Matt Buckingham

2012-02-02T09:34:00.001Z

Just Published

The second two titles from a new 5+ series of books written by the wonderfully talented new author Katie Dale for Orchard Books.
This series title is 'Fairy Tale Twists' where each rhyming story takes a familiar fairytale character and reveals their version of events - as you've never seen them before!

The Not-so-evil Stepmother

In fairy tales we often find

that stepmothers are so unkind.

But listen, folks, that's just not true -

here's a different tale for you…

The Wickedest Witch

The Wicked Witch is scary, right?

She'll wave her wand, give you a fright?

Don't be so speedy to agree -

she's pretty cool...just wait and see!

2012-01-05T07:52:00.000Z

Just Published

The first two titles from a new 5+ series of books written by the wonderfully talented new author Katie Dale for Orchard Books.

This series title is 'Fairy Tale Twists' where each rhyming story takes a familiar fairytale character and reveals their version of events - as you've never seen them before!

The Big Bad Werewolf

I bet you think you know the tales

Of Big Bad Wolf, who howls and wails.

But here's the truth: meet Granny Riding -

Find out what secrets she's been hiding!

Goldilocks And The Pea

Of Goldilocks you have heard tell -

the bears, the porridge - you know it well.

But do you know the rest, my friend?

For this is how it really ends...

2012-01-04T15:10:00.000Z

To our beautiful little girl. Happy Birthday Tilly x x x

2011-12-05T09:13:00.000Z

2011-11-30T10:39:00.000Z

Here is a preview of the new Bright Stanley Double Trouble cover, less the foiling effect that will appear on the printed version which will be published by Little Tiger Press on 5th March 2012. You can pre order it HERE!

To celebrate this exciting event the official Bright Stanley web site will be updated in time for the release with new games and activities to enjoy. But if you haven't had a look at the site yet follow this LINK to enjoy some fishy fun.

2011-11-28T16:43:00.000Z

2011-11-21T16:55:00.000Z

Here is a wonderful rendition of Bright Stanley, beautifully adorning the door of Miss Powell's Pre-K Classroom. Thanks to all the Children at the school in Hinesville, Georgia, United States.

While I'm on the Stanley subject I want to mention that a brand new Stanley book will be published by Little Tiger Press in March 2012. The book is called "Bright Stanley Double Trouble"

Stanley is looking after his cousin Dennis. But little Dennis is determined to have a BIG adventure. "Let's arm-wrestle an octopus!" he cries. Can Stanley keep his mischievous cousin out of trouble?

Dennis is a little fish who wants a big adventure. His cousin Stanley says he is too small to join the big boy games. But when Stanley lands in trouble, it's little Dennis who has all the big ideas

More info and images to follow soon.

2011-11-18T12:35:00.000Z

2011-11-10T09:12:00.000Z

Happy birthday to our little boy Barnaby who is a BIG 3 years old today……. Hooorayyyyyy!!

2011-10-25T11:38:00.000+01:00

I saw two bats upon my roof.

One was very small.

Oh how on earth did they get up there

Climb up the wall?

One was Keith and one was Trevor

I suppose they wanted to shelter from the weather

What joy they had singing bat songs

But boy their pooh really did pong!

2011-10-21T11:57:00.000+01:00

2011-10-19T13:43:00.001+01:00

2011-10-19T12:28:00.000+01:00

2011-09-22T15:26:00.000+01:00

2011-09-19T16:22:00.000+01:00

Learn how to talk like a pirate here

2011-09-19T11:33:00.000+01:00

Here are a selection of images I have just completed for an educational book. The publisher is a Korean company called Chunjae Education. Very enjoyable work. Back to drawing Fairy Tales again now!

2011-09-13T15:19:00.000+01:00

Here are the covers for a most exciting project I have been working on, and still working on in fact, for a new 5+ series of books written by the wonderful author Katie Dale for Orchard Books: 'Fairy Tale Twists'. Each rhyming story takes a familiar fairytale character and reveals their version of events - as you've never seen them before!

All the books are due for publication next year with two coming out each month between January to April 2012

I really can't wait to see them in print as they truly are such brilliant books, so funny and full of fun and mischief!

2011-09-09T11:38:00.000+01:00

2011-09-08T15:11:00.000+01:00

So proud of you Barn

2011-08-25T15:44:00.000+01:00

Here are a few digital experiments that I did for a book idea I had. Sadly like Gulliver it has never taken off :0(

2011-08-23T12:43:00.002+01:00

Arena Illustration

2011-08-04T18:07:00.000+01:00

Arena Illustration

2011-07-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

Some great books I worked on last year with author Tom Easton, published by Wayland books came out last week. The series is called The Poor Pirates. You can buy them HERE and if you follow this link you can read a nice review by Family Interest Magazine about the new titles. Great fun, lots of laughs and a super read for children who like Pirates.

2011-07-14T16:07:00.000+01:00

2011-07-08T11:13:00.000+01:00

A tribute to mums everywhere. You make the world go round.

2011-07-04T12:35:00.000+01:00

Last Friday I took part in a great print workshop led by Laura Weston who is a colleague at Staffordshire University. The afternoon was great fun and we experimented with creating patterns from a verity of house hold objects including lego bricks, pizza cutters, forks etc pressing them into a product named funky foam and printing the results. I was sticking to my crocodile theme, as I see to be drawing a lot of croc's at the moment! Really enjoyed the session and hope to try more when I get some time. To see more visit Laura's blog and check out her work.

2011-06-29T10:26:00.001+01:00

In no particular order here are my most favourite children's books from my days spent as a child. I remember that my mum was in a mail order children's book club and every few months they would send through a new book for us to enjoy. I think this is where the magic of opening a book was first instilled in me, I still smell a book to this day when I first open it, and I think its magical.

The Brontosaurus Birthday Cake

Robert McCrum, Michael Foreman

Fourteen Rats and a Rat-catcher

Tamasin Cole, James Cressey

Going West

Martin Waddell, Philippe Dupasquier

The Twits

Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake

Trouble for Trumpets

Peter Dallas-Smith, Peter Cross

With regards to the last book "Trouble for Trumpets" I thought I had lost my treasured copy years ago. When I was young we moved house and my mum said it had been put down the cellar in the move and got damp, so it was thrown out. But last Christmas an old school friend visited with a parcel and in it was my book! apparently I had lent it to him, obviously on a long loan of 20 years or more! Its fair to say I was truly made up.

2011-06-24T09:22:00.002+01:00

2011-06-07T15:43:00.000+01:00

Its a very rainy June so far, at least where I live

2011-06-01T16:41:00.002+01:00

2011-06-01T10:26:00.000+01:00

More Crocodiles

2011-05-26T10:29:00.000+01:00

Elephants are all the rage in the Buckingham house at the moment

2011-05-25T14:29:00.002+01:00

A crocodile for a fine Wednesday day

2011-05-12T11:14:00.000+01:00

2011-05-06T15:15:00.000+01:00

2011-05-05T16:39:00.000+01:00

Why is it little toddlers love ducks, seemingly above all other animals? Its been true for my two little ones. If I take my children to the zoo its the ducks that thrill them the most. To celebrate this wonderful little bird here is a picture of a fine Mallard for my little Tilly x

2011-04-28T12:35:00.001+01:00

2011-04-07T09:51:00.001+01:00

Inside artwork from a new book out this summer called, The Poor Pirates: The Pirate Code, written by Tom Easton Published by Wayland Books

2011-03-30T12:52:00.000+01:00

2011-03-21T09:41:00.000Z

Here is an example of my working process when creating a spread for a book, from the initial sketch book thumbnail, through all of the various rough stages of page layouts to the final colour artwork that appears in the book.

2011-03-11T09:24:00.001Z

Follow this link to see some amazing art work by the Grade 2 pupils of Tibbets Elementary School, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, USA. Here they have created a beautiful array of images inspired from reading Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster. All the art work is on display at www.artsonia.com. Artsonia is the largest student art museum in the world! Their dream is that every child will have an online art gallery, preserving their masterpieces for all time! Follow this link HERE

2011-02-25T10:52:00.000Z

More of "The Poor Pirates" Cover art works for a series of books I have illustrated for Wayland books, written by Tom Easton that will be published this summer 2011.

2011-02-22T15:14:00.000Z

2011-02-14T14:48:00.002Z

2011-02-09T09:37:00.001Z

Here are a set of images for a book I have done with my wife for a company called Blueberry Press Ltd. Fun book to do and great to work with my beautiful wife again on a project

2011-02-07T16:12:00.000Z

Here are the first two covers from a series of four books I have illustrated for Wayland Publishing, written by Tom Easton. The series is called "The Poor Pirates" All four books are due out this year, over the summer. They were great fun to do and I'm super excited to see them in print!

2010-12-09T16:43:00.000Z

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year

2010-12-01T09:58:00.000Z

Here are some photos of me doing my talk for the "Big Family Book Day" event at Tatton Park the other week. Photographs by Michael Hadfield. You can take a look at his work here

2010-09-13T09:21:00.000+01:00

I will be taking part in the "Big Family Book Day" at Tatton Park in Cheshire on 23rd October 2010. The day is part of the BIG DRAW series of events that go on throughout the country in October and is organised be North West Library Services. Here I will be talking about my history book series "The Gruesome Truths" and showing how I go about creating my historical characters and scenes. There will also be other talks throughout the day and a chance to get involved in some exciting workshops too. If you would like to take part then please pop along between 10am-4pm.

2010-07-28T12:47:00.000+01:00

Two new Gruesome Truth titles published by Wayland Books came out this week. Here are the covers. And if you would like to then click here to buy!

2010-07-27T09:38:00.001+01:00

2010-05-20T14:46:00.000+01:00

My family and I are moving home at the moment, and to celebrate the occasion I have done a little picture. If only it were this easy!

2010-05-13T16:00:00.003+01:00

Two of my new Gruesome Truth titles that I illustrate are published today by Wayland Publishing. The books show the more grizzly side of life in Victorian and Viking times. Two more titles follow next month. If you want to buy follow this link to amazon.

2010-04-28T09:53:00.001+01:00

Spot the difference with a difference. There are 10 to spot!

2010-03-24T16:44:00.002Z

2010-03-17T09:38:00.003Z

Here is a link to a Cartoon that someone has made of Bright Stanley on Vimeo.

Click here to watch it at liTV Channel Bright Stanley Cartoon

Bright Stanley (with narration)_ Liane Mulvaney V&SYR2 from LiTV Channel on Vimeo.

2010-03-01T09:26:00.005Z

Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster is out today! Here are some of the Co Editions that I have received so far. I am very proud of this book and I hope it will bring lots of joy to those who read it.

Also please check out the Bright Stanley web site at:

www.brightstanley.com

2010-02-12T12:36:00.004Z

I will be taking part in the BIG WRITE week in March at the amazing Discover centre in Stratford, London. Here are the details of my talk:

How to make a Book with Matt Buckingham
The Big Write - Booking Ref: D3
7 March 12:30pm

A unique opportunity to find out how picture books are created with writer and illustrator Matt Buckingham, follow the journey from initial sketch books and story notes through to prose roughs, illustrations and the final book Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster. Also during the workshop parents and children will create their own blob characters and story plots.

Ticket Price(s)
£1.50

Suitable for…

Ages 5+

Here is a link to the discover website to find out more information on what events are on throughout March:
discover

2010-01-28T14:26:00.002Z

With the release of the second Bright Stanley book, "Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster" just around the corner, publication date 6th March 2010, by Little Tiger Press. My beautiful wife and myself have launched a web site were you can join in the Stanley fun. Here you will find an interactive game and activities to play, a gallery where you can send us your Stanley images and links to buy the book online. The site will be updated with more exciting activities when I get time to do them, so why not check it out by visiting

www.brightstanley.com

2009-12-01T16:55:00.000Z

2009-10-26T14:09:00.001Z

2009-09-18T12:19:00.000+01:00

Here's a link to Nobody Laughs at a Lion being read on CBeebies bedtime hour :0)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/littlebigcat/stories/video.shtml

2009-09-09T10:22:00.000+01:00

Here is the poster for the Big Draw event will be taking part in along with other artists Jonny Duddle, Adam Stower and Alex T. Smith form our Agent's Arena at Discover on Saturday 17th October 2009. If you can, pop along as the day should be great fun for budding Pirates of all ages!

2009-08-21T09:20:00.000+01:00

My Pirate self portrait for the 'Big Draw' event I will be taking part in, along with my agents Arena on 17th October 2009. More detail to follow soon!

2009-07-21T11:29:00.000+01:00

I found this picture on the web today at www.sparklebox.co.uk What a brilliant class project and what a great picture of Bright Stanley the children have created to brighten up their classroom!

2009-07-09T12:51:00.001+01:00

2009-06-26T16:12:00.000+01:00

During July and August 2009 I will be taking part in a exhibition of picture book illustrators past and present at the Fidra Gallery in Edinburgh as part of theEdinburgh International Book Festival. You can see and buy my work through the gallery. Exhibiting artists and their work can also be seen via the gallery website http://www.fidragallery.co.uk/

2009-06-24T11:43:00.000+01:00

2009-06-23T16:11:00.001+01:00

2009-06-05T10:04:00.000+01:00

2009-05-14T09:18:00.001+01:00

2009-05-13T12:28:00.000+01:00

2009-04-07T15:44:00.001+01:00

2009-04-06T10:28:00.001+01:00

2009-03-30T16:54:00.000+01:00

2009-03-13T09:22:00.000Z

From the 4th April 2009 to the 28th June I will be exhibiting some of my past work at the Newcastle Museum & Art Gallery which is situated in Brampton Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0QP. The exhibition is entitled "Bringing Words To Life" and will feature the work of various illustrators from the Midlands. The exhibition is intended to celebrate local Illustrators whose work communicates ideas, stories and information to the viewer in different ways. So why not pop along and check it out, because whether your young or old and have an interest in children’s books, novels or magazines, you'll know that life would be a far duller place without illustrations.

2009-03-09T11:13:00.001Z

2009-02-26T13:17:00.001Z

2009-02-23T15:22:00.001Z

2009-02-17T16:43:00.000Z

2009-02-09T16:29:00.000Z

2009-02-02T10:35:00.000Z

Images from my latest book out today, written by Laura Datta called "The Best Nest" Published by Caterpillar Books Ltd. It is a touch and feel board book with a great pop up surprise ending. :0)

2009-01-28T13:50:00.000Z

2009-01-20T16:27:00.000Z

2009-01-12T14:59:00.000Z

muddy publishing building site project, visual

2008-12-05T16:35:00.000Z

2008-11-28T10:14:00.001Z

2008-10-24T16:05:00.000+01:00

Here are the covers for my Gruesome Truth series of books, published by Wayland Children's books that come out next month on 13th and 27th November!!!

2008-10-22T16:42:00.001+01:00

More modeling experiments in Maya

2008-10-09T12:07:00.001+01:00

2008-09-18T09:55:00.000+01:00

2008-09-17T09:50:00.001+01:00

Images from a series of books I have coming out in November called 'The Gruesome Truths'

2008-09-09T14:17:00.000+01:00

2008-09-08T13:01:00.000+01:00

2008-08-14T21:32:00.000+01:00

2008-07-15T11:31:00.000+01:00

More characters in 3D.

2008-05-28T15:58:00.001+01:00

2008-05-22T14:11:00.000+01:00

English Nobility character ideas for interactive flash game. Duke, Marquis, Earl and Viscount.

2008-05-01T16:51:00.001+01:00

Dog colour sample

2008-04-23T20:19:00.001+01:00

Bert in 3D. I've been messing around with Maya and here's my Abominable Snowman character, so far without the hair!