Illustration

Over lockdown I’ve been enjoying exploring new illustration techniques that combine digital drawing, photography and lots of home-made textures. With birds as subject matter (as usual!) it’s been a challenge to retain stylistic simplicity, and not to succumb to the temptation of representing every feather or finger (toe? tallon?). I suspect these will end up on the shop as greetings cards but here they are for now!

Northumberland Puffin © Anna Mary Harding

Northumberland Puffin © Anna Mary Harding

Rooftop Pigeons © Anna Mary Harding

Rooftop Pigeons © Anna Mary Harding

Rufescent Tiger Heron © Anna Mary Harding

Rufescent Tiger Heron © Anna Mary Harding

Barn Owl © Anna Mary Harding

Barn Owl © Anna Mary Harding

Event: Makers Market at The Nutshell

The Nutshell Winchester Makers Market

I’m so excited to be working on this event over at The Nutshell. Come along and join us as a maker, or support local creatives by visiting the market.

The Nutshell warmly invites you to join us for our first ever Makers Market; a celebration of independent designers and makers from Winchester and the surrounding areas.

 Ceramicists, Artists and Designers from the Winchester area will be showcasing their work at a brand new event at the newly opened Nutshell Arts Centre. This hand-curated market will feature some of the areas most talented independent crafters, who will be on hand to discuss their creative process, tools and techniques as well as selling their finest products. This Makers Market offers an authentic shopping experience, where visitors can buy unique handmade products, meet local creatives and support Winchester-based talent. 

This two-day event will open with an informal evening of shopping on Wednesday 13thMarch from 6-9pm, where visitors will be invited to join vendors for a social drink, enjoy live music from Hannah Castleman and browse the stalls. Shopping will continue from 10am - 5pm on Thursday 14thMarch for family-friendly browsing. 

Exhibitors: Woodland Soul, Rachel Reynolds, Elka Textiles, Milli McGregor, John Bloor, Alice Bloor Raspberry, Quince Jewellery, Ping & Lily, Cheese & Pineapple, Carol Lee, Julian Lee, Barbara Graham, Tim Thornton

Entry:FREE!

Opening times:
Wednesday 13th March - 6-9pm (our bar will be open and we will have live music from singer Hannah Castleman!)
Thursday 14th March - 10-5pm

Access:This event is located on the first floor where there is currently no disabled access. Pushchairs can be left securely on the ground floor. 

Photography: Winchester Jazz Festival 2018

A small selection of the photographs I took to document Winchester Jazz Festival 2018.

Design: WJF 2018 Programme & Event Flyers

Programme & Event Poster Design for Winchester Jazz Festival 2018.

August for Ding

Everyone else may be on summer holidays, but over here August is turning out to be one of my busiest months of the year!

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Tuba Libres

Tuba Libres

Winchester Jazz Festival is just over a month away (spoiler - it's going to be EPIC) and I am busy putting together marketing materials and selling tickets! This festival isn't solely for jazz lovers, there's definitely something for everyone in this line-up. Check out the website for full listings, but my top recommendations are reggae/jazz/soul saxophonist Yolanda Brown's 10 Years of Music, who will be performing in Winchester for the first time, and brass grooves from local band the Tuba Libres which will be a perfect way to close the weekend.

This month I'm also enjoying working with Hannah and Louisa (aka The Spitfire Sisters) putting together outfits for our upcoming photoshoot. I would love to tell you more...but i'll let the photos speak for themselves once we have them!

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And then there's the big secret project that isn't that secret anymore (The Nutshell) which is beyond exciting! Anyone who grew up in Winchester will know how special The Antique Market is, and the incredible potential of the building. We are so thrilled that it will become a centre for the arts, and are working really hard to get it ready for public hire this October. I'm looking forward to sharing loads more about this very soon but in the meantime check out this news article from Winchester City Council!

Photography: Hannah Castleman Blog

I enjoyed taking some photos for Spitfire/Jazz Fest colleague and friend Hannah Castleman’s recent blogs all about sustainable fashion!

Venice & Venice Simplon Orient Express

This month I took the most incredible trip to Venice with The Spitfire Sisters. We spent 24 hours exploring before jumping on board the Venice Simplon Orient Express, where we were booked to entertain the passengers. As you can imagine, it was a pretty extraordinary gig and one we won’t forget for a long time!

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Tea Party for One!

Because this is what January should be about. 

December for The Spitfire Sisters is manic. It's our busiest time of year for gigs and we bloody love it, but it can be exhausting. I know singing doesn't sound like the most strenuous of job descriptions but working antisocial hours, lugging gig kit around the country and constantly wearing uncomfortable shoes can really take it out of you. I'm pretty sure that by the second half of the month I'm running on Coffee and adrenaline but not much else. However, after a few years of practice I think I am beginning to master the art of CHILLING OUT whenever possible. This year I asked for xmas presents that would fascilitate ultimate chilling: a new teapot, milk jug and tray for tea in bed.

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Today, this was topped off beautifully with a gift from Spitfire Hannah. I've always dreamed of a jungle home, one with plants on every surface and views into a tree canopy through huge glass windows. Life in central Winchester with no garden isn't conducive to this dream, so instead I'm spending my occasional lazy mornings choosing houseplants that will give me that green fingered feeling. This Happy Houseplants book from Hannah has been a lovely guide and it has also given me some tips for keeping my existing plants alive. I think my next plant purchase will be some kind of fern, but i'm on the look out for a hanging basket for it that I can somehow rig up inside. Suggestions welcome...!

Photography: Winchester Jazz Festival 2017

A handful of the photographs I took to document Winchester Jazz Festival 2017. What a week!

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

I’ve been having a wonderful time creating this Lion’s mane for The Discarded Nut Theatre Company’s recent production of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. It’s made of hair extensions, and when it’s finished it will be paired with a floor length wax print cloak.

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