The digital home of author & photographer Chris Elphick | All content, unless otherwise stated, is copyrighted © Chris Elphick

Thursday, 27 December 2018

Pixie-Led ~ New Cover Design

This is the final design I have worked up for my 4th novel, Pixie-Led. Given that the title of the book might invoke whimsical notions of elves and fairies and the like, I thought it best to dispel such impressions immediately by having a dark Satanic symbol taking a bold centre-stage position on the cover. 


I still do not want to unveil too much information about the content of the book quite yet. But I can mention that the story concerns a coven of witches. Needing to escape police investigation into their brutal ritual killings, they take refuge within the secret worlds hidden within the mirrors of an old countryside cottage.

I hope to get the book published sometime in May 2019, so not too long to wait now...

Sunday, 23 December 2018

Pixie-Led Cover Design

A quarter way through the 2nd draft of my 4th novel, it is time to start thinking of designing a cover for the book. 


Although I still love my first cover design for the book, that image was made before I had fully fledged out the story line of the novel. Since then, the plot of the book shifted and took numerous new turns. Unfortunately, that older design no longer represents the contents of the book and so a new design is needed...

Saturday, 22 December 2018

Season's Greeting ~ Banksy

I took a late night drive out to see the latest Banksy artwork that has appeared a hop, skip and jump away from me this week. Despite the dark and the torrential rain I wanted to take a look at it before the perspex security screening was installed over it to protect the artwork from vandalism.

Driving out to see the new Banksy
I was not the the only one that the heavy rain and fog and the lateness of the hour had failed to deter from visiting the new attraction and quite a crowd were still gathered around the graffiti when I arrived.  

The new Banksy graffiti with a tower from the
local steelworks visible behind the shed. The fog lit up by streetlamps
make it look like a daylight sky
Unable to use flash because of the rain, I was pleased the see the artwork illuminated by the headlamps of the cars that were gathered around the site.


There was an ugly but understandably necessary metal security screen around the stencil painting, the shadows of which you can make out in some of the pictures I managed to take. But I managed to slip my phone camera between the bars to get some okay images of the piece.

There was a jovial and excited atmosphere amongst the visitors gathered around the shed. And it was great to see that art can still illicit such interest and enthusiasm amongst people in these troubled times.

Shadowy visitors at the new Banksy graffiti in Port Talbot.
Banksy has already authenticated the work has his own and you can see a video he made of the piece here. Season's greetings.

Saturday, 15 December 2018

Christmas Goody Box

Our Crimbo Goody Box, waiting to be filled with chocolate and crisps and other deliciousness...

Thursday, 13 December 2018

Saturday, 8 December 2018

Still putting the Christmas decorations up...



Santa Gnome!

Krampus Night

It is Krampus Night and my collection of Krampus figures have broken free from their boxes to celebrate the season

Sunday, 2 December 2018

On the second day of Christmas...

On the second day of Christmas more magickal winter mushrooms appear in our home :)

'Tis the season...

'Tis the season to slowly transform our home into a winter wonderland, festooning it with magickal Fly agaric mushrooms. First up is this little beauty...

Saturday, 1 December 2018

Black Grape

I saw a great Black Grape gig a few nights ago. Nice to see the band and Sean Ryder publishing my photo of the band I took that night. Full credit too. Thank you guys :)