I've upgraded my portfolio website and included a simple blog and project section. So this will probably be last post here:(

www.SteveSimpson.com, please drop in

Created using Rory's story cubes.

Rory's story Cubes are a set of 9 dice. They have images instead of spots, the aim is to throw the cubes and make up a story based on the result.
If, like me, you sometimes prefer to work to a brief when developing your own work these are a a great idea. Would be great for comic strips as well as children's books.
To buy or find out more about Rory's Cubes visit www.thecreativityhub.com

brief based on "Rory's Story Cubes"



Rory's story Cubes are a set of 9 dice. They have images instead of spots, the aim is to throw the cubes and make up a story based on the result.
If, like me, you sometimes prefer to work to a brief when developing your own work these are a a great idea. Would be great for comic strips as well as children's books.
To buy or find out more about Rory's Cubes visit www.thecreativityhub.com

Pure Pie Wins Gold, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

My Pure Pie illustrations have won gold in the AOI's Images32 competition.
happy days:)

A step-by-step of the project has been featured on www.scamp.ie

series of illustrations for Bushmills

for group sketchbook entitles "dream diary"

OneSmallStep bus, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Spotted my illustration on the back of this bus a few cars in front of me in the centre of Dublin over the weekend. Had to follow it for a while before I could jump out and take a photo.

onestep green 48sheet, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This campaign is featured in a step-by-step on the illustration blog, SCAMP.
Encouraging people to leave their cars behind and walk to work for the DTO [Dublin Transport Office] for a One Small Step poster campaign.

fashion, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This is my entry for the Electric Picnic Leviathan exhibition.
Its on 300 x 500 mm on12mm MDF. It's done in a mix of acylics, ink and tipex.

Using the theme of “the spoken word’, the exhibition is based around famous speeches and quotes . The exhibition showcases the work of some of Ireland’s finest illustrators, and is curated by Valerie Walshe an Independent Curator based in Kilkenny. So if you’re lucky enough to have tickets to the event, get your wellies on and drop in for a look.

Electric Picnic Festival 31st August 2007.

mail me art1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

My entry for the LCS mail me art exhibition. To take part go to www.mailmeart.com

I currently have a couple of pieces in a group exhibition, "a nation's obsession", documenting illustration and architecture in Ireland’s changing economy. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in conjunction with the IGI launched the exhibition on the 3rd August at the Architecture Gallery, RIAI, Merrion Square, Dublin and runs until Friday 24th August, 2007.
The Architecture Gallery, RIAI, 8 Merrion Sq. Dublin 2, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Thursday 2nd August until Friday 24th August, 2007.

day dreams, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Book cover for a collection of poems for small people

purepie page 1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This was a branding project for a handmade pie company based in the UK. The company has outlets on major rail stations in London and the designs will be covering the whole units as well as featuring on packaging, menus, posters etc. I hope to post pics when I get them.

april fool's day page1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

2 page poem in Irish. Pencil, colours and textures in photoshop
Translation:

The Principal (written by Máire Ní Ghallchobhair)

We were doing a spelling test
Yesterday,
When in walks the principal,
‘I’ve something to tell you,’ he said.
‘Spellings are very boring,
History’s even worse.
You should all really take a rest,
And go and play in the yard.’
‘Take it easy.
Close your books.
The whole class thought
That he had totally lost it!

(page 2)

You all work much too hard,
Seriously!
You needn’t come to school every day,
Why not take a holiday!
I’m not one bit pleased with your teacher,
He has you tortured.
With his complaining and his giving out
Every single day.
I’ll go now,’ he said,
See you, Bye.’
And then, as he was leaving,
He roared ‘April Fool!’

Icecream, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Part 2 of a series of 5 illustrations I did to accompany a graphic design company's promotional material. The message is why settle for the regular service you've been getting when there's a bigger, better version available.

Part of a series of 5 illustrations I did to accompany a graphic design company's promotional material. This one illustrates how getting hit with unexpected charges can be a little inconvenient, especially on the first date:)

Monster Under the Bed?, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Just finished this one. It's for a children's book of poems. Colours and textures added in Photoshop.

The original poem is in Irish, so here's a translated version.

I wake up in the middle of the night,
With my heart pounding.
What noise is that I hear
Hiding under my bed?

A sad and lonely noise,
Like an animal crying
A voice which says Help! Help!
There’s people up there!

Found this free pictobrowser (Flash Flickr Picture Browser) from the guys at dB798.com

I finished this last summer (june 06) but was asked to keep it under my hat until now.

The Brief was to produce a poster celebrating St. Patrick's Day for Murphy's.
As it was for the export market I was able to exploit all things Oirish; leprechauns, shamrocks, Irish dancing, Irish music and the craic. The posters would be put up in bars (Irish one's no doubt) across the world.

I produced an initial 3 rough options
option [A]
option [B]
option [C]

A final rough was drawn up based on option [C. This included the clients comments and some refinements.

After this was signed off I started the final artwork.


Artwork was produced in photoshop, a 350mb file with over 100 layers at one point.

I've just finished a Halloween Poster but it will be November before I can stick it up here.

This is an A6 postcard I produced for my accountant.

I gave him 2 rough options. One based on "we are moving" the other on "we have moved"
this is the final artwork for the front

A pair of stamps, booklet and first day cover I designed and illustrated for An Post (irish post office). Release date 26 january 2007.


some early roughs presented to the An Post stamp design committee last August

This is a story about a hard working leprechaun who gets the hic-ups.