FolkTale Week

I made a little time last week to join in the joy that is #folktaleweek - a week long series of prompts to inspire creating some personal work focusing on folktales; old, new or self-scribed. I recently visited Edinburgh and so was inspired by the colours, tales and feel of all things Scottish. I focused my week of work on a traditional story called “The Seal Catcher”, about a fisherman and Selkies, those human like seals of the North Sea.

Here is the story and images it inspired.

Lost

Ink

Sea

Sleep & Underground

Illusion

Found

F&S Energy Mural

The good people at F&S Energy are a renewable electricity company based in Chelmsford and they recently asked me to create a mural to brighten up an office in their beautiful building. Inspired by the street art I’d created as part of this year’s Chelmsford Concrete Canvas run by Candy Joyce.

As sponsors of Chelmsford’s Green City month, I was more than happy to oblige!

New Agent

I have news! I am excited to share that Andrea Morrison at Writers House will be representing me for all things illustration and publishing.

I’m looking forward to having a new, fresh, and positive boost to my work and can’t wait to get started on some new projects!

You can see my work on the Writers House Art website here.

Chelmsford's Concrete Canvas

As part of Chelmsford’s second street art festival, I was invited to create an artwork on a CCTV base inspired by the theme of “Women’s Safety in Chelmsford”. I chose to focus on safety within community and I took a personal view by including some strong local women and community groups whom have made me feel safe and welcome since arriving in the city 18 years ago.

You can see many more great pieces of street art by local and international around the city now!

Thanks go to all the organisers and supporters including @concretecanvas @chelmsfordforyou @flippingzombies @originalcreativework (Film taken by @thelondonpolice)

Concrete Canvas Artwork

I was inspired to think about “Woman’s Safety” in terms of safety in community for this year’s Concrete Canvas street art. And I focussed on some of the strong local community groups and women I know (much to their amusement!)

I spent 3 full days working on a busy street corner - I was definitely out of my comfort zone, being used to working indoors at the comfort of my desk. Respect for those that do this regularly!

Many people stopped to chat, asking what I was doing, what it was for and was I allowed with an overwhelming majority giving a very positive response! Long may it last…

Folktale Week

#folktaleweek over on Instagram is currently a hive of activity - 7 days of illustrators sharing illustrations they’ve made based on these prompts: Fool, Tree, Star, Rebel, Costume, Potion and Victory.

Here are the images I made, this year using a theme of flowers; flora folktales, folklore and symbolism. I had fun!

Self portrait

I’ve not posted here much over the Summer, so thought I’d make a little painting to introduce myself.

I’m Diana, an illustrator who works mostly, though not exclusively, in children’s publishing and have recently illustrated books for PenguinRandomHouse US, MacMillan US and Bloomsbury.

I like working traditionally using paint, pastels, pencils and collage, tidying up an image digitally to be supplied as a digital file.

I work from home with two feline helpers, my teacher husband and two fabulous teenagers.

I usually scrub up alright for an old bird, but this is me make up free with unstyled hair!

I’m represented by Christine at ArtistPartners and you can see more of my work on Instagram and Twitter.

Tea Party

“Tea Party” is now available to order via my shop!

From an original artwork by Diana Mayo - a handcrafted image based on the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, 2022. Illustrating a school's afternoon tea-party, enjoying the occasion as children do!

A fine quality, archival Giclee print, signed and of a limited edition of 50, available to purchase at A3 on Brilliant White Fibaprint paper.

Studio Spring Clean Shop Open!

My online, studio Studio Spring Clean shop is now open! There are original artworks and slight seconds Giclee prints available to purchase via this link : - SHOP and above in the menu. I hope you find something you like!

Studio sale coming soon…

This and other original artworks will be available in my Spring clean studio sale!

Going live online at 7pm GMT, this Thursday 9th June until end June (when it should definitely be Summer!)

Original Artworks Sale

I’m having a studio Spring clean sale, going live online from June 9th!

There will be a selection of original, signed artworks along with some one-off, slight seconds prints (just a slight crease in the corners from postage!)

If you’re interested, put 9th June in your diary 😊🎨

Wonderful Review from School Library Journal!

MOLLY ON THE MOON

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

Illustrator: Diana Mayo

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Pages: 40

Price (Hardcover): $18.99

Publication Date: 04/12/2022

ISBN (Hardcover): 9781250259615

PreS-Gr 1–For the child who has ever wondered what it’s like to live on the moon, this lovely science fiction picture book imagines just that. Molly, her mother, and baby brother Luke are all sent to the moon to live in an underground room. They are limited on what they can bring, so Molly and Luke are each allowed only one toy. Molly ­chooses a stuffed lamb and Luke brings blocks. Molly has a good time creating new toys out of cast offs from other things but when Luke tries to take Molly’s lamb, Molly has to come up with an idea to get her toy back. The message of the story is one of problem-solving and generosity, which works on both the moon and the earth. The artwork is beautifully rendered in mixed media that feels like watercolors splayed across translucent paper, and gives the setting an appropriately ethereal feel. The plot plays with weightlessness, but it’s the author’s note that adds some substance to the setting of the moon, offering some facts about what it would be like to actually live there. VERDICT This is a lovely story with an SEL message and ­opportunities for maker space activities. –Debbie Tanner

Babayaga arrives on St John's Eve...

I’ve been making pictures about a traditional folktale from Ukraine…here’s another

It tells of St. John’s Eve (Kupala Night , the shortest night of the year) and the only night the fern flower blossoms. (Since no one has ever seen a fern flower, it was rumored that they must bloom at midnight, producing the precious seed).

In this quest for the fern seed, a young man who is too poor to be given his sweetheart’s hand in marriage, is told by an old man the secret of acquiring the fern blossom. After a frightful night in a forest, the young man plucks the red flower and, as it opens, it shines like a flame. 

The old man (who turns out to be the devil in disguise) appears with the witch Baba Yaga, who stamps upon the ground, illuminating jewels, gems, and cauldrons filled with gold. But before the witch will allow the young man access to these treasures, he must first give her human blood. 

The young man and his beloved do not live happily ever after. The one thing all of the St. John’s Eve fern tales have in common is a “Be careful what you wish for ending, and don’t make a deal with the devil…”