All items by Michelle Shore Illustration

With my artwork I try to find a way to tell a story, capture a mood, a sense of place or a little piece of magic.

I've drawn all my life, but the day I started drawing in pen I never looked back. The joy of drawing in pen comes from the fact that each mark is permanent, and each mark builds the picture, so bit by bit you get to see it grow. Most of my images are inspired by things I've seen, whether in the landscape where I walk or a photograph, but then they develop as the marks get made, sometimes quite organically. I often have a very clear idea in my head of the image I want to draw, and the best is when I get the tingling in my hands which means I just have to draw it. I love having a narrative in my head when I draw, as it helps me to capture some of the magic.

I start with a few very quick pencil thumbnail sketches to work out scale and composition, followed by a quick pencil outline onto the paper I'll be working on and then I start with the ink. I'm often too impatient to start the rendering, and this means that I can go through a few false starts, but that's ok as it helps me work through my ideas as I go.

I work at home for the most part. I can draw for hours on end so it really is a labour of love. Sometimes I finish my work with a splash of watercolour, but only when the image calls for it.

My beaufiful cat, Frodo, is my constant companion when I'm working.

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