The Manchester and London Marathon

If I'm an illustrator first, then I'm a runner second. Specifically I'm a member of "Chorlton Runners," though no membership is required. http://www.runningmanchester.com/

Recently a whole bunch of us ran marathons. Chorlton being in South Manchester, meant that many from the club ran the Manchester Marathon, though myself and several others ran London the very next weekend instead. ...Or the "Virgin Money London Marathon" to give it its full contractual title.

I ran London because I was lucky enough to win a place through Chorlton Runners (yay!). ...A wonderful, painful, exhilarating day was had... though this is slightly beside the point because this post is really about who I trained with and moreover who coached me and my fellow marathon runners to overwhelming success. ...(Success as in a) attempting the bloody thing and all the training, (or is that insanity?) or b) just getting through the bloody thing.)

To cut a long story short, by way of thanks from me and the club I dedicated a framed picture to our coach Gavin Cameron. Giver of many, many man-hours; though a self titled "Dark Lord" of blood sweat and tears, he devised our training plan and was on hand pretty much every step of the way. A good man. This picture was presented to him during the post-Manchester marathon party...

Me and Gavin: Incidentally, I was a marshal at the 

Manchester Marathon so felt entitled to join 

in with a celebratory a pint (last one before 

London, the week after - hey, I never said I 

was Mo Farah).

The caricature in all it's glorious fun-poking detail. 

Yes, he does indeed say all those things.

Me, just after finishing the London Marathon. 

Mmmm, tastes like running-bling.

Video Killed the "Illustratar"

I made a youtube video. It has most of my best work on it, though annoyingly there are a few things I forgot to add. Ah well, gives me scope for a sequel. I'd be interested to know from other illustrators and arty types if they've made portfolio videos. ...Leave comments below.

Arsing About

...Continuing the theme of shapely women. I illustrated this article about bums. http://www.squidoo.com/build-a-bum

 

She was created on smooth photocopy 

paper with a "Pentel Colour Brush."

Illustrating the Poetry of Belinda Bradley

I was commissioned by Belinda for this event back in 2010, along with fellow illustrator Robin Clare who illustrated one or two of Belinda's other poems. (All illustrations below are by me.)

 

Items Found on Public Transport (by Belinda Bradley)

A Barbie birthday cake,

a “Nobody Likes Me” CD

by Alice Cooper,

a Misty Pink lipstick,

thirteen stick insects,

a mouldy cheese sandwich,

a goldfish named Slurpy,

a Nokia 1208 mobile phone,

a 2 year old,

a silver trombone,

a dinosaur bone,

a packet of brown rice,

six dead mice, white,

a “Kiss” wedding dress,

a prosthetic leg,

a last will and testament,

a copy of “Harry Potter

and the Philosopher’s Stone,”

£30,000 in used bank notes,

a black brolly,

a cat called Holly.

............

  

 I Remember (by Belinda Bradley)

I remember...

the bus

red,

covered in cobwebs

in the garden shed.

I remember....

the blossom

pink,

daisies

on the olive sink.

 

 I remember ……

my ragdoll

blue,

school shoes

shiny and new.

I remember ……

the white swans

on the wall,

threadbare carpet

in the narrow hall.

I remember……

my grandma

calling a dress “a frock,”

and saying

“you are soppy” a lot.

I remember……

ballet lessons

and tap,

looking in the mirrors

thinking I looked fat.

I remember……

the first time I was alone

with a boy in my room,

my dad asking

“is he going home soon?”

I remember ……

the day

my twin sister left,

how I wept

and wept and wept.

............

  Through the window of the Manchester train  (by Belinda Bradley)

  
I watched her walk away,

a nondescript figure

on an empty platform.

I saw her sure-footed steps

as we sped past,

watched the draft lift

my sister’s thick brown hair.

Her lasting impression

fossilised in the changeable air.