The artist Mark Hearld describes himself as a ‘collagist, printmaker, designer of this and that, and collector of tat’. Looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary, he sees beauty in the everyday, and his distinctive lithographs, linocuts and collages are a celebration of the natural world on our doorsteps.

Now based in York, Mark studied at the Glasgow School of Art and at London’s Royal College of Art. His recent commissions include designs for the Tate and the illustrations for A First Book of Nature (Walker Books).

Even by this prolific artist’s standards, 2012 has been an exceptionally busy year. A solo exhibition of Mark’s work Mark Hearld: Birds & Beasts will be held at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park from 17th November 2012 – 17th February 2013, and this month sees the publication of Mark Hearld’s Work Book (Merrell Publishers), with texts by Simon Martin. This much-anticipated book takes a behind-the-scenes look at how Mark creates his beautiful work, exploring the techniques and inspiration behind it.

MARK'S FAVOURITE SITES

Old Town - Pure escapism for me. If I've got a special event coming up, there's nothing more pleasurable than selecting the perfect pair of high-rise trousers and pondering the choice of cloth – mustard cord? Brown serge? Perhaps I might stretch to a matching jacket or waistcoat. Then of course there are caps and ties, all photographed on the backs of artists, bohemians and honest workers.

Peter Beales Roses - Old roses are incredibly romantic. Over the summer this website has been invaluable for finding out about rare and unusual varieties of rose. Moss roses; damasks; those that repeat flower or come boldly striped, dating from the sixteenth century. They’re all beautifully photographed and well described. The knowledge gleaned from this site is still flowering in late October in my garden.

Fishink Blog - The internet is a wonderfully rich resource but I have to confess that I feel more at home on the bookshelves. The Fishink Blog provides a fantastic overview of illustrated material, graphic pattern-making and textiles. A great place to discover out-of-the-way illustrators from across the Atlantic who might ultimately find their way onto your bookshelves.

Fry Art Gallery - This wonderful gallery in Saffron Walden, Essex is small-scale and full of gems: Bawden, Ravilious, Rothenstein and Bernard Cheese among others. If you can't get to Saffron Walden, this website is a superb visual source for illustration, design and inspiration. Take a virtual look – it will surely prompt a visit in person.

John Derian - Enviable must-have decorative wares from the Big Apple can be found in abundance at John Derian – a shop that I first came across whilst pacing the streets of New York City. Where else can you find a bluebottle gift tag or a tote bag featuring a blinking eye? John Derian uses the decoupager's eye to design a host of treasures.

St Judes Gallery - And last but not least, and verging on shameless self-promotion, the St Jude's website gives you the opportunity to find boldly designed prints, fabrics and wallpapers by artists including me and my girlfriend Emily Sutton, as well as Angie Lewin, Ed Kluz, Jonny Hannah and others. The St Jude’s blog, 'All Things Considered' is a great way of keeping up with what's visual and now.

Mark Hearld’s Work Book is published by Merrell Publishers, £30, merrellpublishers.com

17 October 2012