Industry lore says dogs boost cover sales

I build and write the covers for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying with editor Mark Bowler.

September featured an obedient pup looking at his master.

Industry lore says dogs boost cover sales in the field and game markets and, curiously, wet dogs do an even better job!

October's bright colours announce Autumn's arrival but readers can end their season on a high with our Wild Trout tips and quick-tying fly patterns

Scottish PPA Awards Shortlist Announced

Eight magazines I'm involved with have been shortlisted for the Scottish PPA Awards accross 7 categories.

Boots & Spurs, the National Clarion Cycling Club member magazine which I edit and design has been shortlisted for cover of the year.

I redesigned TESS in 2011 and it has been shortlisted for business and professional magazine of the year.

I designed the pitch for Think publishing's The Biologist - shortlisted for business and professional magazine design of the year.

I design each issue of Escape, Think Publishing's First Great Western passenger magazine and worked on the winning pitch for Think's MSA magazine, both shortlisted in the consumer magazine design of the year category.

Think's Discover NLS, the National Library of Scotland magazine which I design and Escape have been shortlisted as customer magazine of the year.

Historic Scotland, another regular magazine I design for Think publishing has been shortlisted for Member magazine of the year.

Congratulations to Think's Andrew Cattanach, shortlisted in the publishing star category and Jack Kibble-White, shortlisted for editor of the year.

The full shortlist is here

Boots & Spurs gets a cover wrap

The latest issue of Boots & Spurs the National Clarion Cycling Club magazine was sent to members this month. The front and back cover illustration by Garry Marshall highlights the clubs traditional greeting of "Boots!" which is replied to with "Spurs!"

Escape: 75 things to do this Summer

The new issue of Escape, the First Great Western passenger magazine, will soon be available on trains across the South West.
The cover illustration is by Matt Herring who did a great job of showing off all the exciting events showcased inside.
I design Escape on behalf of Think Publishing.

Working for free

I've always been quite envious of designers who have enough energy to be creative outside of work, designing the odd poster here, a fanzine there.

All my design work has had a pay packet at the end of any project. But things have changed recently and now I quite often design for fun!

Over the past 4 years I've designed posters and websites to promote my local cycling club and its activities. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself too. It's been a great opportunity to collaborate with local photographers and illustrators who have also donated their time for free and I've built up good relationships with small printers on my doorstep.

Here is a selection of what I've been up to:

Photography: Gordon Scott. Illustration Garry Marshall

Horse Box Spy Cam!

The August issue of Your Horse investigates how travelling affects horses.

During a journey horses get stressed, tired and even worse, injured.

Writer Larissa Chapman and editor Julie Brown, together with photographer Matthew Roberts and art editor Caroline Barley came up with the idea of rigging up a camcorder in the back of a horse box to find out exactly what happens as the truck twists, turns and bumps along a road.

The article is jam packed with advice to ensure horses are happy travellers and the Spycam shots are a unique and creative way to inform the readers.

I've been working with Julie and her team to improve the way the magazine communicates with its readers using well targeted cover lines, clearer layouts and better flatplanning.

New logo for Equipped

The latest issue of Equipped has a new logo. I drew a new typeface which is unique to the magazine, creating a more robust and less fussy logo that will work better across a variety of media.

I work with Equipped to train staff and develop the whole magazine package.