This weekend, I've been given special access to the Wakestock festival in North Wales. I'll be there for the three day festival, photographing festival goers and performers for a new series of illustrations. If you're there and you see me, come over and say hi and get your photo taken. I'll be updating my whereabouts on twitter, (twitter.com/nikipilkington) so follow me on there if you want to find me x

It's the summer show opening at the Albany Gallery, Cardiff tonight (5-8pm) so if you're in the area, come over and say hello. I'll be exhibiting 10 original pieces, as well as prints and cards and I've had a sneak preview of the exhibition too, it looks ace. I'm super proud to have my work hanging up next to some of the brilliant art that's on show there. This painting, 'The Kiss' by David Griffiths has to be my favorite though...

It was the opening of the Plas Glyn Y Weddw summer show on Sunday, and the place was packed out. I have ten pieces on show at the exhibition, but as it's their 'off the wall' exhibition, once things are sold their taken away and replaced. Five of the ten have already sold, but there are still five more to see, so if you're able to get to the gallery, my work is amongst some really great stuff - well worth the trip.

A little bit of what I'm drawing right now...

I've just added a new gallery of illustrations to my site *HERE* I hope you like them. They will be exhibited at the summer shows at Plas Glyn Y Weddw, Llanbedrog (26/06/11) and The Albany Gallery, Cardiff (01/07/11).

I'm am absolutely delighted to be able to tell you about this new collective that I'm a part of. Fiend Projects, founded by the mighty Mark Goss is a collective of international multi-disciplinary artists working on various projects and events (I'm in very good company!!). The website is brand spanking new and will be officially launched this Monday. More info to follow very soon. Email info@fiendprojects.com to be added to the mailing list, or to request a press release.

I was commissioned through Haymarket Media to illustrate 12 of the regular contributors to Horticulture Week magazine - nothing like my usual portraits, but it was a nice change for me. I've just been sent a stack of some of the issues so I might start gardening too...it's unlikely though.

I dropped by the YCN studio & shop (72,Rivingdon St <-- you should go check it out!!) to catch up with some of the great minds behind the agency & I signed a stack of my artist cards whilst I was there too..

I've just had a meeting with Laurence King Publishing to talk about an amaaazing new project that will be taking over my life for the next few months. I can't wait to tell you all about it.
They gave me this gorgeous book to keep me company on the long journey home.

Vertigo, a hot new Russian sunglasses company recently got in touch and asked me to create a series of posters for their debut styles. I've seen the prototypes and I for one can't wait to get my hands on a pair!! Images of the posters to follow very soon.

Here's a sneaky peek at my latest 2D/3D illustration. It's my entry for the DACS United campaign which will be exhibited in NYC later this year. I'll upload the finished illustration as soon as DACS release it.

Lowri Davies has to be one of my favourite Welsh artists. Her beautiful ceramic work makes my heart melt over and over, and she somehow manages to make drinking tea even more appealing. So you can only imagine how pleased I was when she got in touch the other day.
Lowri, Gwenno Jones and Carwyn Evans make up the Welsh collective 'Celf...a chrefft' and they've asked me to join them for their next exhibition at the National Eisteddfod, which is held in Wrexham this year. I will be exhibiting four new original pieces with them, as well as prints and cards for the event which runs 30/07/11 - 06/08/11.

Work in progress

The lovely people at Derwent have sent me all these amazing products. There's some things in there that I've never used before, so I can't wait to start using them - I'll show you how I get on.

Look what just came through the letter box!! As I'm lucky enough to be represented by YCN, my work has been featured on a limited series of postcards produced by the agency. Here's mine...

I'm rediculously excited to announce that I'm now officially sponsored by the brilliant Derwent. I've been using their pencils for as long as I can remember, so it's an absolute honor for me to be representing them and their products.
More info to follow soon...

Designers Against Child Slavery

I'm teaming up with 'Designers Against Child Slavery' in an attempt to do my bit to help such a worthy cause. Every year DACS United have an exhibition to help raise money and awareness about sex trafficking in South East Asia. I was thrilled and flattered that they asked me to take part, as past exhibitions have been stacked full of beautiful art by very talented artists.
The exhibition will be held in New York in a few months.
Here's a post about me on their blog

And here's their website

Work in progress

My latest 'work' purchase has just arrived in the post. Can't wait to reacquaint my self with these babies. I love my job.

Work in progress