Hello and welcome.
Unique illustrations on vintage maps. (Mostly.)
We are on the move! After 40 years in Oxfordshire, we are moving to Norfolk.
Stay tuned for new adventures, and new maps!
Stay for a while, and read on.
A bit about me...
A bit about me...
A bit about me...
I’ve always loved the sea, the seaside, rock pools and old maps - this is my way of bringing them all together!
I grew up on the lovely South Devon coast, so the West Country is particularly special to me, but I now live in Oxfordshire... almost as far from the sea as you can be in England! So I enjoy creating these map illustrations, especially of places I know and love- I can imagine myself there.
(And if I am near the sea, just try keeping me out of it!)
Vintage Maps
A bit about me...
A bit about me...
I like all kinds of paper ephemera, but especially old Ordnance Survey maps from the 1970s and earlier. (The more recent ones have more roads, bigger towns, and less pleasing colours.) It bothers me that such attractive things are mouldering in charity shops, recycled or binned.
It struck me one day that the sea areas on these maps are quite literally a blank canvas, and so my map illustrations were born. I iron them, but old folded maps have ‘muscle memory‘, so the finished pictures often have creases which I like to think shows their genuine vintage credentials! I also like to include the map edges and keys where I can- it all adds to the slightly nostalgic feel.
Sale of original illustrations.
I occasionally have a sale of recent, original illustrations via my Instagram account. I announce the date and time in advance, and post images and prices. I am working on finding a better way to do this, so please bear with me.
Thank you for visiting.
I hope you have enjoyed spending time with my illustrations. They make me happy when I’m drawing them, and hopefully they make you smile too. That’s no bad thing in the world we live in.
I am sometimes asked about map commissions. This can be a tricky thingt to navigate: often the availability and suitability of vintage maps don’t coincide with what I’m asked to do. But it doesn’t hurt to ask! Drop me a message, and I’ll look into it for you.
To see what I’m currently working on, take a look at my Instagram @thequickbrownfoxuk where you’ll find me posting most days.
Thank you for getting this far!