Counting Birds

Alice Melvin is an illustrator and designer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her work is inspired by her love of paper, print and decorative arts. Animals, birds, pattern and text occur frequently in her work along with the odd teapot as well. Integral to a lot of her work is the making process and she loves working on products with an interactive element such as the ‘cut out and make’ cards and kits she has designed.

Alice's first book An A to Z Treasure Hunt was published by Tate Publishing in 2007 and was followed in 2009 by Counting Birds. Counting Birds was a Scottish Book Trust Book of the Month and was recognised in the critics' choice in the Association of Illustrators Images 34 exhibition. In 2011 Alice was awarded a Booktrust Best New Illustrator Award designed to celebrate the rising talent in the field of illustration.

Working as a freelance illustrator Alice designs for a range of clients, as well as producing her own stationery range. In 2009 she was invited to exhibit and promote her work in Osaka, Japan at the annual Hankyu British Fair. Alice has also worked with Tate on accompanying ranges of children’s products. Her next book with Tate Publishing is called The High Street and will be released in September 2011.

Born in 1982, Alice grew up in the seaside town of Saltburn in the north east of England. After completing a Foundation Course at Cleveland College of Art and Design, she went on to study an illustration degree at Edinburgh College of Art graduating with first class honours in June 2004, and receiving the Andrew Grant Bequest for outstanding work in illustration.

Alice received a Best New Illustrators Award in 2011.

Illustration Technique

Alice trained in printing which has influenced her style of work. She explains that screen printing is good for flat colours, small amounts of detail and patterns.

Alice’s illustrations are hand screen printed. She draw the images in pen and ink on paper and then scans it into the computer. She then decides which colours she wants and separates it out into different layers so that every colour becomes a separate colour. The different layers are then put onto a very fine screen and put on photographically so the detail is kept. The image is then built up by pulling the different colours through the mesh one by one.

Alice is published by Tate Publishing and also works with Tate Enterprises to develop merchandise to accompany her books.