Of all the graduates we saw last summer, few were better, or funnier, graphic storytellers than this London-based artist.
Who are your heroes?
I’ve always found Gustav Mesmer’s story quite inspiring. He was committed to a mental institution for thirty-five years after denouncing god at his local church. He spent his time drawing bicycle-powered flying machines. When he was finally released he was given a workshop and began building his wacky designs. None of them was ever actually made but it wasn’t important to him, he just hoped others would learn from his experiences, and build a machine that would really be able to fly.
What’s your most invaluable piece of kit?
I’ve been using two bricks, a piece of glass and a lamp as a lightbox for fouryears. It works well enough that I haven’t felt the need to replace it yet.
Tell us about a favourite recent project.
I’ve been making figures with Super Sculpy a lot recently. It’s more of a personal project – I decided I’d stop buying figures and toys for myself and instead start making them. It takes a lot of time and I haven’t quite worked out how to stop them from falling apart yet, but I’m beginning to find the process more enjoyable than drawing. Eventually, I might start to involve more 3D in my work.
What’s the biggest challenge of working in the way that you do?
I think my drawing process can be more time-consuming than it needs to be. Recently, I’ve begun to draw every element of an image individually, then I scan them all and assemble the whole thing in Photoshop. Sometimes the assembly can take longer than the drawing itself.
What would be your fantasy commission?
I’d like to make a simple children’s animated series, something in a similar vein to the series from the 60’s like Mr. Benn and Noggin the Nog.
What’s the most recent photo you’ve taken with your phone?
An accidental photo of the ground. That’s not very interesting is it?
What have you got coming up?
I need to spend some time fleshing out my portfolio. I’m working on a comic at the moment as well, about ancient astronauts.
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