I’m a Melbourne illustrator who enjoys drawing people, animals, food, fashion and for children. My most recent published book is ‘Digger’  by Mike Dumbleton, Adelaide writer and teacher. It’s the story of ‘one toy kangaroo, one Australian soldier and two girls, in two countries on opposite sides of a world at war. It’s a quiet reminder of the casualties of war, and a tribute to the French school children who once tended the graves of Australian soldiers who died in the battle of Villers Bretonneux  in April 1918′. The book was released to honour the 100 year anniversary.

Portfolio also on Illustrators Australia

Soon you will be able to visit the shop to purchase original and limited edition print artwork. Some prints are available to purchase at Books Illustrated  (Press and review links to come).

Recent projects

‘Little Dog and the Summer Holiday’ by Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher, Walker Books Australia 2017 is the sequel to ‘Little Dog and The Christmas Wish’ (published 2014).
‘Annie’s Farmhouse Kitchen’ by Annie Smithers and Robin Cowcher, Hardie Grant 2017. ‘Annie’s Farmhouse Kitchen’ by Annie Smithers was published by Hardie Grant . It was a wonderful experience to illustrate Annie’s world of French food, gardens, animals and her beautiful restaurant du Fermier in Trentham. Some of the originals from the book are framed for sale there.
‘Digger’ written by Mike Dumbleton, was published by Allen and Unwin in February 2018

I’ve been working on a new book with Hardie Grant to be published in September this year. Details coming soon and am continuing tutoring illustration at RMIT. I find it rewarding and challenging and a pleasure to work with the design students.

Other work

‘Counting On You’ by Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher, The Five Mile Press 2016
‘Reflection’ by Rebecka Shelberg Sharpe and Robin Cowcher, Walker Books Australia 2016
‘You Have My Heart’ by Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher, The Five Mile Press 2016
‘Little Dog and the Christmas Wish’ by Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher, Walker Books Australia 2014
‘Wychwood’ by Karen Hall and Peter Cooper, Murdoch Books, 2014,
‘The French Kitchen’ by Diane Holuigue, GSP, 2012
‘The Search for Perfection’, compiled by Paul Daffey and ‘Chasing Greatness’ compiled by Nick Tedeschi, GSP, 2012 Contributions to ‘Conceived on a Tram’ edited by Oslo Davis, Sleepers Publishing 2007
‘Stories from the Motherland’ by Anna King Murdoch, Collins Dove 1993,
Illustrations for Phillippa’s Bakery
On going design and illustration work for My Bookshop by Corrie Perkin.
I contributed to ‘Drawn from Life’, a free newspaper for the Melbourne Writer’s Festival 2011 and also to the Australian Book Review.

I do a weekly drawing for The Age ‘Spectrum’ illustrating the columns of Anson Cameron and Monica Dux.

Prior to going freelance in 2009 I was Illustrations Editor at The Age, the job covered commissioning and briefing illustrators both staff and freelance. I identified new talent and dealt with illustration and cartoon submissions. Other work included layout design and developing concepts for section covers. I also illustrated across the paper. I worked directly to editors and the Art Director and with The Art department. Over the years at The Age I was responsible for many redesigns, launches and introduced many talented artists. I have also done some session teaching in tertiary Art Schools.

2009-2019 Freelance illustrator
2001-2009 Illustrations Editor, Illustrator, designer
2000-2001 Magazines Art Director
1997-2000 SundayLife! Art Director
1993-1997 Sunday Age Art Director
1987-1993 Senior Designer The Age
1985-1987 Designer/Illustrator The Age
1979-1985 Designer and then Senior designer The Age Marketing Department 1977-1979 Designer Pace Advertising
1976-1977 Designer Handbury Advertising
1975-1976 Junior designer Forests Commission
1972-1975 RMIT Diploma Graphic Design

Awards

2015 Shortlisted for the CBCA Crichton Award for first time children’s picture book illustrators for ‘Little Dog and the Christmas Wish’
2006 Walkley finalist in illustration category for ‘Dust’.
2006 Quill Awards Highly Commended for Best Illustration in any medium 2002 Quill Awards Highly Commended for Best Illustration in any medium 1997 SND Award of Excellence Overall Magazine design
1997, 1995, 1989, 1988 PANPA broadsheet excellence
1997 Best design, news and features National magazine awards
1996 Walkley state finalist as a designer

Exhibitions

1985 ‘Heidelberg School Picnic’ group show of humorous drawings, State Library of Victoria
1989 ‘Cartoonists for Amnesty’, Westpac Gallery
1992 ‘An Illustrated Christmas’, Blaxland Gallery Myer Melbourne
2004 Participated in The Age 150 years of cartooning at State Library of Victoria