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Earlier this year, Ted Baker commissioned a group of illustrators to create “A Baker’s Dozen” of hand-signed prints.
Matchmakers, the Association of Illustrators brought the collaboration together as each of us were assigned an iconic British pastime to illustrate.
I was assigned camping & caravan parks which is a little coincidental as I’m quite into that myself (camping, not caravanning I hasten to add).
Ted Baker were a fantastic client – presenting such a fun brief to work with and allowing the illustrators the freedom to take the concept where we wanted.
To document the process, Ted visited my studio to film how I put the work together and they created the following film.
I’m going to do a detailed guide to how the image was made and I’ll post it soon.
1000 lithographic prints, hand-signed & embossed were created in addition to A5 prints that will be available to Ted’s online customers. The prints will be dispatched to over 200 worldwide locations, including Australia, Japan, China, the Middle East, North America and Europe.
Ted Baker has a growing reputation of supporting illustration after their recent Ted’s Drawing Room. Customers could get their portrait drawn by 1 of 11 illustrators in a photobooth-like promotion. They have also sponsored the recent Images 36: Best of British Illustration award ceremony.
The campaign launches in-store on Thursday 18th October, 2012.
A special thank you to Fiona Smith at the AOI for tirelessly coordinating the project.
Ted’s Baker’s Dozen
The Association of Illustrators article
“Ted Baker were a fantastic client – presenting such a fun brief to work with.”
After getting into Images 36, international exposure via Creative Quarterly 27 was an added bonus.
The journal of Art & Design is distributed across Northern America, Canada & UK and asks the question “Where does your inspiration come from? What person, place or thing inspires your work?”
“Creative Quarterly.
The best of art and design, quarterly.”
“Only the highest scoring images
are invited to feature
in the annual”
Very pleased to be selected for inclusion in Images 36, the best of British illustration
Portrait of Robot was entered into the self-promotion category and chosen to be included in this, the UK’s leading illustration competition and annual.
Promoted by the Association of Illustrators who go on to add;
“Images is unique in that it is Britain’s only jury-selected illustration competition, judged by a highly regarded panel of industry experts, spanning multiple categories. Each entry is marked according to how well the work fulfils the brief, originality, and technical ability.
Only the highest scoring images are invited to feature in the annual, who’s structure and design combines contemporary book design of the highest quality with functionality – making Images an indispensable tool for leading commissioners and industry professionals.”
Congratulations to all the award winners!
Images36 is available for sale via the AOI and specialist retailers including the Somerset House bookstore.
You can see the winning work of over 50 UK artists who entered the AOI’s flagship competition. The exhibition features exciting new talent and established names such as Chris Haughton (Booktrust best new illustrator), Lizzie Mary Cullen (Design Week’s 50 Hot people) and Stephen Collins (Jonathan Cape/ Observer Graphic Short Story Prize, 2010).
Images 36 at Somerset House
3–28 October 2012, 10.00-18.00
Terrace Rooms, South Wing
Free admission
Musical Views collaborators Chris & Manuel, take the project further by playing together during Chris own E17 Art Trail performance.
A commonality that prevailed throughout the Musical Views interviews was sadly that Walthamstow, so short on public cultural venues, makes it hard for muscians to meet. With this in mind, it was so warming to find two of the contributors performing together during the Art Trail.
I have spent the past 3 months meeting, interviewing, recording and illustrating some of the musical talents that can be found in Walthamstow. It is a sad fact that too many municipal venues in the borough have either been sold off or closed down.
But there is a fight back. The Art Trail itself is run entirely by the community & the tireless devotion of the organisers Artillery. The Mill is a self-funded community centre – a phoenix that rose from the ashes of a library the council no longer fund. Locals are also actively campaigning (and winning) to bring its Grade II listed cinema (vacant and left to disrepair) back to its former glory and accessible for all.
Perhaps with the renewed optimism of reclaiming Walthamstow’s iconic cinema (who boasted performances from the likes of Jonny Cash, the Beatles & the Stones), a cultural hub can again be reborn and truly find a place for such wonderful (but homeless) talent.
Find out more about Walthamstow’s Cinema.
Find out more about Musical Views
Find out more about E17 Art Trail
The tech behind the Musical Views portrait exhibition, has just been covered in the local Guardian.
George Nott Features & Art journalist, is looking into the technology that can be found on this years E17 Art trail, with downloadable audio & twitter competitions, Musical Views was a prime candidate to get a mention.
Each and everyone of the collaborators had fascinating stories about their instruments and musical backgrounds. The audio part of the project really expands on the brief introductions that can be found at the exhibition. We have a QR code that you can scan with your smart phone, bringing you to here to this site where the interviews and music can be found.
Together with Kat Richmond (who recorded and mixed everything), we gathered hours of material that has been edited down to give an insight into the people involved in the project.
We are also running a a twitter competition for visitors to the exhibition. It’s outside, so we don’t always know who have visited – the twitter comp to win a print is just a fun way of engaging with our audience.
Read the Guardian’s article
Find out more about Musical Views
Find out more about the E17 Art Trail
With over 350 events on the E17 Art Trail, you are going to need a little help getting around.
Navigate the 2012 E17 Art Trail using our very own mobile app! Search the up-to-date listings, share your favourite exhibitions and find your way around E17 with a handy map. Designed and coded by app17.co.uk and redleader.co.uk.
You can download the Android version of the app from Google Play, and the iPhone and iPad versions are in the appstore.
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With only 2 weeks to go, the E17 Art Trail coverage begins to ramp up.
It was great to see one of my portraits used to promote the event on Art daily’s website. Artdaily.org claims to be the first daily online publication dedicated to the arts.
“Fro” was created back in 2009 and is actually Redfoo from the now widely know group LMFAO. Motown mogul Barry Gordy’s son Stefan Kendal Gordy was previously a day trader.
Visit Art Daily
Find out more about Musical views at E17 Art Trail
Sophie Shaw is the lead vocalist fronting renowned blues/swing band, Blue Harlem, one of the top swing/jump-blues bands on the London scene – and the band that launched the career of rising star, Imelda May.
They are now enjoying an enviable reputation on the dance and jazz scene and are regulars at Ronnie Scott’s, Jools Holland’s new music venue – Boisdale Canary Wharf, Tne 100 Club, Twinwood Festival and Jitterbugs.
Their gig list includes such highlights as launching the Dubai Film Festival, the London launch of Baz Luhrman’s film ‘Australia’ and parties at Buckingham Palace, Annabel’s, The Sands Venue and Highgrove House for the Prince’s Trust.
Sophie is also an actress and she has worked for several years in theatre, film and television. As well as performing in national and international tours, she has regularly appeared in London’s West End, including The Royal National Theatre, The Aldwych, The Haymarket, Jermyn Street Theatre and many others. (For the last four years, however, she has been starring in her one-woman ‘show’, known as motherhood!)Sophie is also a Reiki Master/Teacher, running her practice, London Reiki Healing, from her home in Walthamstow Village.
Sophie lives with her four-year-old son, Barney – her own personal whirlwind, explosives expert, mess-maker and cuddle-giver!
Blue Harlem’s Website
More info on Sophies’s Reiki healing
More about Musical Views
To celebrate the opening of Musical Views, we are offering you the chance to win a free print.
Ter-wit-ter-woo!
This Owl print was created last year and is yet to go in the Art Shop. Beat it to, it and enter now!
To enter, all you have to do is join our mailing list by clicking on the button below. Your name will be dropped in a hat and winners announced at the private view on 1st September 2012.
Printed on some lovely Somerset Enhanced 100% Cotton 225g paper, Owl is approximate A4 size (30cm x 21cm).
The unframed print will be sent to the winner after being contacted after the draw to confirm your delivery address.
Good Luck!
This competition has now closed.
Congratulations to Kate Fahy from London, you print is on it’s way!
On September 1st, the E17 Art Trail begins and Musical Views will be my first solo collection of illustrations.
I live in Walthamstow, and I want to explore its rich cultural diversity by looking for music (traditional or contemporary) being played in this, the London borough of Waltham Forest.
I’m looking at musicians from all walks of life, documenting them aurally & visually, and putting my findings together as an illustrated portrait exhibition.
Music has been a massive part of my life. At school I learnt to play my Grandad’s cornet, then the Trombone, guitar and taught myself enough to find my way around a keyboard. I’ve DJ’d for the best part of 20 years and also tried my hand at production.
I’m really excited about collaborating with the area’s musical talent (hidden or well known) and look forward to seeing what imagery and soundscapes we produce along the way.
The E17 Art Trail is an artist led project which provides a framework for E17′s and Waltham Forest’s artists and makers to exhibit and promote their work and art practice.
You can follow how the project develops here on my blog and specific info about the exhibition can be found on the Musical Views Microsite.
I’ve just had an inspirational weekend after attending a workshop aimed at recharging creativity. It’s now time to start work on this years E17 Art Trail, an annual festival and independent artist run project.
This years concept is still in the planning stage but I am hoping to find inspiration from local music.
I want to explore our Borough’s rich, cultural diversity by looking for international music (traditional or contemporary) being played in Walthamstow. There is a potential that sound may be included in the project and I am particularly interested in finding musicians that play traditional instruments who might want to collaborate and perhaps record their skills.
Anyone interested or anyone able to give any pointers can contact me on;
+44 (0) 7775 518 669
Marine Insurance company Sieppel & Light commissioned me recently to create some cartoon illustrations.
This was a fun project if a little different from my normal work. Sieppel & Light wanted to connect with their market with an email campaign.
Their subject matter (personal injury) is something people would rather not think about, so they decided to approach it in a light hearted way.
The brief was to produce something that looked similar to the holiday postcards you find at the seaside. The client was also keen to take reference from Carl Giles, the well renowned British cartoonist who was better known for his work in the newspaper the Daily Express.
I loved Giles as a kid, my Dad collected his annuals and were a great inspiration. I recall at the time, copying his detailed cartoons. Giles was actually assigned by the Express to document the Coldstream Guards during World War II.
Traditionally in the paper the images had to be black and white and shading was conveyed with half-tone, something I was keen to recreated on the 3 images.
In less than 2 weeks, my local neighbourhood Walthamstow opens its cultural doors to the public. The E17 Art Trail enters its 7th year and will play host to all forms of art provided by the local community.
Being relatively new to the area, I have contributed a piece to an exhibition entitled ‘Making our Mark’ at The Mill.
The Mill is a community space in Coppermill Lane and this is its first exhibition for the trail.
Walthamstow is an area re-drawing its cultural aspirations and making its mark in East London.
The E17 Art Trail runs from September 2nd-11th.
Making Our Mark runs from September 3rd -23rd. The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, London E17 7HA.
Visit the Mill’s website
Visit the E17 Art Trail website
In under a week, retail guru Mary Portas launches her own shop. Earlier this year
I was asked to produce some work for the venture.
I got in contact after discovering that Mary Portas was searching for illustrators on Twitter.
Apparently there was a huge response so I felt very lucky to be invited into House of Fraser’s offices to show my work to Mary’s team.
The work will be used as prints on a textile range aimed at women 40 and over.
Mary is best-known for her hit TV series Mary, Queen Of Shops and it is thought there will also be a TV show about the project. This is her first fashion collection and will be stocked in London’s House of Fraser from 18 August.
Watch this space for more info on the collection and the work I did for it.
Visit Mary Portas
Visit House of Fraser
Last October while attending Offset 2010, I took part in an experiment devised by Synth Eastwood. Lost in Translation set out to observe how us humans process visual information.
This video is the first of 11 experiments testing memory and illustration. The tests continue using a combination of both these skills in addition to descriptive abilities.
It’s great to see the results and I have to say, memorising an abstract image is far, far more difficult that something familiar to us! You can see the rest of the results by clicking here.
Synth Eastwood is an art, music & technology group based in Ireland/UK. They have been putting on a wide range of events and projects throughout Europe for the past 4 years.
Offset is a creative festival held in Dublin. It attracts international luminaries from the industry to hold seminars, workshops, and debates.
For any battle fatigued designers out there, it offers plentiful inspiration and well worth attending. It’s next event is scheduled for March 9/10/11.
Read my review of Offset 2010
Visit offset
Visit syntheastwood
I recently completed this illustration for the online version of Eat Me, a new and vibrant food magazine.
Born in Spring 2010, Eat Me is a creative collective of journalists, photographers, artists, chefs, writers, hosts, quaffers and hungry souls.
The article by Posh Totty, is a restaurant review with a twist. Mixing business with pleasure, Posh doubles up her culinary visits with blind dates which more often than not, detract focus from the review.
You can read the article here.
I finally got a chance to put my web-design skills to a good (if not selfish) use combining my blog and site into one single format.
Hopefully this will make navigation and updates more consistent and a little easier.
Included is a new online quote form for those interested in commissioning me for work. The form covers the basic details required commercial illustration quote. If you are looking for something non-commercial, then probably best to email me or give me call.
There are some new pieces of work in the portfolio section, hope you enjoy.
Got to the Dior Illustrated – René Gruau & The Line of Beauty show last night. With my fashion design background, how could I not like these iconic pieces that were the face of Dior advertising from the mid 50′s right into the 1980′s. The show is curated in order of campaigns / fragrances and included some of Gruau’s most iconic work.His loose, free lines and use of negative space have stuck in my mind since way back when we practiced illustration during my degree (and even beyond that). The ability to gesture the curves of a leg, from hip to toe in one fluid stroke is a talent in itself try it, I promise you – you’ll struggle. Bold lines to visualise such delicate forms, so effectively.Admittedly a few of the pieces do look a little dated now but surely that is the nature of fashion as an art? On a whole, it is a collection of timeless classics.
John Galliano was quoted “To be inspired by Dior is to be inspired by René Gruau” and I have to agree. Simplicity, femininity and sophistication, united by these two close friends through illustration and fashion.
Make sure you visit Somerset House before 9th of January.
At the beginning of the month I took a trip to Ireland, principally for the Offset Conference, Dublin. A high calibre of guest speakers made it almost impossible to find a session worth missing. U.S. heavyweights such as George Lois, Gary Baseman, David Carson stood alongside more contemporary European names (Emily Forgot, Alan Clarke, Studio AKA).
Gary Baseman’s anarchic tendencies in front of a microphone became all too apparent in his Q&A session. Within 5 minutes he had himself and interviewer, Irish illustrator Steve Simpson, wearing masks of his characters click here to see. And inferred that the timing of him smuggling his sidekick toy Toby into the Vatican for a photo and the death of the late Pope, was more than coincidental.
Wired Magazine Creative Director Scott Dadich enlightened us with the process of bringing Condé Nast’s portfolio into the digital age, rolling their magazines out in iPad application format.
Steven Heller gave historical insight, while Lance Wyman recalled the process of branding the Mexico ’68 Olympics. Alan Clarkewas as humorous as his illustrative work.
Probably the highlight of the weekend was Art Director George Lois frank presentation and even more candid Q&A session. His hilarious impersonation of Andy Warhol had the audience in fits of giggles as he recalled the tale of convincing the artist to feature on on of his many iconic Esquire covers, drowning in a giant tin of Campbell’s Tomato soup.
I do hope the conference returns next year – perhaps with a little less hectic schedule to give a little more time to network. If you are a graphic designer, illustrator, or anyone involved in the creative industry and you missed out, make sure you keep your eye out for this one in the future.
