‘Rex’ is the exciting new project that Simon is working on. He has been busy working on it for several months in between visits to schools and festivals during what has been a record year for speaking engagements all over the country. ‘Rex’ is nearly finished and will be published in the Spring with Walker Books. You can see more illustrations from this book coming here soon!
Nurse Clementine Cover
‘Here is a copy of the finished cover for ‘Nurse Clementine’. Making a cover is always the last thing to do when making a book, it is never easy to come up with something fresh and distinctive. I hope you like it.’ Simon James.
Wembury School visit
Wembury Beach was the place where I came up with the story of Sally and the Limpet.
I dedicated the book to Sally and Wembury Beach in order to remember the day.
So it was a great pleasure to visit the local school at Wembury and share my books with the children, staff and parents. Many of the children had dressed up as characters from my stories, there were wonderful ‘Robomums’, ‘Jakes’ and of course, there were quite a few ‘Sallys’ with their limpet shells.
I would like to thank everyone there for making it a special day.
Here is a photo of Daisy, who’s Mum drew Sally on her daughter’s tee shirt -rather too well for my liking!
Best wishes,
Simon.
New Book Thoughts
Have you found it difficult to eat on the beach? Perhaps you have seen a seagull grab your sandwich, or watched your ice-cream melt on to the sand…
Simon has been working on a new book idea. It is about a little brother called Pete and his first visit to the beach.
Season’s Greetings
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Nurse Clementine is delivered
The artwork for Simon’s new book, ‘Nurse Clementine‘ was delivered last week to Walker Books. Simon has been working on the artwork during the summer. ‘I enjoy painting in the summer months most of all,’ he says, ‘I get a much better sense of how the colours are working on the paper when the days are bright.’ The artwork is now being scanned and will then be positioned with the text on a computer, to prepare for printing.
At the drawing board
Simon James at the drawing board
Simon is currently busy at his drawing board working on the artwork for his next book with Walker Books, called ‘Nurse Clementine‘. The artwork will be finished in September and the book will be published in 2012.
Coming Soon
‘George Flies South‘, Simon’s new book about a baby bird’s unusual journey to discovering he can fly, will be available from September 2011.
Simon has illustrated this story with his inimitable watercolour and ink drawings and, for the first time in his books, there is a strong graphic novel effect which will delight all readers.
Exhibition
Plymouth City Museum is currently hosting a successful exhibition entitled Draw me a story – the art of illustration for children.
As one of the featured artists Simon has provided sketches, dummy books, pens and water colours to show how a picture book moves from an idea to the
finished product; as well as delivering talks for visitors to the exhibition about his work.
Ideas for the future
“I am always playing with new ideas for stories, sketching and writing little books to see if my ideas will work.
My favourite at the moment is a story about a little boy’s first visit to the beach and how the events of the day leave him ready to eat a very large supper!”