News from a messy desk

Insights into my illustration from a messy desk to your inbox: sketchbooks, process, inspiration and picture books.

By Charlotte Durance

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“Charlotte gives practical insights along with her whimsical illustrations. A lovely duo! Although I'm not an artist, I'm giddy over the peeks we get behind the scenes and always learn something new.”...”

“Charlotte gives practical insights along with her whimsical illustrations. A lovely duo! Although I'm not an artist, I'm giddy over the peeks we get behind the scenes and always learn something new.”

Erika Tovi, Nōto by Erika Tovi

“Chock full of gorgeous inspiration!”...”

“Chock full of gorgeous inspiration!”

Jen Gubicza, Rhymes with Pizza

“I love peaking inside Charlotte’s sketchbooks and absolutely adore her colour palettes. A treat of a newsletter. ”...”

“I love peaking inside Charlotte’s sketchbooks and absolutely adore her colour palettes. A treat of a newsletter. ”

Cat McGlade, Meanwhile, Cat

Messy Desk Dispatch: Matisse 1941 - 1954

6 key things I learned from the exhibition at Grand Palais in Paris

Jun 22•Charlotte Durance

Sketchbook Tour: Collage brights, cut outs and line

Playing with paper and capturing the everyday.

May 30•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Olle Eksell

Discovering the work of this Swedish graphic designer and the joy of colour, line and shape.

May 19•Charlotte Durance

#001 Colour Palettes

Sep 20, 2022•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Composition

Feb 8, 2025•Charlotte Durance

#010 Three Materials Challenge Time - HOORAY!

Jun 28, 2024•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Bathing in Colour

Mar 5, 2025•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Telling Stories in My Sketchbook

Jun 11, 2025•Charlotte Durance

Inspiring books I bought in Bologna

So many books. Luckily I left a lot of room in my suitcase...

May 5•Charlotte Durance

Sketchbook ready

Prepping pages, choosing palettes and looking for inspiration

Apr 13•Charlotte Durance

Sketchbook Tour: France

Why draw on holiday? Capturing a trip and giving myself a portal to go back there when I revisit my sketchbook.

Mar 30•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Winter Palettes

Taking photos and making a library of winter palettes

Mar 18•Charlotte Durance

Sketchbook Tour: World Building

Making a task into a play activity. A little book I worked in to help me design the world of my picturebook.

Feb 28•Charlotte Durance

Messy Desk Dispatch: Wes Anderson The Archives Part 2

A look at what I found inspiring in the exhibition at The Design Museum.

Feb 16•Charlotte Durance