Scrapbook Live Event

On the 9th May I'll be showing work at the Scrapbook Live Event, Griffin Gallery, London, organised by my agent Illustration Ltd. I have my pens, brushes and inks primed for some pretty wild and loose demonstrating. Alongside the calligraphic work, I'll be showing some 3D letters created especially for the event, combining type with my own hand lettering in a variety of media.

It promises to be an exciting evening with illustrators Miss Led, Jacqueline Bissett, Sarah Beetson and Gail Armstrong all demonstrating alongside me. In total, twenty one artists will be showing work and the evening will be hosted by journalist and writer Garrick Webster with sounds by DJ Dirty Freud.

Hope to see you there on the evening or you can follow the event live on twitter at #ScrapbookLive.

Katie Piper Author Lettering

I was asked to work on Katie Piper's author lettering by Quercus Publishing. She's well known here in the UK as an inspiration to many, due to her positive outlook and sheer determination to survive a brutal rape and acid attack that left her with deep physical and emotional scars. Things Get Better is a book written to support those who have suffered trauma, drawing on her own experiences and the letters of other survivors.

The aim was to keep the style fresh, dynamic and approachable to reflect the writer's strength and compassion - I was delighted when is was decided to use it on her next book, Start Your Day With Katie.

To see more of my book lettering click onto my word>publishing folder on my online portfolio.

Do the math!

Harvard Graduate School of Education asked me to contribute to their Winter issue of Ed. Magazine. I worked on the cover, double page spread and half page illustration for an article about mathematics reform in the USA.

I enjoyed combining chalkboard with squared paper backgrounds, numerals and equations to illustrate the piece. The design team's simple but witty idea for the cover, a pseudo-math equation, was carefully rendered to read both as an equation and the subject of the article. Inside the magazine, I retained the simple colour palette to keep the more complex illustrations eye-catching and legible.

You can see more of my illustrative editorial work in my image>editorial folder on my portfolio site.

The Briem Report 2012

Renowned Icelandic type designer, calligrapher and publisher, Gunnlaugur SE Briem has put together a book on lettering that captures a moment in time. 

With over a hundred contributors from all over the globe, subjects include graffiti, handwriting, calligraphy, lettering, type design, typography and research. Although subjects vary, all are united in their love of letters and each has created a double page spread to discuss current work.

I've contributed myself and was delighted to see many of my favourite artists listed in the contents page. It's an eclectic and inspirational read, includes an amusing introduction by Briem himself and what's more - it's free. You can download your own copy from operina.com.

Simple Minds Greatest Hits Tour

This three dimensional bust was created for the Simple Minds Greatest Hits Tour. I was commissioned to develop the lettering, working with a range of different marker pens, then scanning and fitting the script to a photo of the head. It was built up gradually until the final image was approved. It's surprisingly tricky to keep the lettering looking raw and not overworked - this vernacular lettering is influenced more by Outsider Art and hand drawn ephemeral signage than by traditional calligraphy. The designer sent over images of the scrawled graffiti on Jim Morrison's grave and the Abbey Road sign as the inspiration for the piece - the fumes from the markers probably helped a little too ...

There are also plans to use it on the related album which has yet to be released. You can see more of my record work in the word>music folder on my site.

Season's Greetings!

This year Southern Poverty Law Center asked me to create an illustration for a card they send out to donors as a sign of their appreciation. SPLC is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. Consequently, these cards usually include a quote that fits with their message of justice and tolerance. I produced a purely typographic solution with this Anatole France quote, aiming to give the words the right tone and emphasis.

I've worked for the design team at SPLC on several occasions so it was a pleasure to be asked to work on this holiday card. They have, by all accounts, a very impressive donor list which (despite my efforts!) they're not allowed to disclose ...

I've also created a personal card this year, I've sent it digitally and made a donation to UN Women, the UN entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Lettering Talk at St Bride Library, London

I'm giving a talk about my work on the evening of 13th Nov along with Si Scott, Catherine Dixon and Sam Winston.

It'd be great to see you there if you can make it - tickets are available from the St Bride Library website and help to fund this important resource for future generations: http://stbride.org/events