99Seconds | Adi Gilbert

Out now, 'How To Fly A Spitfire', a brilliant collaboration between @hattie_7 and @99seconds_studio A hands-on, step-by-step guide to jumping into the cockpit and taking to the skies in one of the greatest flying machines ever created. Brilliantly written and stuffed full of Adi's excellent illustrations. 👏

Our beautiful new hardback book is officially available from today! "How To Fly A Spitfire: A Nut-and-Bolt Guide to the World's Greatest Aircraft" written by Hattie Hearn, and illustrated by me Adi Gilbert. Out now through @quartobooksuk . Link in bio to buy online or ask your local book shops! I drew around 100 illustrations for this book during 2025. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them. I’ve always loved aircraft, especially the Spitfire so this was a real honour. And amazingly this week marks the 90th anniversary of the Spitfires first flight (5 March 1936)! “Step into the cockpit of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire and discover what it really takes to fly Britain’s most iconic fighter.  How to Fly a Spitfire takes you on a fascinating, hands‑on tour of this remarkable machine. Much more fun than an overly technical manual, it offers a readable, richly illustrated and step‑by‑step walkthrough of the Spitfire’s controls and systems, giving a unique impression of what it was like to actually pilot one”. There’s also lots of history and stories from the Battle of Britain and beyond. Tales of important folk and their involvement. So much thanks to Hattie for her expertise and captivating writing. Alex Coco for the elegant design, Rosie Fairhead and Charlotte Frost for editing and John Parton for commissioning it into being! Go team. Massive thanks and love to my family and friends for putting up with me while working on these projects. Of course, huge appreciation to the women and men who designed, built, flew and maintain(ed) Spitfires throughout the war and to this day. Often in sacrifice for our freedom and in the fight AGAINST fascism. #spitfire #howtoflyaspitfirebook #bookillustration #illustration #thebattleofbritain

Here's the latest poster I've drawn for the 2026 @drivewayseries . Hope you like it. A pleasure to work with Chris Tolley on this again. Thanks for the commission! Thanks also to the riders, sponsors and the photographers, creatures etc. that make these things possible. Ta - Adi. Reference images mostly @gvngld , cheers! “The biggest, longest running weekly bike race in the country that takes place on a 1.6 mile, 44ft wide asphalt track under 4 miles from downtown Austin, Texas!”

So hard to believe its already 3 years since Craig tragically left this mortal coil. I still havent found the words for my own feelings about it (which he'd probably find funny cos he knew well we both liked to share a tale or two). This is the drawing I did at the time as tribute, commissioned by his pals at @profile_racing . Probably the hardest thing I've ever had to draw. Every line was painful and joyous at the same time. Much love to Caig, Lucy, the kids, his family and many friends. Thinking of you. Ride the lightning where ever you are buddy! ❤️ - adi

Tally ho! I recently finished a pretty big / fun illustration project and here's a preview of one of the 80+ drawings for it. No prizes for guessing what it's about! 😂. I'll reveal more soon but for now I'd best get back to the drawing board. Got one more poster to draw before I finish for the year. I've not posted much on here lately. Been pretty busy though! Thankfully, despite the swamp of Ai it's been a good year for work created by humans. Very grateful to all my clients and supporters. Thank you 🙏. If you're interested in commissioning my work for commercial or private projects please get in touch. I'm now taking bookings for 2026 and beyond. I recently rebuilt my portfolio site 99seconds.com. Still needs some tweaking but pleased to replace my clunky old one. Please check it out if you're interested. Ta! - Adi #spitfire #illustration #99secondsstudio #bookillustration #thebattleofbritain

After posting the PA Gold piece last week I realised I'd forgotten to put up the previous work I drew from the series back in Feb. So here it is.... "Winter Cloud, from Shane Halahan ( smhalahan )The third in the Sibling Unity, seasonal collection by the Halahans for the mighty @profileracing Thanks to Kaci, Lukas, Shane, and Nate (mom and dad too) for their collaboration. Huge thanks to @matt_coplon for all the wrangling. Artwork by @adi_gilbert / @99seconds_studio " #bmx #profilebmx #profileracing #bikes #halahans #madeintheusa #illustration #trails #bmxtrails

PA Gold! My latest drawing for @profile_racing 's Sibling Unity series dropped yesterday. Ah trails! "PA Gold, from Nate Halahan ( @irodetoday ) The last in our Sibling Unity, seasonal collection by the Halahans. Available today and heading to select shops. Thanks to Kaci, Lukas, Shane, and Nate for their collaboration with us over the last 2 years to make this project happen. Artwork by @adi_gilbert / @99seconds_studio " #bmx #profilebmx #profileracing #bikes #halahans #madeintheusa #illustration

New layout and hand drawn type for my crew at @profile_racing . @lucasporzio 's killer trail style with @matt_coplon behind the lens. Classic 19mm cranks for the win. #handdrawntype #graphicdesign #profileracing #bmx

Shout out to my old pal, Senior Designer and mentor (haha) @austin_allegro ! (David Marcar) I was stoked a few weeks ago to meet up with him and family (missed you chell!) after 20 years for a catchup here in the highlands. It was, as I expected, hilarious and full of old stories from back in the day. Hope you like the pic of Dave and I from that night, in 'our Highland nursing home' as Dave put it 😂. Pics also from ye olde days in the studio. I owe Dave alot. When got my first shot as a designer around the turn of the century Dave was my senior and helped me get upto speed (With alot of patience). I doubt I'd have made a career out of it without him. Hell knows how many times he must have shown me how to make clipping paths and use alpha channels! Shout out while i'm at it to @sandystevenson3 , Julia & @ciarranparr for giving me the opportunity in the first place! (And the rest of the studio crew) We worked at SSM Freesports / Chilli Video as it was (later to become Chilli Industries) back then at a studio in Putney SW London. We played pretty hard but we also worked hard too and had a riot making stuff for a wide range of stuff. TV / video / film / print / events / band making etc. (And a billion shitty powerpoints). Made so many good friends there and met a bunch of legends. Hard to imagine that so much happened in such a few years. It was a whirl! Shout outs to all the cool people I met and worked with, it was a great time. Wish it could have lasted longer but I'm grateful non-the-less. Dave's a helluva creative and a hustler to boot. You've probably seen or worn his works even if you didn't know it. Cheers Dave!! ~ Adi. X

A new illustrated piece I've drawn for @drivewayseries for the 2025 season. Big up to @tolleyalways / @drivewayseries for the commission. Really appreciate it! Thanks to the photographers, riders and crew for the reference pics. And of course sponsors / participants and supporters for making such a thing possible. Bikes rule ✊ #illustration #illustratedposter #cycling #99secondsstudio

A new layout and some hand painted type I did for my good folk @profile_racing . Featuring @danconway , a dumpster grind and their gold mini hubs. Photo by @masepearson Wrangled by the man, @matt_coplon . Go team! Profile blurb..." @danconway and our classic Mini Hubs. Our latest web banners are up, featuring a shot by @masepearson . in the midst of the latest Profile “Perceptions” edit. Design by @adi_gilbert @99seconds #bmx #profilebmx #bikes #cycling #profileracing #madeintheusa" #handdrawntype #graphicdesign #99secondsstudio

New stuff for @profile_racing to celebrate the UK crew. Illustration / icon / type and layout. A homage to a 2 Headed Gator encounter and subsequent tattoos. Blurb from Profile … This is the Profile, Two Headed Alligator collection, in celebration of Profile's UK crew. We want to thank @tomrussellbmx @cassondowning @Isaacvenn_bmx @declanbrooks and @carlos_g88 Gomez for years of support. Now available in both Mini and Elite hubs, RHD and LHD. Short and long sleeve tees are also up for pre-order, All designed by @adi_gilbert For the complete story behind this collaboration, hit the LINK IN OUR BIO. #bmx #profilebmx #profileUK #profileracing #99secondsstudio