New Designs for 2025
"What Child is This"
Pastel
In this drawing, I gave a little nod to the original St Nick in the lapels of Santa's coat.
As a reminder that the event we celebrate on Christmas is not just about something that happened long ago, but is very much relevant now, then, and always, I have put a "modern" version of the Holy Family, with the Christ Child accepting Santa's gift. (If you look closely, you'll see a hammer sticking out from Joseph's pocket ;-)
"This, this is Christ the King,"
Pastel
It was actually the splendid organ which first caught my eye when getting ideas. Here, I wanted to depict the drama of midnight mass, which has become a favourite tradition.
I had fun imagining how the interior might be lit with Christmas decorations!
These two cards were inspired by the church of St Nicholas, Rushbrooke, Suffolk
The Gallery
"Caroling Through the Town." Pastel.
This one is a nod to my first Christmas card design. (Scroll down to see.) Taking inspiration from Nat King Cole's "Christmas Bells are Ringing," I moved the action from the countryside to a town.
"Home for Christmas." Pastel.
The inspiration for this card was the waiting area in one of London's train stations. (Can you guess which one?)
I often thought that the large drab windows across the way would look so inviting if they were lit up, and even more so if by a glowing Christmas tree!
"A Cup of Cheer." Pastel.
I got the idea for this one from hearing about the lamplighters of London. While most of London is lit by electricity, there are a few streets left which are still lit by the soft glow of gaslight. These lamps require the maintenance of Lamplighters, who periodically wind them up with a large key.
Christmas in Cecil Court.
Acrylic. Commission for
Bryars and Byars Bookstore, London
Skaters at Christmastime.
Acrylic.
(From the Archives, an old painting done when I was around 15.)
The Little Drummer Boy of Ronnie Scott's.
Watercolor and pen and ink.
Private Commission.
Christmas Refreshments.
Watercolor and pen and ink.
Commission for Daniel Bexfield Antiques, London
A Christmas Tradition
As with many others, selecting and sending Christmas cards is a favorite tradition in my family. When we were kids, the task of writing them up was usually assigned to me and my sister. It could take all afternoon, as we would carefully write out "Merry Christmas" in large calligraphic letters, and add glitter with Elmer's glue (a messy business). All with Christmas music playing in the background, and cookies available when needed.
One year we just couldn't seem to find the right card. So I suggested that perhaps I could draw one instead.
We had only a simple little printer with black ink (we'd run out of color) so I did a little pen drawing of a one horse sleigh on one half of a regular sheet of paper (so it could be folded). We printed it onto 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper, and sent them out. As everyone liked them, I did another one the next year, and then another, and finally I
compiled all these drawings together for my first card collection.
My first ever Christmas card design
The First Christmas Collection
And that's how it all started...
For me, there is something special in receiving hand written letters or cards, especially from good friends. It's more personal. And opening envelopes--especially at Christmas--is so much more fun than clicking on an email!
