Brenda Starr Mysteries Branding

You couldn’t get a much more exciting client than feisty red-headed reporter, Brenda Starr!

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Brenda Starr’s origins in the 1940s had a big influence on the style of the logo. A dynamic combination of loose script and structured retro-inspired lettering kept the style fresh and contemporary with a nod to her comic roots. A simple star monogram offered a neat alternative to the full mark.

For continuity, this high impact, lipstick-red lettering has been taken across the Brenda Starr Mysteries website and book covers. It was specifically designed to complement James Boyle’s striking illustrative style, with its lively line work and dynamic colours. One of my favourite pages is a glimpse into the Starr World, a witty combination of lettering, illustration and pull quotes, introducing key characters in the series and bringing Brenda Starr firmly into modern world. 

It’s always a pleasure to be commissioned by someone of Jon Salem’s creative vision, his strong visual concept for the brand and depth of knowledge of the genre was an inspiration.

Take a moment to check out the website and enter the exciting world of Brenda Starr. The first novel, Black Orchid Murders is set for publication later this year.

New Logo for St Luke's Hospice

I always enjoy working on branding, so when Ledgard Jepson Design contacted me to help out with a new logo for St Luke’s Hospice, Sheffield, I jumped at the chance.

Ledgard Jepson, specialists in branding and well known for their recent rebrand of Birmingham Museums Trust, worked closely with the client to develop a logo that evokes a positive, upbeat message. After much care and consideration, it was decided this was best achieved with a piece of custom lettering, giving St Luke’s Hospice a unique, hand drawn mark that is instantly recognisable. 

Once briefed, I collaborated with the creative team at Ledgard Jepson, providing initial brush drawn options. These were gradually developed and drawn up digitally, while taking care to retain the hand drawn appeal of the script.

The warm colour, soft curves and playful nod at smiles and hearts keep the lettering fresh and friendly, while the bold weight and clean design give it the visual strength to work across a range of applications.

You can see more of my lettering for branding in the logos folder on my portfolio website.

Bill Wyman Website Logo

It was great to work on the new Bill Wyman logo for his official website. 

The development stage included a range of hand rendered styles, from handwriting akin to his own signature to this wilder version of his name, using a dry brush to create a distressed, edgy mark.

Combined with the designer's bold background and retro photo, the lettering makes a powerful impact on the music legend's home page.

If you want to see more of my music work, click through to the word>music folder on my online portfolio.

Websters Pen Shop

As a great lover of writing tools of all shapes and sizes, it seemed appropriate for me to be asked to work on a strapline for Websters Pen Shop. The British company is celebrating 40 years in the business and commissioned a new logo for the event.

Hand lettering was chosen over a font to express the uniqueness of the written form - something Websters promote with their impressive range of pens. The lettering was used in a one and three line format along with the designer's logo across both printed and online advertising. The loose but legible style reflects the soft flow of a fountain pen.

You can see more of my corporate and advertising work on my online portfolio.

Twiggy at Marks & Spencer

I was delighted when model and singer, Twiggy wanted to use the lettering I created for her latest album for her new online clothes collection at Marks & Spencer. The lettering was inspired by Twiggy's own signature - keeping its lively character, I added a little weight and legibility to the script to make a strong and identifiable brand.

To see more branding, go to my word>corporate folder on my online portfolio.

Get the festive spirit with Ruta 40!

Ruta 40 is a supplier of Argentinean boutique wines, all sourced from small and independent bodegas connected by the legendary road. I was asked by the Ruta 40 team to develop a logo to reflect this exciting new venture.

Ruta 40 is the name of the longest road in Argentina. From La Quiaca in the north to Punta Loyola at the southern Atlantic coast, it crosses every significant wine making region in the country and was the inspiration behind the visual work. My client wanted the logo to capture something of the raw beauty and energy of the landscape combined with their own drive and passion for the wine.

Along with the logo, I was asked to provide a set of imagery that could be used alongside it to unify the brand. The starkly beautiful landscape dictated my approach to the illustrations - rough, grainy pen marks for an earthy, textural quality and erratic, organic line work for the twining vines and mesmerising sun.

You can see more of my packaging work and logos on my website.

Tasmina Perry - a new book a new look

I do a lot of work for the publishing industry and as an avid reader it's work I always enjoy. I'm often asked to hand letter logos for new authors for use across their future book covers or alternatively for more established writers to refresh their image or repackage their backlist.

Recently Headline Publishing asked me to take another look at Tasmina Perry's name. I'd worked on the logo previously for Harper Collins and they wanted something different to launch her latest book. I worked on a range of options focussing on a fresh, spontaneous feel with a touch of sophistication that would appeal to her readers. The lettering also had to be strong enough to stand alone on the cover as the designer wanted it to be a prominent feature of the over all design.

I don't know about you but it makes me look forward to my Summer holiday!

Jewel of a Job for the Emerald Isle

Rodney Miller Associates asked me to help them design a hand lettered logo for the Park Avenue Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

The design team were working on rebranding and repositioning the hotel after extensive refurbishment. They wanted to achieve an identity that would reflect the hotel's 4 star status while emphasising it's independence, style and charm in a market that's flooded with 'big brands'. The fresh and stylish new identity is aimed at drawing in a younger clientele while retaining the existing customers of this friendly, family run hotel.

A hand lettered logo can help give a unique personality to a brand which makes it stand out from the crowd. Working with the designers, I was pleased to see how well the finished logo reflects the hotel's stylish decor while giving it a friendly, approachable first impression.

A strong family link with Northern Ireland means I'm always happy to work on jobs with a link to this beautiful isle. I've also worked on the Irish Tourist Board logo which you can see on my portfolio. 

Saltwater Logo

The current issue of Design Week features a logo I worked on with the creative team at Work Design, Leicester. It's a new identity for Saltwater, a seafood restaurant in St Ives, Cornwall, so it seemed appropriate to use fresh, textural marks and sweeping lines. To see more of my logos take a look at the word>corporate folder on my website.