The first children's books I remember were my dad's old blue bound AA Milne classics with 'decorations' (illustrations) by Ernest H. Shepard, stories and poems including Christopher Robin and Winnie-The-Pooh. I still have these tattered volumes, which I brought on the boat, across the ocean from Ireland, when I was very young. I studied illustration at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto.

My first illustrations where clay relief sculpture, using plasticene and later fimo. I would spend hours cleaning cat hair off the work before the photo shoot, I think I had 8 cats in the house at that time! One of my earliest jobs in 3-d was a brochure cover for Ronald McDonald house. I worked 3-dimensionally for almost 10 years and had agents in Toronto and New York. One of the most memorable projects during that time was a multi-image campaign for British Airways were I created caricature busts of Marie Antoinette, Henry VIII and Robin Hood.

I switched from 3-D art to water colour for a while and then at the end of the 90's I decided it was time to join the digital world. My digital art is on packaging, posters, t-shirts, cards, games, web sites, displays, books and magazines. One of my favourite clients during that time was Nestle where I created two web promotions for their Tollhouse holiday brands called 'Morsel World' and an interactive Kiosk at Epcot Center, the 'Nestle Tollhouse Cookie Personality Quiz'. One other client I should mention is Owl Kids Magazines. I have been fortunate to work for Chickadee and later Chirp magazines once a month...yes once a month, for over 20 years, something I did not dream possible as a freelance artist. They are a super bunch and wonderful to work for! 

I've had a terrific career as an artist and have been so lucky to have been able to work successfully as an illustrator full time and enjoy what I chose to do for a living. I have always loved children's illustration, especially animal related stories, since I have had a love for animals all of my life. In recent years, in my spare time, I have taken to designing jewellery and am also partner in a farm operation called 'The Branch Ranch' where we grow and sell decorative branches. 

Here is a partial client list:

Harcourt - US, UK
Oxford University Press - US, UK
Avex
Nestle
Disney
Visa
Scholastic
Whole Foods
British Airways
Kraft
Houghton Mifflin
Barnes and Noble
MacDonald's
Petcetera
Gymborie
Klutz
Innovative Kids
Sterling Publishing
National Geographic
NMRMA
Pearson UK
McGraw Hill
Highlights
Chirp
Chickadee

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