Dominic Mylroie

iPad Ryan Gosling Illustration

2012-02-01T16:25:00.001Z

Santa brought me something very special for Christmas 2011, yes I'm the proud owner of an iPad 2! I was a little sceptical about their worth beforehand, but I have to admit, I am now completely sold on them.

One of the reasons for this is a very helpful App named Sketchbook, which lets you use your iPad like a sketchpad, I've been having a play with it ever since I downloaded it just after Christmas, and I think actually have found a way to speed up my Illustration process, certainly the line art element of it!
It really is an impressive piece of kit, with a range of brushes and a layer tool so you can build up the artwork. I use an iPad stylus pen that I bought as well in order to sketch the lines up. The line strength is fantastic and it follows the movement of the stylus over the screen accurately.

I've decided to upload my first piece using Sketchbook and the stylus pen. I wanted to draw a character as I've been experimenting more with drawings of people rather than landscapes. I chose to draw one of my favourite actors at the moment Ryan Gosling, ever since I saw the film drive about 4 months ago, I've been a little bit obsessed with his films, call it a man crush! I've pretty much watched his back catalogue, minus the notebook! But I'm sure I'll end up seeing that at somepoint! I wanted to capture that cool look he had in the film drive, so I worked from various photographs I had found to sketch this piece out. The whole image has been put together on the iPad, initial lines and colouring. Although I think I'll export my sketches and complete them on my mac, as colouring using Sketchbook was rather time consuming.

I'll be uploading new sketches as I complete them, so watch out for new artwork hitting this blog soon!

Below I've screen grabbed some process shots.

Drake - Take Care

2012-01-23T18:32:00.002Z

A drastic change of scene from all of my recent Leigh themed posts, this is a more commercially driven piece of personal artwork.

I'm not usually a big fan of modern day rap and r'n'b, but when I got hold of Drake's latest album I was pleasantly surprised. Drake's an interesting artist, sure he likes to big himself up as with most rappers but what I love about Take Care is that he isn't afraid to open up and give the listener a small insight into his feelings about his 'Hard time adjusting to fame' and personal problems with break ups and family issues, something that most people have a hard time reflecting and writing about, let alone a rapper rapping about it!

I gave this a lot of eartime at the time of it's release and have continued to do so. The illustration was put together over the course of a couple of evenings working up an Image as I listened, I wanted to capture the reflective yet ultimately confident figure that Drake is, coupling it with the album info.

I'm really interested in getting into more characterisation Illustrations of celebrities, public figures and just plain old normal people! It's something I've been meaning to experiment with more for a while.

Drake - Lord Knows Ft. Rick Ross

Eclipse

2012-01-23T17:42:00.001Z

Annually I take part in the Burnham week sailing Regatta in Burnham-on-crouch with my father, racing the family yacht 'Eclipse'. Last year we managed to bag ourselves a bundle of trophies after some fine racing and a helpful handicap!

As a memory of such a successful week of sailing I decided to Illustrate a scene from one of our races against a fellow Crouch yacht 'Safi' and presented the final image to my father as a present for Christmas. It now hangs Proudly in the main cabin of Eclipse.

It was a really nice personal piece to put together, I wanted to capture as much of the action as possible with special focus given to our friends and crew who race with us every year, Clive, Geoff, John and David. I also feature in the illustration, I'm the guy chilling out in the green polo shirt looking on as Dad points out the course!

I had it printed as a Giclée on 190gsm Archival Watercolour paper by the experts at the Dot Foundry printers who trade in Wales.

Please see Artwork Detail below.

If you are interested in a personalised Illustration service, I am more than happy to undertake commissions.

Please feel free to drop me an e-mail: dominic_mylroie@hotmail.com

For Printing Illustration services: The Dot Foundry Printers

Old Leigh Buoy

2012-01-23T16:56:00.002Z

Old Leigh Buoy is another addition to the Leigh Art trail series focusing on local views and landmarks.

I decided to create this Illustration of the iconic Buoy which welcomes visitors into the old town as part of the secret postcard raffle at the Leigh Art Trail Auction held in November 2011, to help raise funds for this years trail.

This Illustration, will be for sale along with a whole range of new Leigh orientated scenes at the Leigh Art Trail 2012 held from the 16th-23rd June 2012. Which I shall be taking part in again, for my third year.

For more info on this year's trail visit: Leigh Art Trail Website

Bait Digging, Winner at the Beecroft Art Gallery

2011-07-11T13:07:00.002+01:00

After the success of my second year exhibiting as part of the Leigh Art Trail, I decided to enter my 'Bait Digging' Illustration piece for the Beecroft Art Gallery's 53rd Open Exhibition this Summer.
The Beecroft Art Gallery is one of the most established Galleries in the local area and is situated overlooking the Thames Estuary in Southend-on-sea, the Open Exhibition collects and exhibits a diverse selection of work by artists from all around Essex. Over 650 works were submitted for consideration which was then whittled down to just 148 successful entries.
I was fortunate enough to have my work chosen for the exhibition, but on arrival at the Private View evening on Friday 8th July I was given a lovely surprise, as my work had been chosen as the winner of the Lynn Tait Gallery Award for Best work depicting a local landmark, one of only 8 awards given out on the evening and an award that is apparently the focus of much careful and considered deliberation by the exhibition selectors, an honor indeed.

Beecroft Art Gallery Lynn Tait Gallery

53rd Essex Open Exhbition The Old Bakery

9th July - 1st October 2011 1A, Oakleigh Park Drive

Station Road, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex

Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex SS9 1RP

SS0 7RA

Beecroft Art Gallery Website The Lynn Tait Gallery Website

Photos from my Exhibition at Ruby Room 2011

2011-06-22T15:56:00.014+01:00

Above are some Photos from my week long exhibition held at Ruby Room as part of my hometown Leigh-on-sea's Art Trail 2011. Many Thanks to the girls at Ruby Room for letting me use the walls of their fantastic store again this year, and for being so helpful and accommodating. A successful week, I'm already looking forward to next year!

Check out Ruby Room's website here:

Ruby Room

Find out more info on the Leigh Art Trail here:

Leigh Art Trail

Leigh Art Trail 2011

2011-06-15T13:27:00.003+01:00

This week I'm taking part in the annual Art Trail in my hometown of Leigh-on-sea, exhibiting Illustrations inspired by buildings and views from around the area and also some additional Illustrations from a little further afield. The three newest Leigh inspired works are views from in and around the old fishing part of the town 'Old Leigh' and include 'Bridge to Old Leigh', 'Three Poles' and 'Katherine and the Seagulls'.

All the work displayed in the image above is exhibited, please e-mail me if you have any enquiries. Photos from the weeks event will appear on this blog next week after the event has finished.

For further information about the work exhibited on the trail please follow the link below to the website.

Leigh Art Trail Website

The Royal Wedding Kiss 2011

2011-05-09T10:48:00.002+01:00

Like many people I watched the Royal Wedding on April 29th and even though I wasn't that fussed beforehand, after sitting down in a pub on a break away with the family in Cheshire I got a real sence of the occasion! I thought it was a fantastically memorable and Happy Day, with both Kate and William looking extremely happy together and starting a fresh chapter in the Windsor family history.
I was also amazed at the great sense of patriotism I saw on my travels, there were some fantastic street parties with communities coming together for the event.

All of this inspired me to put together a new illustration focusing on one of the two 'smooches!' the happy couple had up on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. I wanted the image to show the happiness that was felt on the day so I decided to frame the kiss in a decorative style using a gold frame with subtle hearts engraved into the design along with the initials of both William and Kate accompanied by banner and year plate. I wanted the background to be vibrant strengthening the happy mood of the piece, the stone walls of Buckingham Palace didn't really do this for me, so I chose a bright bluish green tone along with decorative pattern to complement Kate's wonderful dress.

I'm really happy with how the piece turned out, It was really enjoyable to put together as a personal reflection on such a memorable day for so many people.

Financial Times: Badgers

2011-05-08T11:42:00.002+01:00

The Financial Times recently commissioned me to provide an illustration for a piece in the House and Home supplement of their weekend paper. The article was part of the gardening segment, an amusingly weird and wonderful article by Robin Lane Fox.
Its a bit tricky to explain the quirky slightly dark narrative of the piece so I've included the link to the article below, all I can say is I never, ever thought I'd be commissioned to draw gay badgers!

Financial Times: The King is Dead

Financial Times: Collective Thought

2011-05-04T16:04:00.003+01:00

The Financial Times commissioned me to produce an image for their Life and Arts piece looking at Essays. Why novelists write essays? And why we read them?

Within the article Carl Wilkinson refers to the similarities he finds between the writings of Virgina Woolf and the present day author Hanif Kureishi, in particular their views on 'social taboo's' Woolf's being Class, and Kureishi's Race.

Within my illustration I wanted to portray these two great writers in the what seems to be the same room, however they are actually in different periods in time. Both Woolf and Kureishi share similar expressions as they look out of their windows pensively, their writing materials to hand and paper spread out on the writing desks infront of them.

Woolf holds her recognisable cigarette pipe as she looks out through her window. Infront of her are her fountain pen with ink pot and two of her novels 'a room of one's own' and 'Mrs Dalloway'. Her thoughts are expressed through the glass of the window, and her idea that war will bring about a change in the barriors of class, and who can write novels. Depicted through the silhouettes of an upper class novelist and a soldier at war both standing on a book.

Kureishi similarly looks out of his adjacent window, on his desk sits his laptop with a sticker referencing the screenplay he wrote for 'My Beautiful Launderette'. Infront of this sit his novels 'The Black Album' and 'The Buddha of Suburbia'. Outside of his window, Kureishi sees views of Pakistan referencing the idea he poses in one of his essyas that coming from a mixed race background the idea of being British in today's society is not what it was, it is now a much more complicated thing.

The final link between the two authors, is their love of reference and collection, embodied by the large bookcase which spans their places in time.

Financial Times: Collective Thought

Financial Times: A Hundred Doors

2011-05-04T15:14:00.002+01:00

The Financial Times commissioned me to produce an image of the Irish Poet Michael Longley ahead of the release of his latest collection of poems entitled 'A Hundred Doors'.

Longley's fascination and inspiration with Carrigskeewaun in County Mayo and the Irish Landscape and Wildlife that encompasses the area was something that I wanted to portray within my Illustration. The idea that Longley has almost become a part of that Landscape through his constant reference and reflection back on his homeland mentioned within the article was also something I wanted to play upon within my image.

Longley sits in the irish countryside on a bright sunny spring day leaning back against an old Irish oak tree writing in his poetry book, the tree is covered in green vines that slowly entangle him, however he seems content with this, as he is at peace and in awe of this landscape. Behind him the hills and lakes of county mayo can be seen behind the other surrounding trees. An Otter fresh from a short swim in the lake looks towards Longley a reference to the poem 'Call' and infront of him a 'Twayblade' Listeria Ovata a reference to the poem of the same name.

Financial Times: A Hundred Doors Review

Financial Times: Great House

2011-02-23T17:00:00.005Z

Here is another Illustration that I have produced for the Fiction Review section of the Financial Times: Life and Arts weekend Supplement. The image was created for the review of 'Great House' by american author Nicole Krauss. At the heart of the books many stories is a grand desk with many draws holding many secrets. It mysteriously interweaves the lives of characters within the story and affects them in some way. My illustration focuses on Nadia one of the first characters within the book who has been left the desk after a one night relationship with a young Chilean poet named Daniel Varsky, he leaves her and New York that same night to return to Chile.
In my image I show Nadia looking out of her New York Apartment window on a cold winters evening, it is snowing and she longingly stares out towards a character leaving in a NY Yellow Cab, Daniel Varsky! In the foreground sits the grand old desk with its 19 draws, some of which are locked. On the desks surface are Nadia's writings along with a poetry book and a small framed photograph of Daniel left to her by his namesake. The curtains blow gently in the cold night air.

To read the review:
Financial Times: Great House

Financial Times: The Diary

2011-02-23T16:27:00.002Z

I was recently commissioned by the Financial Times to provide an image for their weekly Diary piece that features in the Life and Arts weekend supplement. This particular diary piece was written by british writer and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore prior to the release of his new book Jerusalem.
The image that I have put together from this amusing piece was where Simon describes how he delivered a letter to Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Estonian Royalist Party inviting Prince Edward to become their monarch, and how Princess Diana had actually been their first choice before they switched to Prince Edward.
In my image I show the hand holding the Estonian letter addressed to Prince Edward being given to a Butler at Buckingham Palace. In the Background the Prince looks curiously towards the exchange, this curiosity is echoed by a wide eyed portrait of Princess Diana that hangs on a nearby wall.

Read the Diary piece here:
Financial Times: The Diary

Financial Times: Property Indices

2011-01-24T15:12:00.002Z

The FT recently commissioned me to provide an illustration for the House and Home supplement of their weekend paper all about Property Indices in the UK.
I came up with the idea of a bar chart made out of different residential properties slowly dipping, then increasing back up again. I accompanied the houses with a graph paper backdrop including other Indice charts layered behind, I also added figures pulled from the text, pound signs and arrows.
I really enjoyed the challenge of putting an Image together for an article that doesn't work around the narrative based format that my previous commissions have encompassed.

To read the article please click the link below:
Muddled Measurements, Property Indices

Financial Times: Caribou Island

2011-01-24T14:54:00.002Z

Earlier on in January 2011 I was commissioned by the Financial Times to produce an Illustration for their review of the new book by American author David Vann. The story follows the lives of married couple Gary and Irene, who set about building a new life together on a small island in the wilderness and beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Gary sets about building his dream log cabin without any guides or direction, meanwhile Irene is constantly haunted by her past causing endless stresses and strains to their already fragile relationship.

I've always been fascinated with the idea of living out in the wilderness, relying on nothing but human instinct and the need to survive, therefore putting the artwork together for this image was really interesting, I wanted to convey a scene where Gary and Irene wander back towards their unfinished log cabin on the Isand's edge. Gary carrying a log on his shoulder, Irene a basket full of wood for the fire. There is an obvious gap in the couple's relationship seen through the space between them both, the twisting branches of the cold trees also highlight the tension between the two. In the distance sits the unfinished log cabin surrounded by the beautiful Alaskan mountains. a solitary Caribou reindeer stands next to the cabin looking towards the couple and smoke gently wafts from the log cabin's chimney up into the clear blue sky.

Financial Times: 'Earth Calling Taylor' Short Story by David Mitchell

2011-01-07T17:10:00.004Z

Earth Calling Taylor by David Mitchell

Taylor checks out the two nurses in the lift.

The Financial Times commissioned me to provide illustrations for a short story 'Earth Calling Taylor' by British author David Mitchell. The short story headed the New Year's eve edition of the Life and Arts supplement.
The story focuses on Ryan Taylor and his frustrations with his boss Calvin Hathaway as he awaits that all important e-mail confirming the promotion he so desperately desires on New Year's eve.
By chance he finds himself in a hospital after his father's tangle with a christmas tree, and on an errand to find champagne to help celebrate an 'interesting' New Year, he encounters different people and patients that influence him in some way!
Scenes that I chose to illustrate included Taylor's encounter with a hooded man who has a metal prosthetic hand on the hospital rooftop, and Taylor's wandering eyes as he checks out the two nurses in the lift. Along with these two main illustrations I provided two drop illustrations, of the abusive e-mail Taylor decides to send to his boss on his Blackberry, and the old ladies postcard of Burrard Bridge in Vancouver.

Taylor sends abusive message to Calvin Hathaway and inspects
the old postcard of Burrard Bridge in Vancouver.

Putting the illustrations together for this commission really was a pleasure. I enjoyed the story on first read and am a massive fan of David Mitchell's work as an author.

To Read the Story please check out the link below:

Financial Times: Earth Calling Taylor by David Mitchell

Financial Times: The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story

2011-01-07T16:12:00.001Z

The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story

In early December I was commissioned by the Financial Times to provide an illustration for their review in the Life and Arts section weekend supplement of 'The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story' compiled by Anne Enright. I chose to illustrate a scene from Patrick Boyle's short story "Meles Vulgaris" in which the stories protagonist recollects Irish countrymen brutally killing a badger in the woodland.
I wanted to create an eerie feel to the illustration without the image being too dark in it's night time setting, so decided to keep all but one of the farmers as ambiguous silhouettes standing menacingly with their shovels and pitchforks over the dying badger. The central farmer stabs his pitchfork down one last time towards the badger's back, the final blow! They are surrounded by grassy mounds and twisted old trees.

Link: The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story

The Pouch of Douglas Framers Mini Exhibition and Book Signing Event

2011-01-07T15:41:00.001Z

My local framers at home in Leigh-on-sea 'The Pouch of Douglas', organised with me a book signing and mini exhibition event just before Christmas last year.
I was signing copies of 'The Zombie Night Before Christmas' (See previous post) as well as showing some of my illustrations from the Leigh Art Trail, along with more recent work, including my illustration of the 2012 London Olympic Stadium and The Roman Courtyard image, the evening was a great success with lots of interest in my work and many sales of the book, lots of happy children who will because of me probably never see Santa in the same way again!

Link: The Pouch Of Douglas Framers

The Zombie Night Before Christmas

2011-01-07T15:20:00.000Z

In early March last year I was commissioned by book publisher's Cider Mill press in America, to provide illustrations for a reworking of the classic Christmas poem 'The Night Before Christmas'.
The reworking involved the interesting inclusion of Zombies into the poem's verses, making the illustration's required for the book gruesomely great fun to illustrate!
Scenes of Santa being bitten in the neck by the father Zombie, and stockings filled with bloody limbs instead of presents were weirdly fun to illustrate, and unlike anything I've ever done before!
I managed to pick up a copy of the book before its release just before Christmas (see images below) and think the publisher's have done a wonderful job putting the book together, it really does look fantastic, and as my first international book illustration commission, I am very proud of it!

Read the review's: Review 1 Review 2
Order you're copy of it here: The Zombie Night Before Christmas

Winning Portfolios

2010-11-09T15:35:00.000Z

I was recently informed by Cath Caldwell a lecturer at Central Saint Martins that my work had been featured in her new book 'Winning Portfolios for Graphic Designers' which has just been released for sale in the United States and Canada.

I had given Cath permission to photograph my portfolio after its submission for final assessment at the end of my last year at CSM, and my work is featured on pages 16 and 73 as examples of how designers and illustrators can bring their work to life through illustrated books.

The featured work includes my picture book documenting the final days of Woolworths (Page 16) and my Grapes of Wrath (by John Steinbeck) illustrated storybook, which took selected paragraph's from the book and coupled them with illustrations to help tell the story. (Page 73) Also included on this page is one of my sketchbooks from another final project and the sleeve that I enclosed my original paintings for the Grapes of Wrath storybook within.

Cath very kindly sent me a free copy of the book, that funnily enough will be added to my Portfolio!

The book is available to buy in the UK from Amazon:
Winning Portfolios book

High Fidelity Book Jacket Design

2010-11-02T15:45:00.000Z

I recently decided that for my next self initiated Illustration project I wanted to mock up a selection of book Jackets for some of my favourite books, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby is one of these!

There is something very cool about the idea of owning a record store and Hornby really emphasises this in High Fidelity! I've always been a little fascinated with Old stores with deep history, and Record store's fall into this category. I decided to experiment with the idea of the front exterior of 'Championship Vinyl' (Rob's record store in the book) and see how I could make it work as the front cover.

Playing around with imagery and sketches I have collected, I created the exterior to the shop, giving it the kind of run down feel that all good record stores are attributed with. In the front window, hang various records from Rob's Top 5's. (This is also incorporated onto the outdoor sign infront of the store!) Above the storefront, held up by scaffolding is an over sized vinyl, with the books title in its centre.
I decided that the jacket should be a wrap around, to give a little more information about the stores location within Islington, London. I created a wooden fence, with a local estate behind it, also on the fence sits an advertising hoarding, which features the slogan from the book "Championship Vinyl: Everything for the serious Record Collector!"

I'm happy with how the jacket turned out, and look forward to hopefully posting some more designs for some of my other favourite books up here soon!

London Olympic Stadium

2010-11-02T13:24:00.000Z

I recently had the opportunity to take a tour of the 2012 London Olympics construction site, and got some great sketches and photographs of the Olympic Stadium.
It's been given a fair amount of negative press over the years, but now that it's nearing completion, and having the chance to see it up close, I think it is a very elegant example of sustainable architecture.

Above is an illustration that I have composed of the stadium, focusing on the different interweaving angles that build up the structure. The Olympic rings float above it in the sky, signaling the stadiums impending completion.

Different Strokes for Foodie Folks

2010-10-27T12:34:00.000+01:00

I recently produced a new Illustration especially for my agencies promotional campaign 'Different Strokes for Foodie Folks'. All of the artwork produced for the promotional postcards by the illustrators was themed on food.
For my image I chose to depict the experience of having afternoon tea outside of a cake shop and the temptation to eat more, created by the various beautifully decorated cakes that longingly sit behind the glass window.

For more info on the promotional material check out the agencies website: http://www.theartworksinc.com/
or the blog: http://www.theartworksinc.com/news/

Essex Art and Design Show Part 2

2010-10-27T10:48:00.000+01:00

The Second leg of the Essex Art and Design show took place at Cressing Temple in Braintree at the end of September, where along with the work I had exhibited at the previous show, I added three smaller illustrations of the barns and gardens found there. The fantastic oak barns were built in the 13th century for the Knights Templar, and are surrounded by some beautiful gardens.

Essex Art and Design Show

2010-08-09T11:47:00.000+01:00

Following on from the success of the Leigh Art Trail, I was invited to exhibit as part of the Essex Art and Design Show. This show takes place at two weekend locations over the Summer. The first is RHS Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and the second takes place at Cressing Temple in Braintree.

For the first show taking place at Hyde Hall I decided to create a new piece of artwork, taking inspiration from the lovely lily ponds found in the Gardens at Hyde Hall, which are home to an array of differently coloured Koi Fish.

Essex Art and Design Show

Ruby Room

2010-08-09T11:26:00.000+01:00

After the success of the Leigh Art Trail week I decided to dedicate an image to owners of the venue as a small token of my appreciation for letting me use their shop as an exhibition space for the week for free.

Ruby Room is a lovely new women's clothes shop along the Broadway in Leigh-on-sea.

This Illustration now proudly hangs next to the shops counter.

Ruby Room Location Map

Ruby Room Twitter

Leigh Art Trail 2010

2010-08-09T11:14:00.000+01:00

I exhibited my work as part of the Leigh Art Trail which has been running for 14 years and is a collective of artists who live and work in Leigh-on-sea in Essex. Each artist was assigned a venue, and I was given Ruby Room which is a lovely, new women's clothing store on the Broadway (the main shopping street). I exhibited 12 new pieces of work which were all to do with Leigh-on-sea, focusing mainly on the different views out over the Estuary, but I also drew inspiration from some of the old shops, pubs and hotels that have become iconic symbols for my town. the exhibition was held from the 12th - 20th June 2010.

http://www.leigharttrail.co.uk

Financial Times Book Review Illustrations

2010-08-09T10:04:00.000+01:00

Jonathan Coe: The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim

Rose Tremain: Trespass

I recently have done some work for the Financial Times, Arts and Leisure weekend supplement. Creating Illustrations for their book reviews section.
The books reviewed included the new Rose Tremain novel 'Trespass', and Jonathan Coe's 'The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim'.

Leigh Art Trail 2010

2009-11-26T17:09:00.000Z

I was recently selected to take part in my hometown of Leigh-on-sea's annual art trail, which will take place next summer. Its the first time I've entered to exhibit my work, and I will be creating a whole new selection of artwork focused on my hometown and surrounding areas.
In the mean time, I have created this image of Hadleigh Castle one of the local landmarks, for a secret postcard auction to raise money for the trail.
http://www.leigharttrail.co.uk

Don't Panic, Cutty Sark Whisky Design Competition

2009-11-26T16:53:00.000Z

I recently entered a competition hosted by Don't Panic Online for the whisky brand Cutty Sark.
The brief was to create a piece of artwork based on the theme of 'The Independent London Whisky'

For my entry I chose to depict London as an Island, sitting independently in a large swirling ocean, the city remains a busy place, at its heart sails the Cutty Sark, with a whisky bottled hull!

The competition went through a voting process, with the top 10 entries to be judged, I finished 1st with the most votes. I am currently awaiting the judges verdict!

check the link:
http://www.dontpaniconline.com/designbrief/client/cuttysark/votes

New York

2009-11-26T15:07:00.000Z

Three images based around one of my favourite cities, New York.

Using different styles and methods of Illustration for each piece, each image depicts an iconic landmark from around the city.

Designed initially for an Art Project called My Matt-isse.

Broken Buildings

2009-06-21T23:18:00.000+01:00

In times of recession, noticeable change can be found in the areas we live. Small businesses with years of history close. Once proud buildings are boarded up, others are knocked down. Some deliberately wrecked to avoid tax, whilst others are testament to a lack of funding and an inability to see original plans realised. In this series I illustrate a few local broken buildings. Although uninhabited and a shade of their former selves, they possess character and reflect better times passed; serving also as monuments to the worrying financial climate we live in today.

The Grapes of Wrath

2009-06-21T21:36:00.000+01:00

Based on John Steinbeck’s novel set during the Great Depression years in America, and following the Joad family’s long struggle across the country to find work, and a better way of life in California. I explored visually a story, which emotionally describes this dark period in American history. Picking out the key scenes I tried to capture the different situations the main character Tom and the rest of his family found themselves in, their emotions and their interactions with one another, and others they met along the way! A close family unit which is constantly challenged by the tragedies and misgivings it suffers, yet somehow holds firm!

The story's theme also serves as a reaction to and a metaphor of the current financial crisis that both America and the rest of world now finds itself in!

The series consists of 25 painted images.

the Grapes of Wrath (Part 1)

2009-06-21T19:54:00.000+01:00

The Grapes of Wrath (Part 2)

2009-06-21T19:41:00.000+01:00

The Grapes of Wrath (Part 3)

2009-06-21T19:34:00.000+01:00

The Grapes of Wrath (part 4)

2009-06-21T19:28:00.001+01:00

The Grapes of Wrath (part 5)

2009-06-21T17:47:00.000+01:00

A couple of extra Woolworths images!

2009-06-21T17:26:00.000+01:00

To complete the documentation of my Woolworths store's demise, I created a couple of extra images to finish the series.

Woolworths Project

2009-03-16T14:56:00.000Z

Up until the 5th January 2009 I had been a Woolworths employee. I had worked at the Leigh-on-sea branch of the store at the weekends for 6 years.

I decided to document the final days of my store before it closed.

Woolworths Project Drawings (Part 1)

2009-03-16T14:50:00.001Z

Woolworths Project Drawings (Part 2)

2009-03-16T14:27:00.000Z

Stan's House book project

2009-03-16T14:09:00.000Z

Towards the end of the Summer of 2008 my parents purchased a little house down our road where a friendly elderly gentleman Stan used to live.

When we entered the house to redecorate we found it in a terrible state, as it had been left unlived in for many months.

I decided that I wanted my next project to be a reflection of Stan's time in the house, his daily routines and how empty the house felt without him.

I also reflect on my opinions towards the house, and how even with new people living within its walls, number 14 will always be Stan's House!

Stan's House book project pages

2009-03-16T14:02:00.000Z

Rakes Progress Remix project!

2009-03-16T13:31:00.001Z

Central Saint Martins Illustration gave us a project to rework the Rakes Progress series by William Hogarth, bringing it forward into a more contemporary environment. The brief suggested that this could either be based on a purely fictional tale or reflect a story from society today!

The original series focusses on the downfall of Tom Rakewell, the promising young heir of a rich merchant, who by moving to London unfortunately wastes his money, becomes enrolled in the seedy world of prostitution and gambling and as a consequence finds himself in prison, and finally confined to a mad house!

At the time of this project being set, there had been huge media coverage of Britney Spears and her struggles with fame and constantly being within the media spotlight. I found comparisons between the lives of Tom and Britney.

Both had been drawn to the glitz of life within a bigger city (London - Hollywood) both had been within respected circles (Tom the heir - Britney the perfect American girl) both had become enrolled within seedy undertakings (Tom with prostitution and gambling - Britney with drink and drugs) both had failed marriages based on money (Tom who married a rich old maid - Britney who married a man who was after her money!) and both had, had problems with the law and eventually their sanity questioned (Tom confined to a mad house - Britney and the infamous shaving of the hair!)

I decided that these similar scenarios would make for an interesting reworking of the original series. I decided to create eight paintings (as with the original!) that followed the story of Britney in the same way as the story of Tom unfolded.

Rakes Progress Remixed: Britney Paintings (Part 1)

2009-03-16T13:26:00.000Z

Rakes Progress Remixed: Britney paintings (Part 2)

2009-03-16T13:18:00.001Z

Hello Hometown book project

2009-03-16T12:45:00.000Z

The brief for the Project which was set by Paul Davis for D+AD was to create a short and interesting book about yourself. I decided to focus on my hometown of Southend-on-sea in Essex and how, by living there all my life, I may see it differently from the people who may not know the area as well!

Within the book I discuss the preconceptions people may have of Essex, and the stereotypes of 'Essex boys' and 'Essex girls', but I also take a look at how the area has hidden charms and beauties, that people may not realise.

I also look at the street that I live in and my family, picking up on odd little habits that my family members have (including myself of course)

What I tried to create with the book was a humorous reflective homage to the town where I have lived all my life.

Free Range Press

2009-03-13T18:03:00.001Z

'Build me Up' was also featured in the Free Range press

release catalogue and Design week magazine.

Free Range Exhibition Press Release Image.

2008-04-24T12:02:00.000+01:00

Free Range are hosting their annual Graduate Art & Design Summer Shows at The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.

The Theme for the St Martins element of the show is 'Under Construction'

I've been fortunate enough, to have my work selected by Free Range for the press release.

I've decided to post the selected piece,"Build Me Up" so that people may get a flavour of the work that I produce, but also to promote this show. It is going to be a fantastic event and a great opportunity to see what the young artists and designers of today are getting up to!

'Under Construction' CSM Show runs from 30 May-2nd June

The whole Summer Show Runs from 30 May-21 July

For More Info: www.free-range.org.uk