The End of The Party is Andrew Rawnsley’s astonishing account of life behind the walls of Westminster and the internal machinations at the heart of the New Labour government. It delivers more of the startling revelations, penetrating insights and sharp wit that readers expect from Britain's foremost political commentator and television documentary maker. From the day of Labour’s second election victory in 2001 through to the events of 9/11, the Iraq War, the financial crisis and the parliamentary expenses scandal; Rawnsley takes us through the triumphs and tribulations of New Labour as well as the incredible feuds and reconciliations between Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and Alistair Darling.

Illustrated by Chris Riddell – famous for his cartoons in The Observer newspapr – briefed by Andrew Rawnsley via Penguin Books art Director John Hamilton – published by Penguin Books.

Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes and illustration by David Frankland, has won the Blue Peter Children’s Book Award 2010.Freddy and Polly have always known their father is a genius. So they've never minded helping him with his experiments. Even when that means being put into cryonic suspension-having their hearts frozen until their father wakes them up again. They know it will only be for an hour or two, so there's nothing to worry about...

2009: Ben and Rachel have resigned themselves to a long, boring summer. Then they find the hidden underground vault in the garden-and inside it two frozen figures, a boy and a girl. And as if that isn't spooky enough, when Rachel accidentally presses a button, something unbelievable happens...

Can Polly and Freddy adapt to the twenty-first century? Will their bodies survive having been in suspension for so long? And most important of all, what happened to their father-and why did he leave them frozen in time?

Two artists working in synergy and collaboration on a new, and highly anticipated non fiction title by Mark Urban, entitled Task Force Black  - two great talents working on the one cover, commissioned by the designer Sean Garrehy at Little Brown Publishing.

The book telling the secret story of Britain's war in Iraq was illustrated by: Larry Rostant who produced a graphic and journalistic approach to the cover with his very own trademark photographic eye and imagery.

John Harwood created, in 3D, a specialised typographical approach for a book of this calibre and weight.

A great collaboration of talents merge!

Peter the Penguin Pioneer by Daren King and illustrated by David Roberts, is in the top three "Most Fun Story With Pictures" in the Blue Peter Book Club.

'Children will laugh out loud at the zany humour and the witty one-liners - while David Roberts' comical illustrations can't fail to raise a giggle'. Scholastic Literacy Time Plus magazine.

The best card received in the AP office this year and produced by one of our artists John Holmes.

The card is titled "Stan and Olly"! (click image to view larger)

John has worked on prestigious books such as "The Female Eunuch" by Germaine Greer and many more surreal paintings.

You can view some more of John's work at The McNeill Gallery along with a short bio.

Chris Moore featured in Fantasy Art recently.

Seen on a Belgian Television culture programme on lifestyle. The presenter - Agathe Lecaron - recommending Sharon Pinsker's book - Figure - How to paint and draw the figure with impact - as an essential coffee table book and crediting her as being one of the worlds leading fashion artists!

Sharon's Portfolio index

Colour painting by Angelo Rinaldi for Royal Mail - the last posting dates for Christmas- and online advertising for Proximity Agency in London.

Angelo's portfolio here at AP

An award winning painterly mix of live-action and animation in a US commercial for ADM (archer daniels midland). Directed by Martyn Pick with hand animation designed by Sharon Pinsker. Commissioned by FCB Chicago in 2001.

View on YouTube | will open in a new window

Martyn's portfolio | Sharon's portfolio

Three of Artist Partners illustrators have designed posters for the Association of Train Operating Companies railcard campaign. Commissioning agency was Proximity.

New work by John Harwood for three clients and agencies. Click links to view.

Wella Hair Products
(Leo Burnett, Chicago)

Barclaycard
(BBH London)

Bravo TV
(Fallon Minneapolis)

View John's portfolio here at AP

John's web site

AP were at Portfolios with a busy stand with plenty of potential clients dropping by and giving away freebie tote bags limited and special edition illustrated by Caroline Dickinson.

Despite a Tube strike the opening of Portfolios was a great success. Hundreds of art directors, designers, creative directors and art buyers came along to meet leading top agencies and view their latest commissions. The James Jarvis session, tribute to Paul Arden and We Make Magazines sessions received great reviews and had an overwhelming response.

In the photo below is AP Director Christine Isteed behind Jennifer Savage (Chris' PA) and Matthew Snead – Documentary and Film Maker.....

..... and this is the result of the Boothnation feature! we threw ourselves into the mood of it all.

There was an overwhelming response to Boothnation - have a look at the photos. More news and photos at the Portfolios site.

In 2007 Martyn Pick started work as animation director on Franny Armstrong's climate change documentary feature "The Age of Stupid" (Spanner Films, Passion Pictures). In this he blended live action, cgi and matte paintings with a painterly, cinematic look. This award winning film was released to intense media interest and acclaim in March 2009.

In England its premiere in Londons Leicester square and simultaneous opening around the UK went into the Guinness book of records as the "biggest film premiere of all time". It was booked into one cinema in Londons West End for a week and at 12 cinemas around the UK.

It did so well in its first week that it stayed in the West End for five weeks,moved to the Empire Leicester Square (a top London commercial cinema) and expanded to 78 cinemas around the UK. In its first week it was top film in the UK in terms of takings per cinema-it was doing £5,000 per screen while Watchmen or Slumdog were doing £2,000 .

Reviews were great too with an average of 4 out of 5 stars in all the big circulation papers (News of the World called it the "best film of the year). Richard Curtis ("Love Actually", "Notting Hill") was interviewed on the BBC about which English movies Obama should see on his G20 visit-he recommended "Age of Stupid" as the contemporary movie.

Presenting the best in Commercial Photography and Illustration.

Artist Partners will be at this event on Stand 61 so come along and see us. If you would like to make an appointment to talk to Christine Isteed at the event please give her a ring on 0207 401 7904.

Portfolios is a dedicated event for all art directors, designers and buyers of photography and illustration.

Portfolios brought to you by Creative Review and the Creative Handbook is a brand new live event for everyone who commission images.

This free to attend event is just around the corner, taking place next week on Tuesday 9 June (13:00 – 20:00) – Wednesday 10 June (13:00 - 17:00) 2009 at Central Hall, Westminster London.

A visit to the Show (you can drop by for an hour or attend both days) provides you the opportunity to view the work of hundreds of photographers and illustrators and meet with the agencies that represent them. Save yourself time when you next commission artwork, discover the up and coming photographers and illustrators shaping the industry and be inspired for your next campaign.

What is happening at the Show?

• Exhibition – a range of agents representing the best in the UK’s commercial photography and illustration.
  
  
• Seminars – 3 exclusive seminars. On day one (9 June) at 17:00- 18:15 is a presentation from internationally acclaimed artist James Jarvis who will discuss his life and work. This is followed by tribute session to Paul Arden – the maverick art director, photographer, commercials director, best-selling author and all-round creative genius from 18:30 – 19:45. On the following day (10 June) 15:00 – 17:00 join the afternoon session celebrating the publication of the book We Make Magazines. This session is a small slice of this year's Colophon2009 and will feature four independent magazine makers showing their work and sharing their experiences of self-publishing. There are limited spaces still available, sessions cost £10 limited, find out more information.
  
  
• BoothNation - Throughout Portfolios, we’re running a photographic project of our own using Seamus Ryan’s Boothnation photo booth. Ryan’s photo booth invention is a sophisticated photographic studio kitted out with state of the art lighting, high end digital camera and even a wind machine. Everyone who comes along to Portfolios is invited to have their picture taken in the booth.
  
  
• Free Drinks reception – Tuesday 9 June 18:00 - 20:00 - meet the exhibitors, your industry peers and the Creative Review Team.

Registration is free here.

The Association of Illustrators (AOI) are holding an exhibition in partnership with London Transport Museum (LTM). The exhibition will feature the work of AOI members under the theme of ‘A View of London’ – illustrations celebrating the vibrancy of present day London.

The exhibition was open to all AOI members as part of on-going efforts to promote the illustration profession, with selected images being displayed in the Museum’s gallery from 18 May to 14 June 2009 in this great central London venue in Covent Garden which attracts thousand of visitors per week.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the Greater London Authority’s ‘Story of London’ festival in June 2009.

The Brief

Artworked entered for selection should be:

• An image of London, portraying the city as an exciting and varied place for Londoners and visitors alike, reflecting aspects of London which you relate to and enjoy.
  
  
• This can be a general view of London or a specific aspect of the capital’s life. We’re defining London as the area inside the M25.
  
  
• It is desirable for artwork to include a representation of any forms of transport, including: Bus (red, but not Routemaster), Tube, Overground, Cycling, DLR, Taxi (black), Tramlink, River or walking. The use of appropriate logo/s in lieu of any vehicular portrayal is acceptable. If people are included in the artworks, it is important to remember the ethnic and cultural diversity of London, and make provision accordingly.
  
  
• Suitable pre-exisiting artworks may be entered.

Two of AP's artists - Caroline Dickinson and Dave Anderson - both entered work to the exhibition. The artists comment on their submissions thus:

Caroline Dickinson - 'Little London'

"This illustration represents one of my favourite aspects of London. Small parks placed randomly hidden between tall office blocks, where you can just walk through the gate sit on a bench or on the grass under trees. There’s a nice contrast between strong, tall and urban shapes of London buildings and the natural shapes and colours of the gardens."

Dave Anderson - 'Viewable'

"Hard work, horribly expensive, a little bit faulty, a Hogarthian nightmare. But my God, isn't she beautiful!"

Click thumbnails for a larger view

Kimberley Pope has joined Artist Partners.

"After gaining a BA (hons) in Fine Art in Exeter at 23 I entered the big wide world of Graphic and Exhibition design! After a couple of years I decided this wasn’t quite for me and went to study for an MA in Screen Design at the National Film and TV School.

Since leaving I have worked as a freelancer in a number of fields, this includes storyboarding, book illustration, interiors illustration and concept art for film. I now work primarily in interiors and concepts.

Aside from this, my husband and I run a graphics company producing brand and packaging for the children's toy and food industry - well, I just help out on quiet days!"

View Kimberley's AP portfolio

View Kimberley's illustration web site

John Harwood produces 3D Computer Generated Images and is commissioned mainly by the advertising industry.

He specialises in the fields of Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Product & Packaging and Corporate branding.

He has a background in technology design and studio photography, which translates well into 3D computer model making, lighting and rendering/raytracing. he has worked with Alias | Wavefront product design 3D software and Photoshop as a peripheral software, among other graphic programs, since the late eighties.

The usual requirement is for the execution of photographic quality images where a product is not yet available to be photographed, due to it being at some prototype stage or a product may need enhancement well over and above what photography and retouching could achieve. Alternatively, if a generic product is needed, i.e. an amalgamation of several designs, depicting an item of no particular manufacturer, then this is an ideal medium.

There is also the added flexibility to go beyond the realms of reality.

View two pieces of work on John's site:

Life | Gyro

John's web site

John's portfolio here at Artist Partners .

With all the interest in The Krays memorabilia at the moment it is worth showing a piece of work produced by AP's Brian Sanders.

The portrait was commissioned by Dave Larkin (famous art director in publishing) – at Pan Books in the 80’s for the Charlie Kray autobiography.

If you are interested in a canvas print to order in various sizes please contact Christine at AP for further info.

Visit Brian's portfolio