I’m a paper artist based in the North West of England.
For me, it all started with one of those bumper packs of felt tips. One of my earliest memories is of tearing open Christmas wrapping paper to find a vivid array of coloured pens inside – then immediately rearranging the colours in a way that pleased me better. That was it; I was off on a voyage of creative discovery that continues to this day.
An Affinity With Paper
A love of art sustained me through school and it felt the most natural thing in the world to study graphic design and illustration after leaving. Since then, my creative ventures have embraced decorative furniture, jewellery and painting – all of which I’ve deeply enjoyed but which have since been eclipsed by my affinity with paper; the medium that was patiently waiting for me all along.
As you’ll gather from my work, a lot of my inspiration comes from the British countryside. The beauty of it never ceases to amaze me and, happily, I’m well placed to observe it, living as I do just south of Manchester with one foot in the urban landscape and the other in the countryside. Walking my dog gives me the opportunity to see how my surroundings change from day to day – it’s an unending source of pleasure.
All in all, I consider myself very lucky to be where I am, doing something I love. And I hope that shows in my work.
- Audi
- McDonalds
- Leon Resturants
- Manchester Museum
- Cadburys
- Nokia
- Liberty of London
- Penguin Random House
- Woodland Trust
- The National Trust
- Rayban
- The National Theatre
- Waterstones
- Stella McCartney
- BBC Philharmonic
- Royal Mail
- Hoegaarden
- T2
- hester Zoo
- Molton Brown
01
It’s versatile, cost effective and readily available. You don’t need expensive tools or vast amounts technical knowledge to work with it – a pencil, scalpel and glue and lots of ideas are all that’s required!
02
A very frequently asked question, and I still don’t really know is the answer! Some, well most pieces take a fair few hours, from the initial rough sketch to the finished artwork. It depends how detailed it is and usually its very detailed!
03
I start with thumbnail sketches in proportion, then choose a few to enlarge so I can work in details and form layers. Then they are drawn onto tracing paper and the layers colour coded. Sometimes I make up paper roughs – it depends who much time I have. If times tight I go straight into the final piece, making all the elements and laying them out as I cut. I take a lot of process photos so my client can see how it’s coming together. At this stage revisions can be made before everything is glued into place.
04
One Christmas I made a large white paper angel with tracing paper wings for the window of a friends jewllery shop. It was really effective and I soon realized using paper was a way for me to make my artwork and make it a bit different. I started out just using white paper then, gradually colour crept in.
05
I work mostly in the commercial sector these days but I do occasionally take on private commissions and partake in gallery shows. Drop me an email, I might be between projects!
06
I work from a studio in my house on the edge of Manchester with one foot in the suburbs and the other in the Cheshire countryside. This suits me and my dog Earl very well. We get to walk amongst nature everyday which is great as its one of my greatest inspirations and one of his favorite things (apart from eating and finding tennis balls!), being near several great Northern cities is good too!
Why paper?
How long does it take to make?
What’s your process?
How did you start working with paper?
Do you sell your work/take on private commissions?
Where’s your studio?