Archive for September, 2010

Introducing…(drum roll)…illustrator Sandra Howgate!

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Advocate would like to announce yet another new artist to our agency – Sandra Howgate

Sandra Studied at Central St Martin’s where she did a B.A. in Theatre Design, and afterwards put together an Illustration portfolio herself. Most of her commissions to date have been for book publishing and magazines with some advertising and local government work. Titles include Penguin: “The Meaning of Tingo”, A+C Black: “How to Sound Clever”, Random House “Lost in Translation”, and Guardian Books “Bring it On Baby”. Other clients include NHS Scotland, The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Guardian and Independent newspapers. She describes her style as ‘smile-in-the-mind’ because she uses gentle humour and a sense of pathos for the characters and subjects she represents.

New Advocate Illustrator – Leandro Balaguer

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Say Hello to Advocate Art‘s newest recruit Leandro Balaguer!

Leandro’s has spent most of his career in television as a scriptwriter and has written pieces for FOX Italy, MTV Latin America and Turner International. He describes his beginnings in Illustration, back in 2006, as “more random than talented and it would be the first of many steps into a career filled with joy. From books to comics, postcards to posters, I did everything with the same energy as a child on Christmas morning. So I walked, I stumbled and learn to start all over again in one of the most beautiful jobs in the world: Illustration

Leandro describes his charming Illustrations as “an expression of the beautiful chaos that surround us, a celebration of mystery and wonder in every day stuff. The back of my grandfather in the morning grooming, the scent of eucalyptus in the train station of my home town, the plumbing noise in the night as a secret code, the old neighbor who doesn’t greet you… the arrival of the circus to town in the early summer”

Marina Le Rays latest children’s book reviewed

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Cover of children's pop up book illustrated by marina le rayinside spread from children's pop up book illustrated by marina le ray

Mytinytots.co.uk have posted a review of “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly”, the latest children’s book to be illustrated by Advocate Artist Marina Le Ray, published by Top That Publishing. According to mytinytots ‘The book is beautifully illustrated’, read the full review here and click here to see the book in action!

A dream comes true with Advocate Art for Children’s Book Illustrator Angela Muss

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010


children's book Ten Red Robins illustrated by advocate artist angela muss

Cover of 10 red robins by advocate art children's book illustrator Angela Muss

Angela Muss joined Advocate Art just over a year ago, since then our talented team have helped secure her a number of exciting children’s book commissions! To show her appreciation she wrote this about us:

“Hello! I’m Angela Muss, artist in Advocate Art. It’s been one year and a few months that I joined Advocate, since then just joys come to my way, how wonderful! New and constant challenges and incredible new commissions with exceptional clients! My artist career with Advocate doesn’t stop growing! I’m enormously grateful for it. It’s a fabulous team and they show me support day by day, without any doubt the best illustration agency in the world! I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for the immense support in my career, thanks to my incredible and exceptional clients and a very special gratitude to the unique and best agency Advocate Art! With warm regards, I hope we can work together very soon!

I’m very glad to tell you that I have just created a new illustration Blog, where you’ll find the latest news about my work and loads of new illustrations! Many thanks for your visit! angelamuss.blogspot.com

Thanks Angela!

The Pope (nearly) comes to Advocate!

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Last week Pope Benedict XVI (not to be confused with greeting card and children’s book artists the pope twins) made the first Papal visit to the UK since 1982 and he chose to stay in wimbledon for the london leg of his tour, right around the corner from Advocate! you can read all about his brief stopover in the home of the world’s greatest art agency here.

My time at Advocate, a short story by Tom Bonson

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Well thank you very much for having me advocate. I’ve learnt alot from my internship with you so that I’m well prepared for the final year of my illustration degree and beyond. To see more of my work click here

Francois’ new car.

Monday, September 13th, 2010
agent francois in his new saab.

Francois in his sweet new saab.

The beginning of my journey at Advocate Art; from a mile the Best Illustration Agency across the globe, has been an incredible and delightful mission for me! Expanding the Advocate business through the frontiers throughout the Children Book and the Greeting Cards sectors have been my given duties and my motivation since day 1. It actually sounds like a Dating Site where I have met my other half!

Firstly, in order to understand what Advocate Art does, basically Generator of Fantastic success throughout the Greeting Cards sector and the Children book sector, I had to understand something relatively important: English! ;)

Coming from Belgium, my English knowledge’s weren’t quite up to date. Or shall I say: “inexistent”? So watching BBC News, the World Cup, the Cricket, the preparation of the Olympics Games and even X Factor helped me a lot (even chatting on Facebook would you believe! Thanks Google for the free translations!!). That gap finally achieved, I had the opportunity and the chance to be a part of this Great Team at Advocate Art.

“Great Team at Advocate Art”, because of its incomparable staff and certainly because it includes our Great Clients and last but not least, our highly Talented Artists!  I must also mention one of our best tools: our very fast and continuously updated website: www.advocate-art.com (everything is on it! Art for products / Art Licensing / Greeting Cards for Christmas and any theme / Personalized cards /  Illustrators for book from very young age to adult / etc!).

Secondly, I began to travel with Ed towards our International Booths! The International Exhibitions haves also been Fantastic Experiences all around the world (Surtex! PGLive! Paperworld! Book Expo America! London Book Fair! Etc!) . Soon, I realized that this job was like a perfect fitted Tuxedo for me!

Eventually, I began to sell more and more Greeting cards all over the world to our Great clients! And this without forgetting my Excellent clients across the Publishing world of course!

Originally, I began to travel using the transportations in order to visit clients around the globe.  However,  we finally realized that using the transportations wasn’t always convenient. Therefore, we have decided to invest in a car in order for me to be even more on the flexible. Since, I am definitely enjoying the road much more! Why? Let’s say that the keyword “Saab” might be a part of the answer! And I am happy to have this number in front of my car: RK60GZW… this number plate means absolutely Nothing, but I love it!!

The Bookbag reviews Sarah Horne!

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

cover illustration for children's book vile by advocate artist sarah horneillustration of monsters for children's book vile by advocate artist sarah horne

Book review site thebookbag.com recently posted a great review of “Vile- A Cautionary Tale For Little Monsters” illustrated by Advocate artist Sarah Horne. Here’s what they had to say about Sarah’s artwork:

“Sarah Horne’s illustrations are suitably gruesome and monstrous. Much like her previous work in Rhino? What Rhino?, she’s got an opportunity to really let her hair done, which she’s more than done. It’s all very cartoony and comic, marrying perfectly with the subject matter. Every page is packed with detail and rewards exploring. Bags of energy, bags of life, bags of silliness. Great stuff!”

You can read the full review here!