My first 'Pop-Up' Shop

Kind of by accident I indulged in my first 'pop-up' shop last weekend, for our

bi-annual Open Studio event. Whilst frothing umpteen hundred cappuccino's

for the Studio visitors in our beautiful restaurant, it made sense to pin up

some prints in the adjoining meeting room. A few hours later with a

piece of chalk in hand, it dawned on us that we'd finally joined

the Pop-Up Revolution. And by the way... I'm all for it.

'Open Studios' this Weekend...

The coming weekend sees the studios officially Open to all, the third time for our new building. Not having made the previous due to work, I felt it time to generate some festive fun and enter in to the spirit of the occasion. As well as helping Steve man the cafe, we've gotten together and collaborated on a few new prints which will adorn the walls of the adjoining meeting room.

Please come see us, both days from 12pm til' 6pm.

'Never Judge.. '

'Never Judge..' is a group exhibition celebrating the art of the book cover, in conjunction with Penguin Books. Previewing this coming Thursday at 'The Stolen Space Gallery', the Old Truman Brewery off of Brick Lane, it runs til' December 19th.

Click here for more information.

And there's more...

Proof?

My blog has seemed a little lame of late, mainly due to the fact that projects I've been working away at are not due out until later next year. Desperate to keep up some sort of visual diary I am reduced to posting out 'snaps', simple tasters of things to come.

"And then there was light..."

It's finally happening ... formerly known as 'The Lost Goods Building' the original Great Western Studios is being toppled as I type. I imagine this is good news for the new studio dwellers on the west side, their view having been slightly blocked until now. However for me it's a sad, sad day.

'Pick Up a Penguin'

Here's the one that didn't make it ... the one that did will be 'outed' next Spring.

Just the Winter to get through then ... Brrrrr!

Atsushi Kitagawara

A small diversion from printing to tell of one of my (what felt like hourly..) inspiring experiences in beautiful Japan. Whilst exploring the Japanese Alps we took in the Keith Haring Museum at Nakamura. Admittedly I've never been a huge fan of Mr Haring, but this experience projected him in a whole new light. Housed within woods by the mind blowing Architecture of Atsushi Kitagawara, this private collection of Harings works couldn't have felt more enticing.

'All your favourites.. in miniature'

Back in the days where I still regarded the word blog as a typo, my work featured in a smashing illustration-bible-type-affair aptly titled 'The Picture Book'. This September will see it reissued by publishers Laurence King, but this time its pocket sized. Well almost..

Studio Flowers..

The arrival of an absolutely beautiful bunch of flowers this week gives me an excuse to show my new studio space to you too.. Thanks Dear, X

'Tokyo Graphic Passport'

I've begun to realise to my own annoyance, that personally I am a little full of contradictions. A prolific one is the fact that I'm terrified of public speaking, which shrinks me to the status of a twitching, plum faced, incoherent wreck of an artist. Unless that is, I'm invited out of the UK to perform..! Presto, then it all seems kind of bearable. Last year saw me in Sydney to be part of the 'Semi-Permanent' design conference. I loved it so much I stayed six weeks. Next month sees my return to Tokyo, this time to participate at their 'Tokyo Graphic Passport' . I've rarely felt so inspired by a city in such a short amount of time. My previous two visits left me eager to return at any available opportunity. I simply can't wait. Just don't mention the 'talk'... eurgh.

Two of my most recent commissions have involved me addressing the issue of type, as well as illustration. It's too early to spill the beanz but I'm quite excited, albeit prematurely, at the thought of the published result. Once my initial anxieties had dispersed and I started to tackle the task ahead, I even managed to enjoy it. Always a good feeling.

Birthday Cards..

On reflection, the majority of this years blogging has featured Kate Nash's Campaign.

Above is an alternate Cover test, used up eventually within the Album Packaging. Below is a silkscreen of Fluffy, described by Kate herself as her bestfriend. Aw!

Creative Review, 'Illustration Annual 2010'

Phew! I made it ...

Dear Andy.. Love Mick, X

Admittedly I wasn't around in the heady, laissez-faire days of music sleeve artwork in the late 60's and for artistic reasons how I wish I was. In fact, how I wish I was for financial reasons too judging by this letter.. Maybe this is an extreme example of a collaboration between two (in the words of Andy Wahol) 'Superstars'. However, within my short career creating sleeve artwork things have definitely changed. I seem to reflect more and more on my first few Campaigns with a large pair of rose tinted specs. This is not to say that my joy and love for making pictures to be used in this fashion, has diminished in any way... it is still incredibly rewarding.

It's a 'Nash Up'..

'Exit Calm'

Affectionately referred to as 'Polythene Pam' by my lovely friend Georgia, 'Pamela' has once again become the subject matter of a silkscreen print. This time she's become the cover star for 'Exit Calms' eponymous album, released this coming Monday, May 17th. It's receiving amazing reviews and is most definitely worth a good, long, listen. Nice one Simon et al. Oh, and thanks mum...

'Simple Times'

April 12th saw Joshua Radins second Album 'Simple Times', UK release.

Creatively it involved a simple treatment of a black & white photograph of the singer himself, injecting it with strong, bold, textured slabs of colour.

'The Longshot'

A silkscreen collage saw its way to becoming the latest album cover for Cambridge based folksters Megson. Due for release on June 7th and nominated for the second year running for the BBC Folk Awards, they are most definitely worth a listen.

Faulty Wiring...

I was disappointed this week to be informed an illustration hot off the press for Wired magazine was to be dropped minutes later. Editorial pieces are often a struggle for me due to the nature of the silkscreen technique. It doesn't lend itself to quick alterations, the replacement of images, re-sizing etc. I really thought I'd cracked it for this brief and had thoroughly enjoyed creating the brain with all it's little cogs.

Me & Mat Maitland

Here's a flashy little pack shot of the finished Campaign. It was a joy to be back in the co-pilot seat with Art Director Mat Maitland, a very competent illustrator in his own right. Check out his own stunning portfolio here...

The lovely 'Miss Kate Nash'

"My Best Friend is You", Kate Nash's second album is released this Monday. It can feel like a life time to wait for your artwork to finally adorn the finished product. Today I was unexpectedly chuffed to see a big ad for it on the back of Time Out Magazine whilst popping out for a coffee. Kate and her 'girls' have been a complete joy to work with... I wish I'd have been that savvy at twenty two. Go kate! X

Two rainbows are better than one...

Photograph, Amber Rowlands

Kate Nash, "My Best Friend is You"

It has been a long time since I've blogged of late, this is because the charismatic Miss Kate Nash has been keeping me busy for the past six weeks with her latest Album Campaign. Our initial concept involved a days photoshoot to gather informal shots of her, which further down the line became the material for my silkscreen collages, later to become her sleeve art. Pictured here are the monotone test prints ... 'run-offs' in one colour to show me how the photograph has transferred in the silkscreen process. Seductive in their clean simplicity, they often become the favoured part of my process, reverted to often throughout the campaign and have even been known to make the final sleeve.

"Midwinter Sun'

'The Birds are back ..'

My bird prints are back in town, but this time they are one hundred percent hand silkscreened. Originally created for an in-house fashion brochure for Libertys back in the day, they were initially released as a low run Giclée print through my agents shop, Product of God. It always felt slightly incongruous to my work that I hadn't printed them myself. There was good reason for this... they are hugely time consuming to create! But in hindsight, most definitely worth it. They can be purchased online through my blog, or see them in the flesh at 'Elphicks', Columbia Road.

'Two Birds' / size - 372mm X 487mm / colours (layers) - 13 /

Edition - 6 / Price, £188.
Printed on 640gsm Archival Fabriano, Hot Pressed.

'One Bird' / size - 257mm X 365mm / colours (layers) - 10 / Printed on 640gsm Archival Fabriano, Hot Pressed. Edition - 12. Price, £118.
Enquiries, email here..

An Auction with OXFAM, in Aid Of Haiti Earthquake.

Emily Eavis is working with OXFAM to create an online auction of one-off items from artists that money can't buy in the hope of raising funds to go quickly and directly to those that need it. She visited Haiti with Oxfam in 2002... "We witnessed some incredible people facing extreme hardship head-on with immense strength in spirit and no self pity. As we have all seen from the reports, Haiti simply does not have the resources to cope with a disaster on this scale and desperately needs our help now."
I'm happy to contribute a one-off Silkscreen Print commissioned by the Chemical Brothers for their Brotherhood Album in 2008. Whilst viewing the auction I noticed Tom & Ed (The Chemical Brothers) have donated a drum machine, pictured above.
Many more donations are coming in now from artists including Manic Street Preachers, Vivian Westwood, Radiohead artist Stanley Donwood, Doves, DJ Shadow, Jeremy Deller, Magic Numbers and many more so please check OXFAMS shop on Ebay for regular updates.

'WCRS' New Year Print

My final project for 2009 saw me working alongside Luke Williamson, from Ad Agency WCRS.
His brief for me was a joy. I was given carte blanche to create a kind of pseudo Christmas-cum-New Year Print to be sent out to all of their clients. The Edition was quite big, five hundred and fifty to be precise, so three colours were my limit. By using four different papers for my base colour, a little more variety was achieved. To finish, each print was hand trimmed, numbered, stamped and wrapped.

'Happy 2010'

I couldn't help but go break my golden Blog rule today, (one must try to only 'blog' about silkscreen printing & related artwork blah blah...) and upload these picture postcard views of one of my favourite places to be. Hampstead Heath. Pictured above is one of my 'tray' co-pilots, Freddie.