The Resurrectionists II

The Resurrectionist books were made from an etching, then the prints were cut out, folded up and stuck together. The story is meant to be read left to right, starting with Victorian policemen (with lanterns and riding penny farthings) on the hunt for graverobbers. Most of the action is in the centre of the plate, with figures digging in a kirkyard and dragging bodies through the narrow closes and staircases. The final scene should have included a hanging of some convicted bodysnatchers, but I ran out of space on the plate...

This is a scan of half of the print. (A lot of the ink is still left on the plate before it gets put through the press)

Below is a picture of the whole book folded out. More books will be made for the Bristol Artists Book Event at the end of April 2011...

Back to the 1700s:

This was done with pen and bleach drawn on grey paper. The bleach gives a glowing, feathered look when it's applied but it doesn't always scan in too well. This was done quickly before the project hand-in a few weeks ago.


Character ideas for Ellis Gamble, engraver and teacher to my protagonist. I had Jones from Dad's Army in mind when I was sketching these.


Lord John Hervey: aristocrat, supporter of Walpole and a very colourful character. I'm tempted to give him a more prominent part in the story, just because of all the outrageous things he said and did.


A few more hasty drawings with pen and bleach again.

The Resurrectionists

Photos of the first few 'Resurrectionist' books, based on the Edinburgh bodysnatchers of the early 1800s. Only seven books have been made, but more to follow as they are starting to sell.

Currently on sale at the Poly in Falmouth, Cornwall until Sunday 27th March.









More images and info to come later!

Gobbledegook

Some sketches from a debate at Cambridge last week ('This house believes that the veil empowers women') . . .






. . . and some faces in the crowd at a live music night at Miss Peapods a few weeks ago -