In line with my work for the Royal Opera House, I retain a fresh contemporary style, aiming to connect present day young people with the tradition and etiquette that the Royal Ballet hold so fundamentally at their core.
Observing and understanding the essence of both movement and storytelling, and condensing that into a working visual has been a delightful challenge.
Referencing directly from film, photograph and performance, my illustrations incorporate costume and character detail, blended with a playful reinterpretation, augmentation or twist.
Drawing for the Nutcracker Key stage 1 required a careful reworking of household names and concepts – Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Mouse King etc – in order to capture the ‘essence’ for each character.
The Nutcracker Key stage 2 publication allowed for more freedom in the reworking of my previous characters into contemporary and abstract environments. With the graphics already established, my illustrations developed into a sequence of inventive scenarios, uniquely created to meet the specific needs of each page set up.
Moving my work into The Nutcracker Animation in 2017 was a natural progression and a delight. Working closely with the Royal ballet team and experienced animator David Haughey, my brief was to create backdrops, scenery, scenes, interiors and atmospheres for my drawn characters to inhabit. A close working relationship with the animator was key, with many variations tried and tested along the way. Once created, my characters where deconstructed into component parts on order for the hand-rendered animation process to take place.