This summer our course hosted an online webinar discussing studying Illustration at Middlesex University and how to prepare yourself for working as a professional in the industry. the talk gave viewers a look at current student work as well as touching on the practises of our staff and graduates;
The webinar featured lectures LOUISE WEIR and MARTIN URSELL, graduating 3rd year student LOU KISS and 2nd year student THOMAS ATKINS plus our former GAA and high flying graduate SHAZLEEN KHAN.
BA Graduate MATT INGRAM was commissioned to create the title sequence for Sky Cinema’s 2021 ‘To Olivia’. The period drama covers the year Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal lost their daughter Olivia to measles encephalitis.
Matt worked with Atticus Film & Television to create the animated intro;
“John Hay, the director, wanted an animated title sequence, inspired by the colours of the 1960s and the work of Saul Bass, to describe the life of Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl. The title sequence begins with events that occurred during the early years of their respective lives, up to the point they met, moved to Great Missenden and then on to 1961, where the film begins.”
Find more of Matt’s work online;
In this post we’ll be looking at some recent editorial work by some of our alumni for Vice, The Financial Times and more!
Graduate ROBYN FOREMAN was recently commissioned by VICE to illustrate Hannah Ewens article The ‘Hard Times Gives Us Good Music’ Myth Doesn’t Work In 2020 which compares Britain’s current economic climate to the swinging 60s, 70s punk or 80s and 90s rave culture.
Find more of Robyn’s work online;
Graduate YUNROO TAN was one of 10 illustrators featured in New Naratif’s article Hindsight Is 2020 where each was asked to respond to the personal impact of the pandemic and picture large-scale protests for democracy.
Find more of Yunroo’s work online;
Graduate DIONNE KITCHING was commissioned by the Financial time to illustrate their article Line Of Fire: what it is to be a man in today’s British army. The article examines the military’s changing role and need for its culture of masculinity to evolve with the times.
Find more of Dionne’s work online;
Graduate and Teaching Assistant ALEX MOORE was commissioned by GOAL to illustrate Rik Sharma’s write up on Lionel Messi’s crumbling relationship with Barcelona FC; Ronaldo escaped Real Madrid at the right time but Messi’s Barcelona empire is crumbling
Find more of Alex’s work online;
In this post we’ll be looking at some recent commissions, campaigns and new releases from our past students.
THE CANDY MAFIA
Graduate DANIEL DUNCAN was commissioned to illustrate Lavie Tiehar’s new early reader’s book THE CANDY MAFIA. Released this autumn by Peachtree Publishing this book also marks the 10th that Dan has worked on since graduating from the course!
Find more of Dan’s work online;
WORLD ROULETTE
Graduates YUNROO TAN and EMILY ABEYDEERA both contributed to LIGHT GREY ART LAB’s latest project, WORLD ROULETTE.
Each of the 150 artists who contributed to the project created a world inspired by four randomized prompts (a little toss of the cosmic dice) and developed a place that encompasses the attributes, beliefs, weather patterns, government, or other given parameters. In addition to developing a new landscape, each artist wrote a story about this new world. The illustrations were then compiled into a 200+ page book featuring the final outcomes;
Yunroo Tan- “Dawning”
Emily Abeydeera- “Xah’raba”
BUUZA!! VOL. 2
This Summer graduate and GAA SHAZLEEN KHAN successfully crowdfunded the second print volume of her award-winning web comic BUUZA!! with the kickstarter campaign reaching its goal within 9 hours of launching.
BUUZA!! is a comic about found family, diaspora and religion, set in an urban fantasy 90’s middle east and central asia in which a misdialed number leads to an unexpected, long distance romance. It is available to read on both tapas and webtoons and was the winner of Broken Frontier’s best webcomic of 2019.
Find more of Shazleen’s work online;
VAUXHALL SWITCH IT UP
Graduate and GAA ALEX MOORE was one of the illustrators commissioned to work on Vauxhall’s SWITCH IT UP campaign for the new Corsa E. Each artist drew a frame to create a 360 degree loop showcasing the car;
Find more of Alex’s work online;
Guides to gouache, picture books and self care- this Summer sees a number of new releases from our graduates. Read on to find out what’s coming up in the publishing pipeline!
GET STARTED WITH GOUACHE
GET STARTED WITH GOUACHE is graduate EMMA BLOCK‘s follow up to her debut book, The Joy of Watercolour.
“Gouache is a beautiful, versatile medium that’s been much neglected, it’s rarely taught at art school and there are very few books on the subject. I absolutely love using this medium, it’s been hugely influential on my work and my style. I’m so excited to share this beautiful paint with people. The book introduces the the materials needed, the basics of colour theory, and fundamental techniques like drybrush, layering, diluting gouache, working on coloured paper, using negative space and wet on wet technique. This book teaches you to paint everything from people to plants, and every project teaches you a new skill or technique.”
Get Started with Gouache will be released by Watson-Guptill on 7th July in the US and 7th September in the UK.
Find more of Emma’s work online;
YOU ARE POSITIVELY AWESOME
YOU ARE POSITIVELY AWESOME is a colourful and practical book for an everyday burst of positivity and an extra dose of self-kindness from Graduate STACIE SWIFT and Pavillion Books.
“We all weather some difficult days, sometimes we need a reminder that nobody really has it all together all the time. This book is for all those days – a rainbow of good vibes, full of self-care prompts and words to live by.”
You Are Positively Awesome is out July 9th.
Find more of Stacie’s work online;
THE CHAIR WE SIT ON
THE CHAIR WE SIT ON features 9 iconic moments in design with words by Erik Nash and Pillustrations by graduate JAMES BOAST, out this September!
Find more of James’ work online;
From book covers to comic conventions- here’s a look at some recent client work by our graduates;
Graduate JAMES OSES illustrated the cover for Penguin Book JAIPUR’S JOURNALS, Namita Gokhale’s ode to literature featuring diverse stories of lost love and regret, self-doubt.
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Graduate and Teaching Assistant SHAZLEEN KHAN created the poster and identity for Glasgow’s 10th annual Comic Con scheduled to take place this summer.
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Graduate and Teaching Assistant ALEX MOORE illustrated the cover art for BBC Radio 3’s THE SOUND OF GAMING, a new series exploring the world of video game music with composer Jessica Curry.
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Graduate ALEX FOSTER was recently commissioned to create this map for TEXAS HIGHWAY MAGAZINE, a monthly magazine from the Texas Department of Transportation promoting travel and tourism to to the state.
We are delighted to announce that 2020 will see the release of at least two debuts graphic novels by graduate from our course;
WHAT WE DON’T TALK ABOUT
Written and illustrated by CHARLOT KRISTENSEN, this new book from Avery Hill examines contemporary issues of race, entrenched bigotry and the difficulties faced by interracial couples. “It’s the debut graphic novel from a burgeoning talent devoted to representation and empowering women of colour.”
Read the full preview by Broken Frontier here
Find more of Charlot’s work online;
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RAIDERS
Created by Daniel Freedman and graduate CRISTIAN ORTIZ , Raiders will be coming out from Dark Horse this July. The graphic novel tells the story of brothers Marken and Maron. The inseparable brothers are dungeon raiders in a land ruled by corrupt royals and filled with fantastic dangers around every turn. But just as the aging Marken decides that it’s time to give up the raiding life, both brothers find themselves at the wrong end of the powers that be and stumble upon a secret that may unravel the entire political system…
Find more of Cristian’s work online;
Graduate AMBER COOPER-DAVIES was recently commissioned by the theatre company Complicite to work on their new production I’LL TAKE YOU TO MRS COLE! Combining live theatre and ska music with animations and illustrations (created by Amber) the play takes us back to the 80’s whereYoung Ashley creates havoc by getting lost in a wild, imaginative world while Mum longs to return home to Barbados. When Jedi battles and forest adventures go too far, will Mum resort to having to call on the monstrous Mrs Cole?
You can watch the trailer as well as see examples of Amber’s work for the play below;
Find more of Amber’s work online;
With his upcoming book Mr Posey’s New Glasses with authour Ted Kooser coming out later this month, we’re taking a look back at graduate DANIEL DUNCAN’S SOUTH. Released last year, Dan both wrote and illustrated the book for Abram Books, having origianlly created it during his 2nd year for the Macmillan Picture Book competition;
Find more of Dan’s work online;
mdx illustration 