I have a new map to share with you! This one is a little different, as it’s a heritage map. Based on locations from around Hampshire that have connections with Jane Austen and her family. It includes Chawton, where she lived and College Street where she died. As well as a number of estates and grand houses. I used a quill style font that has also been inspired by that period. The layout of the map itself pulls details from early maps of the time, with the bigger settlements marked with only a few dots. I also peppered in a few bulbs… as I have been enjoying that Spring feeling this week!
This was all created on my iPad with the Apple Pencil. I find with maps that there’s a great deal of adapting, nudging and adjusting to balance everything within the space. Digital obviously speeds up that process. Still, using the Adobe Fresco app allows me to keep a hand-drawn element to the line work. I can even add expressive watercolour layers as well as zooming in close for lots of building detail.
Map prints, Postcards and Mugs
Despite the design being all digital here, it’s still incredibly satisfying to get a physical print made. I had this one reproduced as a A4 print on 350gsm recycled silk paper. It has a lovely feel and shows all the line-work brilliantly. You can find a copy of this one in my online shop and over on my Etsy store.
That adaptable digital format is also perfect for taking smaller parts of the illustration and using them elsewhere. Below you can see the buildings and wildflowers placed onto a ceramic design. This one is also available in my online shop and a smaller postcard version should arrive back from the printers early next week.
I’m hoping some of these designs will make it onto retail shelves soon. The lovely bookshop P&G Wells is located in College Street, just a couple of doors down from Jane’s Winchester home. They asked me to come up with some ideas for the 250th anniversary celebrations and this might be something we adapt further for those events.
No doubt some of the locations I’ve picked here will be debatable (at least to their actual importance to Jane’s life). Nicky has been sat next to me reading Lucy Worsley’s book on Austen and so questioning a couple of my choices! But you are also welcome to send me your critiques 🙂 drop me a message using the contact form. All of my other links, including my socials can be found here: https://linktr.ee/illustrationbyjonathan.
