Book Illustrations

I have just finished illustrating two books for the publisher Cico Books. The first book, was a series of step by step illustrations about how to make children's clothes for the fantastic author and creator Emma Hardy. I was really pleased with these 'how to illustrations' which I feel were made special by the colours and fabrics chosen by the author.
The second book was called The Green Wiccan Herbal by the author Silja this is a follow upto the 'The Green Wiccan Year' which was also publiished by Cico books in Autumn 2008.
The Herbal shows over a hundred illustrations by Michael A Hill mainly showing different herbs and food types used within the art of Green Witchcraft.
In addition to these two books I also did a few illustrations for a new book ' The art of Letter- writing' which is being edited by Liz Dean at Cico.

Peugeot

Recently, I was asked to take part in a photo shoot for Peugeot cars, and talk about the differences between the French and the English. This was easy to talk about but less so the photo-shoot. On a very cold windy Friday i presented myself as a dapper Englishman dressed in Linen and Panama on westminster bridge, london to be photographed with Big Ben in the background and holding a blank canvas ( ????). for those interested enough look out for the Peugeot magazine produced by Specialist Magazines in Bristol. but in the meantime here is one of the pics. ( i have added one of my illustrations to the canvas.)

Michael Hill illustrates Qatar Inflight magazine-Oryx

Having recently produced maps for British Airways In flight magazine High Life, Michael Hill has been approached by a Dubai based publisher to illustrate a travel feature on Rural France. A double page map (above) and a series of spots accompanied the article by Alexandria Gouveia in the Oryx magazine for Qatar Airways.

illustrations for German Fashion Company Hakro

Last week I produced two maps for a very nice Fashion company based in a small town in southern Germany. The company called Hakro (www.hakro.com) produce a catalogue and wanted some lovely maps to fill the opening spreads to show the location of the shoots they had done in Berlin. The advertising agency and its director, Sven were also great to work for, very understanding and open to creative ideas from the illustrator. Hopefully we will all be able to work together again on another project?? but in the meantime Thanks Sven!

9 images by Michael Hill - Illustrator

I am posting these few samples of work from the last few months so you can get a flavour of the illustration work that I have been doing. I have illustrated step-by-steps, maps, gardens, trees and many other things. The illustrated map of London was for Taschen books, The Pot Pourri, Glitter bird, and Pumpkins were for Cico Books. The Cottage was for Southern Living Magazine in the US, the Garden plan was for Martha Stewart Living magazine and finally the tree was for HR Management magazine. Oh yes, missed one- the cover of Texas architect was for you guessed Texas Architect. If you want to see more of my work then look at my website www.michaelahill.com Thank you.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder what can i say, I saw him last night for the 4 and probably final time live on stage. As ever he sings hit after hit after hit then when you leave you think of all the hits that he didn't sing. For me the first la lalala la at the beginning of 'My Cherie amour' take me way back to maybe late 60's early 70's when i was just starting to listen to music on the radio and from then on it just becomes a sound track to your life, highs lows you name it Stevie Wonder has been singing in your head for all those years. For me and millions of others he has created the sound track to our lives the last 35 years have been filled with Stevie's songs. Who'd believe that a blind black kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Detroit could bring so much joy to people-does that at least give us all hope.
Thanks Stevie its been a great journey long may it continue for you.
The pic above was taken by myself at a concert in Belgium in summer 1981- never have i been so close to a musical genius.

Running for Charity

I have in the past run Marathons to raise money for Charity which has been in the £ 1000's but now i am doing a more modest run and probably by the time you read this it will be completed but that does not stop you sponsoring me to the tune of a couple of pounds to help Cancer Research Go on press the button.