Emperor Penguin in a Christmas Jumper

Ok it's everyone's December favourite - the years Emperor Penguin in a Christmas Jumper. I've already had to reorder twice more of any other Christmas card!

Winter Wren in an Elf's Hat

It's nearly Christmas time... I've been busy packaging calendars and Christmas cards to be sent out - here's one of the new Christmas birds, a winter wren in an Elf's hat! (The same one Zooey Deschanel wears in the film 'Elf'!)

2014 Birds in Hats Calendar

The Birds in Hats 2014 Calendar has finally arrived! You can now find it online on my Etsy shop, amongst lots of other fun Christmas things that I'll be featuring in the next few weeks.
Watch the Birds in Hats Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a few competitions too....

Kingfisher in a Fly Fisherman's Hat

The calendars have nearly arrived and will be online to pre order very soon, so here's May, a kingfisher in a fly fisherman's hat!

Budgie in a Trilby with Novelty Sunglasses

The calendar is finished and has been sent to the printers! Here's August, who you can also find on a brand new tote bag...

Male and Female Ring-Necked Pheasants in Wedding Hats

This was a commission I did a while back that was given as a wedding gift. Said wedding has passed so here they are :) (Congratulations Rob and Danni, hope you liked it!)
Things are very hectic lately - I'm mainly working on getting the 2014 calendar ready which has been a lot of fun so watch out for some previews coming soon....

A Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu in an Aso Oke hat

My very good friend Jenny has been away with a NGO in Burkina Faso for the past 3 months so this ones for her birthday. Apparently these awesome guys are all over Burkina Faso!

Red-whiskered Bulbul in a Red Visor

Another bird I discovered in Hong Kong (Kowloon park to be precise) and vowed to 'put a hat on' once I returned. They were everywhere!

Peregrine Falcon in Flying Goggles

So I've decided to upload a new Bird in a Hat every Friday, to reduce these ridiculously long gaps in posting. Time really does fly! I have moved into a new studio & gained new stockists in my home town of Derby and in the lovely Bruges! Managed to drop the stock off in person in Derby on a recent family visit, hopefully I'll be able to take a trip to Belgium one day..

Golden Eagles in Matching Scottish Bonnets

A couple of Eagles I did a while back. This was a commission for a couple's 2 year wedding anniversary - they had been bird watching in Scotland when they saw a pair of Golden Eagles and decided to get married. So a very appropriate present :)

Burrowing Owl in a Miners Helmet

This one's another personal commision - I was particularly pleased to find the worlds 'frowniest' Owl..

Red-billed Blue Magpie in a Red Bowler Hat

I'm back from Hong Kong! It's such an incredible, varied place, it has some brilliant parks (and aviaries!) hidden amongst the madness of Central and Kowloon, with half-deserted, forested islands just a £2 ferry away. I managed to see the critically threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper at the Hong Kong Wetland Park, which is well worth a visit if you get a chance.

I spent a Sunday in Stanley on the south side of Hong Kong island and saw these crazy birds - they have the longest tail of any Corvid, sound really odd and look amazing when they fly.
I also came to the realisation while I was there, that I might be a full-blown bird watcher rather than bird enthusiast these days...

Finally - & very excitingly - my favourite London market's Easter outing is coming up - it's the Crafty Fox market, I'll be there this Saturday with a bunch of new things, but just go either day, it's cracking. It's held in The Dogstar pub, which is a five minute walk from Brixton tube station :)

Atlantic Puffin in a Sou'wester, Red Crowned Crane in a Bucket Hat and Rock Pigeon in a Deerstalker (!)

This was a really fun commission I did a couple of weeks back for a Norwegian/Japanese/English couple! Hence the mix of Japanese, Norwegian and British birds. It was a lot of fun to work at A2 size and I will be drawing more Cranes on some very large paper as soon as I get the chance..

Gentoo Penguin in Top Hat (with Monocle and Cane)

The Gentoo is a pretty good contender for my favourite penguin, and I decided I wanted one on a bag. So here he is!

Avocet in a Trendy Beanie (with roll up, glasses & a sailor tat)

One of my personal favourites and another one that I designed for the Maybe a Vole's Christmas show - not just because I know a few human versions of this one but because I've been meaning to draw an Avocet for ages. It's the mascot of the RSPB, a lovely charity that you should go join if you're in the UK.

Flamingo in a Bowler Hat (with pipe)

A pretty slick fellow I drew for the lovely Maybe a Vole galleries' pop up during Christmas (he'll be available as a print on my online shop soon) It's a lovely place in Dalston and my birds had a cracking time there, go visit if you get a chance

Rockhopper Penguin in a Party Hat

This was a special commission I thought I'd share that I designed before Christmas - for somebody's Mum's 60th Birthday! (Apparently she's a fan of Rockhoppers)

European Robin in a Flat Cap

So I had a very, very busy December, followed by a very, very sedentary holiday. Back to business now with lots of new, exciting things in the pipeline! Not all birds in hats, but mostly animals wearing human clothes. And some birds wearing hats.

Apologies for those that didn't get Birds in Hats 2013 calendars - I was pretty overwhelmed by their popularity! Needless to say I will be much, much more prepared for the 2014 calendar...

This was a commission for a friend's Granddad for his Christmas present, who was apparently visited by a robin just like this, named Robin :)