Amsterdaming

This summer I was busy working at a great summer camp in Belgium, and on the way back myself and a few friends stopped by my favourite European city - Amsterdam! We stayed at the Hotel Van Gogh - a modern, clean hostel and hotel with a great location in the centre of Amsterdam. This was my second time staying here and it was just as good as the first.

As a gluten-free eater (I'm a coeliac, not a faddy dieter) I can highly recommend two amazing places to eat at:

1. The first is a tiny pancake cafe along the famous Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) called Pancakes! Amsterdam who do a range of gluten-free savoury or sweet pancakes alongside their normal menu. I opted for a paprika, mushrooms, cheese and bacon pancake, washed down with a bottle of fresh lemon and mint juice. Other topping options were strawberries, chocolate or lemon drizzle sauce, to name just a few. 

- DELICIOUS -

2. Bagels and Beans is a great place to go for lunch. I tucked into a gluten-free bagel with smoked chicken, rocket, hummus and sunflower seeds topped with a pot of mango chutney and a glass of strawberry juice - yum! They have an allergens booklet which was really handy for knowing what I could and couldn't eat, and we were able to sit outside along the river, enjoying the view and feeling the buzz from the nearby busy streets.

When we weren't stuffing our faces, we were lying in the sun in the beautiful Vondelpark, checking out the pubs and bars along the main street and browsing the many wonderful shops on Nine Streets.

Episode is a quirky vintage clothes shop with four stores in The Netherlands and more in Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris and Antwerpen. Definitely worth a visit for both male and females as they have a tonne of oversized jackets, cosy jumpers, denim, colourful shorts and shirts, cute dresses/ pinafores and much more!

Shopping in Amsterdam has something for everyone; whether it's clothing, art, jewellery, designer labels, tasty food or just a relaxed browse along the numerous canal streets. The city is bright, colourful and clean and the people are really friendly (plus most of them speak perfect English!) They have daily walking tours throughout the city, street performances and art exhibitions - the city really is a hub of energy and excitement!

Farewell for now Amsterdam, but I hope to see you again soon!

London Town

This weekend I visited my sister who is currently living and working in London for a while. What a place - bustling with people and all sorts of exciting things everywhere you look.
We visited the House of Illustration's Folio Society exhibition, catching a glimpse of the shortlisted entries and winner of the compiled book of Ghost Stories. Then we headed to Portobello Road with a friend where we ooed, aaahed, haggled, ate and took in the busy street life. It was starting to get dark by the time I picked up my camera but here are the few I managed to snap:

St. Andrews

Last weekend I visited the small coastal village of St. Andrews in Scotland with two of my friends. We walked down to the harbour and breathed in the fresh sea air before pottering about the quaint charity shops and cafes, hopping from the freezing cold into the inviting warmth of the shops. We spent lots of our time in one particular charity shop which was packed with hundreds of childhood books and ornate encyclopaedias - it was great to reminisce through all the illustrated books and stories I used to love reading (and still do!). I also was inspired by some little ceramic creatures I found to try out some for myself this semester.

Oh, and here is a song officially out just yesterday: Jimmy Napes - Give it up

Here are some pictures of our trip:

Meow?

I seemed to meet cats everywhere this summer - in restaurants, bars, farms... I met this particularly scruffy cat with only half a tail stalking about some cows stables in Belgium; he certainly has one grumpy looking face! This is the first time I have tackled painting animals in ages (I'm pretty terrible plus I have no patience with fur), but we all have to start somewhere I suppose... the illustration was completed in watercolour and pen.

Dublin City

A recent trip to Dublin with some friends was followed by a quick drawing of some of the sights seen on our bus tour, which brought us from the famous O'Connell street all the way to Phoenix Park and the Guinness factory. 

My favourite part of our day was visiting the National Museum of Archaeology where we saw fascinating bodies that had been preserved in peat for centuries and had remained almost completely intact, and the Kilmainham Gaol which gave a bit of Irish history and new appreciation of my current living arrangement! 

The illustration below was hand drawn and coloured using Photoshop.

Bíodh lá maith agat!

(Have a nice day!)

By the Sea

Some photos from our summer house by the coast which we visited at Christmas and the ferry journey I took back to Scotland with my sister. We always have such mixed feelings when we leave, excited to get back to university, but sad to say goodbye to family and friends (oh, and food) in Northern Ireland.

Long Journey Home

I arrived home for Christmas on Wednesday evening, after a windy, rainy, rocky and very delayed journey across the Irish Sea. I spent a few days before in Edinburgh, where I visited the German Christmas Market, a renowned horrendously awful club and my sisters flat for Christmas dinner.
Here is a quick drawing I sketched while on my way home in the bus... more work to follow shortly!

Easter in Granada

Some shots from my recent visit to Granada, Spain, where my sister lives. It was a beautiful place, made even better by the sun which was clearly prepared for my arrival!

Holiday Suticase

It's only January, but the summer holidays are clearly on my mind!  Check out some holiday essentials.

Untold Story

A couple of images from the project I'm currently working on at uni, the 'untold' story of Gary the lorry driver... more drawings to follow!