long period is always a worry so I was particularly impressed that the children offered me their undivided attention throughout the session. After reading some of my stories I drew new creatures from bits of other animals suggested by the children, with some amazing name suggestions too, and also indulged in a mini drawing workshop before the children went off to create their own artwork. A great way to spend the morning!