Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

National Geographic Traveller UK

In this column David Whitey writes about a trip to Marrakech, he has planned
a surprise marriage proposal in the cities main square. Unfortunately this exotic
location is not the ideal setting for this romantic gesture. The market square is
bustling with distractions and obstacles, such as the snake charmers. They like
putting snakes around tourists necks and charge them for a photograph.

Ted Baker - A Baker's Dozen, The Best Of British Pastimes

Traffic Jam print . title: Tea & Jam

I was thrilled to be asked by the Association of Illustrators to work on an exciting collaboration with Ted Baker, to be part of A Bakers's Dozen. The AOI members were asked to design a limited edition A2 litho-print to launch Ted Baker's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. The exclusive prints, a 1000 of each illustrators image will be given out to customers as a 'gift with purchase' in Ted Baker stores worldwide.

The projects theme was celebrating The Best of British Pastimes. Each illustrator was randomly assigned a theme, mine was Traffic Jams. That was a bit of luck, because I'd been sketching cars and vans recently, the sketches turned out to be a good reference source for me. 

Vehical drawings from sketch book

 














Not wishing to interpret Traffic Jams showing angry frustrated drivers and passengers, as we've all experienced sitting in commuter or holiday traffic. I chose the more reserved, polite side of the British to create a cheerful witty image. The main focus of the print is on the couple in the open top car, framed by an arched road with a queue of vehicles. Look closely at the people in the vehicles, one boy is picking his nose, a driver engrossed on his smart phone and the old sailor is accompanied by his parrot in the back seat. These small details to the people and vehicles progressed bit by bit within the three weeks given to produce the artwork. Colour combinations drove me around the bend (no pun intended!), especially when I'm using my selective palette. The vehicle shapes and colours were often tweaked until I was happy with the results. Ted Baker asked if possible to include their icons in the prints. The 'bowler hat' worn by the bird strutting crossing the road. The 'lobster' on the white delivery van. The 'tea cup', this icon inspired the idea of the couple drinking a flask of hot beverage in a traffic jam, hence the title of the print 'Tea and Jam'.

Rough sketch for Traffic Jam

We were asked to sign and number our 1000 prints at The Absolute Group, the printers in east London. Here at last I got to see the other images, wonderful work by all the illustrators and richly reproduced by the printers on a slightly textured off white paper. On our signing day I was pleased to meet fellow illustrators Michael Woods and Robert Shadbolt. Both completed signing their prints well ahead of me, I was stuck in traffic!

Print 1000 signed and numbered

It was great to be part of this project, I really enjoyed producing the image and working with Fiona Smith from the AOI. Fiona liaised between Ted Baker and the illustrators, thanks to Fiona and the other AOI staff for organising the project. A big thanks to Ted Baker for originating the project and commissioning AOI members to create these exclusive prints for their customers.

To see the all the exclusive prints and short film about A Baker's Dozen project go to:

Ted Baker Promotions - www.tedbakerpromotions.co.uk
The Association of Illustrators - www.theaoi.com

Signed print No.1 hung in the reception of Ted Bakers HQ

Fellow illustrators and I were invited for lunch at Ted's global head quarters in London to meet the Creative Team who worked on the Baker's Dozen project. Heng Khoo Managing Director from the AOI popped along too. We were taken on a tour of the 'Ugly Brown Building' and shown the various departments which work behind the Ted Baker brand. It was great meeting Craig, Hannah, Megan, Zoe and Jodie. We had a lovely lunch the lemon cheese cake was very nice! 

National Geographic Traveller UK

For the latest issue David Whitely recollects a romantic weekend 
with his now wife. He knows how to show a girl a good time, on 
their return journey home from Liverpool Whitely makes a detour 
to Southport to visit the British Lawnmower Museum. Packed with 
garden equipment on display is a strimmer donated by Brian May 
from Queen. These small museums stuffed with bizarre and obscure 
collections amuse and fascinate him along with the handful of people 
who visit these collections.

National Geographic Traveller UK

In this issues column David Whitely is in Guam airport with hours 
to spare before his connecting flight. He decides to hire a car and 
explore the local attractions. He stubbles upon a Wildlife Refuge for 
turtles on a beautiful white beach. This great discovery ends up to be 
not so great, having not noticed the closing time on the entrance gate 
Whitley inadvertently finds himself locked in.

National Geographic Traveller UK

In this column David Whitely writes about the frugal traveller, 
securing a bargain is of great self-satisfaction. But there are times 
when your lack of concentration and absent mindedness can turn 
that bargain into a costly mistake. Leaving you furious at your own 
stupidity.

Illostribute, tribute to Jack Potter

This tribute is to the American mid-century illustrator Jack Potter. 
After studying in California he moved to New York working on 
distinguished magazines such as The New York Times, Jardin de 
Modes and Cosmopolitan. He was a very successful commercial 
illustrator and at the peak of his career Potter joined the School of 
Visual Arts to teach drawing. He had a great enthusiasm for teaching 
and become an inspiring instructor.

Employee Benefits - Safety Drive

I created this fun illustration for a feature on safe driving for company 
employees. Employers need to formulate and implement a 'fleet risk 
management programme' to help prevent their employees from having accidents.

National Geographic Traveller UK

The writer David Whitely bemoans hotel designers and their 
obsession with style over function in hotel rooms. The illustration is 
based on his worst experiences in hotel rooms around the world. 
Their overt use of technology, manual controls are substituted for 
complex electronic gadgets leading to frustration.

Cloud Storage and Computing

Cloud computing allows you to store your data such as documents, 
music, photos, videos on virtual storage space on a remote server. 
With an internet connection you can backup your data from various 
devices, a laptop, tablets, smartphones and computers. Accessing 
your data from different locations is an advantage with cloud storage.

I created this humorous illustration showing someone accessing their
music on an iPad from a cloud with filing cabinet draws for storing data.

Home or Remote Working

Companies are enabling employees to work from home or
a remote location. Brought on by advances in accessing the 
internet and communication tools.

Secret London The Serco Prize for Illustration 2012

I'm very happy to once again be selected for The Serco Prize for Illustration, this years topic is Secret London.

I had to think hard for an idea, nothing sprang to mind of secret or little known places in London that I knew of. Then I remembered a friend inviting me to her St Martins College Alumni, held at the Barbican Conservatory on the third floor of the Barbican Centre. I was amazed at the size and variety of the lush tropical plants, it's the second biggest conservatory in London. Such a contrast to the cold concrete, steel and glass constructions of the City surround it. Like myself, I think few people know of this green hideout three floors up. It is only open to the public on Sunday afternoons and is hired for events such as weddings.

I had great fun in creating what is for me a busy illustration. My interpretation of the conservatory is more a roof garden, showing a selection of the plants that captured my interest on recent visits. There is an aviary with amusing little finches, a small pound with koi carp and to my astonishment I spotted a squirrel, how did that get in!

My illustration titled Third Floor Jungle will be part of 50 selected images on display later this year at the London Transport Museum in partnership with the Association of Illustrators.

Single Sculling

The Olympic Torch London 2012

The Olympic Torch arrived form Greece last week. The Flame is
journeying around the UK by the Olympic Torch Relay lasting 70
days, to arrive at the Opening Ceremony to mark the starting of 
the games.

I created this image last year of an Olympic Torch-bearer.

Triathlete

Velodrome Cyclist

Long Jump

National Geographic Traveller UK

In this issues column David Whitely regrets having rented a car in 
Orlando to pick up his wife from the airport. The short drive directed 
by the Sat Nav turns into an awful journey sending him around in 
circles and arriving very late at the airport, much to his wife's dismay.

Athlete

London is hosting the 2012 Olympics. Here's an illustration 
of an athlete on the starting blocks, on your marks get set go!

Illostribute, tribute to Jim Flora

This tribute is to the American illustrator Jim Flora,  best known 
for his eye-catching Jazz album covers heproduced for Columbia
Records in the 1940's. The cover art is both primitive and modern, 
creating characters in jaunty angles. I chose to interpreted Kid Ory 
album cover.

Visit illostribute to other interpretations of Flora's work.

National Geographic Traveller UK

In this column David Whitely writes about his love of maps 
and his fascination at looking at borders. Whilst crossing the 
border from France back into Switzerland, he reminisces about 
the good old days of the border crossings. These days many 
custom huts at borders are closed.