![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/9467060b-88cd-48c6-9186-fe92144859cb_rw_1200.jpg?h=f43477ae616217afba71539fa000c3ab)
The GIY Diaries
written by Michael Kelly, published by Gill Books
My most favourite project this year was working with Gill Books and Mick Kelly on the 'GIY Diaries', a fully illustrated cookbook/gardening diary.
Month by month you will learn how to create a space that gives you fresh, wholesome fruit and veg that tastes far better than anything you can find in the shops.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/bfd7d6a3-8786-468c-926e-6e6c7ef19b6e_rw_1200.jpg?h=435884ae3080c791218782092c69920a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/8b666d06-6cd1-401b-9eac-f8591d7cfb2e_rw_1200.jpg?h=9ef93a0823b53f2220219497b0179cc1)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/7d3d62ed-a670-4d82-ad82-d958d4826111_rw_1200.jpg?h=9120b05be96473fbc051be4f0241869a)
The project was a huge undertaking, in less than three months I created over 100 hand-painted illustrations to accompany Michael's wonderfully-written text.
I was tasked with creating full page-chapter openers for each chapter (12, one for each month), 36 full-page recipes, 58 spot illustrations and the cover piece.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/da6c859d-b709-4842-a2a7-343bcec669c4_rw_1200.jpg?h=b1e76ee785d2266c232431f1e79b8aad)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/03380956-aa56-4ccb-9bfd-d2fa4153385a_rw_1200.jpg?h=6cc1fed4f07398438e6bc02da4b0d526)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/7ecc95c6-a5ef-4afd-90df-15982f84a5a5_rw_1200.jpg?h=5f4bd003f0cb7ebb66a8183a05f1b7f3)
It was a pleasure to work with Sarah, Rachael, Bartek & all the team at Gill Books on this wonderful project.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/047a0609-1aa5-4164-857f-88973b0b7afd_rw_1200.jpg?h=3afa3c3a5a4660685eae1c54a4516385)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/d3a1c40e-27f9-48b2-b692-3fc5b733a178_rw_1200.jpg?h=6aaad98c3927d0a268e114a459e11230)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/fc35b0c4-69ab-4abf-8851-94cb852366bc_rw_1200.jpg?h=b71988fc9ee957c6c5d51378494e243a)
The book has also been nominated for this year's Cookbook of the Year in the An Post Irish Book Awards!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/3322960b-0047-4e6b-b62a-4ee2feb106d2_rw_1920.png?h=521e3d532b130146da97274d60001ea2)
You can order your copy of the GIY Diaries here online, or you'll find it in all major Irish bookstores.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/f3249c5c9768402aba0933b5a677bd19/edd3dc88-4280-4288-98f4-0070bd25a4fc_rw_1920.jpg?h=d0a5fbab1d4d4b1ab4294d6f5be00617)