Front cover for the new From The Kites Of San Quentin EP, 7.83Hz Earth Chorus.

This idea has been kicking around in my head for a while now (I think I got it whilst listening to the other ‘Kites EP, Mitochondria). I’ve always had a fascination with sharks, and this image felt right for this EP for me, coupling the sleek shark aesthetic with turbulent (yet still clean background).

I’ve used the ‘smear’ technique to maximum effect here, limiting my choice of colour but picking a much bigger area to work across. Some of the thinner parts are more obvious but I think they’ve kind of worked, I’m still experimenting with this technique so the final image is still genuinely a mystery to me how it’ll turn out. In this case, I’m happy, it would have been a complete repaint if not!

Look out for the physical and digital release soon on Victoria Warehouse Records, it’s a brilliant EP, I’ve been privileged to get chance to hear it at the mastering stages and it’s incredible, love this band!!

Ben Holden and Sparklestreet are bringing a chilli smackdown to the  Northern Quarter by name of ‘Feista Del Fuego’ and this is my logo for it!

Based on Mexican prison tattoo culture, I’ve gone with a rough font and bright colours to offset the dark nature of the chilli-skull. A fast and exciting turnaround time, I’m happy with the end result. The online poster (designed and arranged by Ben Holden) features some more illustration elements too, check it out here;

www.fiestadelfuego.co.uk 

This should be a hell of a day, I love chilli and this day is looking action packed (The ghost chilli roulette wheel is my favourite touch), it’s great to be part of a project I feel is actually brilliant, I shall be there with my chilli boots and chilli hat. 

¡Ay Caramba!

Liam Frost plays the Anthony Burgess Foundation this weekend with two special, and now sold out, shows. I was given the chance to produce a poster to mark the event and so came up with this, prints of which will be available at the dates played.

Unusually for me, I’ve actually put the artist in the poster, and gone back to my earlier style for inspiration for the font work, adopting a looser style and less regimented flow. Happy how the Smear work worked out for the ‘waterfall’ in the background, I’ve now started to create shapes with this technique, expect to see this pushed further in the future!

And a big thank you to Jay Taylor (Classic slum) for the inspiration to the image, his tales of drenched practise rooms and leaking roofs gave rise to this.

The front cover for the new Cyril Snear album Riot of Colour.

Last year I had the luck of seeing Cyril Snear at the Roadhouse. They were testing out tracks from the new album they were working on and the instant they started playing I was blown away. After the show, I approached Mike of the band and told him I would be doing the artwork. That performance was enough to cement my love of this band and I wanted in!

And now here we are, just awaiting the copies coming back from the manufacturers and a launch date in just over two weeks times. The launch  is going to be a hell of a party, I recommend you come on down and enjoy this band in the flesh as nature intended.

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Preorder the lovely launch bundle here and get the album, ticket for the launch and a t-shirt (designed by me)!

Almost done, will post the pics when complete!

The poster for L A N T E R N.

A departure from my usual style, I wanted to create a poster that was minimal, striking and different to the norm. Came up with a cut-out paper lantern based piece, figured this was a great time to start dabbling in laser cutting so went about working out the practicalities.

Look out for these round Manchester, they take a bit of putting together on the fly, so they might take a while to go up…!

RSVP here!

I’m curating this with Ciaran Wotgodforgot!

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L A N T E R N .


A group show of artists, in various disciplines, who are tasked with creating a paper lantern. From graphic designers to jewellery makers, 3D builders to illustrators, expect a whole spectrum of creators.


Bound by only using paper (or card), each artist is given free reign to design and build their display piece. Any shape and style is accepted, From intricate decoration to minimalist purity, complex grandeur to geometric simplicity.

Launch to be held on the 21st February in the ground floor bar at Soup Kitchen, Spear St, Manchester. Exhibition up till indefinitely.

Curated by himHallows and Wotgodforgot

……….


Featuring;


Tasha Whittle - www.thecolouringbox.co.uk

Dr Me - www.Dr-Me.com

Stan Chow - www.stanleychow.co.uk

Nick Rhodes - www.switchopen.com

Savwo - www.savwo.co.uk

Mark O’ Brien - www.mark-obrien.co.uk

Aliyah Hussain - www.aliyahhussain.co.uk

Owt Creative - www.owtcreative.com

Wonderhaus - www.wonderhaus.co.uk

Barneyibbotson - www.barneyibbotson.com

Baptists and Bootleggers - www.baptistsandbootleggers.co.uk

Melanie Knott - www.melanieknott.com

Helen and Lois - www.helen-lois.com

Sarah Unwin - 

Sophie Titherington - www.sophietitherington.blogspot.com

Nicholas James Saunders

Jermyn MTK - www.one69a.com

Not Now. - www.not-now.co.uk

Marielle Hehir - www.mariellehehir.com

Alan Dalby - www.alandalby.co.uk

Textbook Studio - www.textbookstudio.co.uk

Emily Grace Tilzey - www.tilzeyart.tumblr.com

Joe Whitmore - http://cargocollective.com/jwhitmoo

Create + Equate

himHallows - www.himhallows.co.uk


+ others to be confirmed.

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RSVP here on Facebook!

#LanternMcr

It’s almost Christmas and Common gave me and a few of the regulars an empty ale ball thing (cheaper than a metal keg I’ve been told) to decorate! This is mine, Frostius VI, an icey moon with a colonists city and a giant coms tower that make the galaxies biggest snow man (or his head at least). Pop in and have a warming mulled wine and see this in person, Merry Christmas everyone!

New poster for the ‘Psychmare Before Christmas’ show at Soup Kitchen!

Looking like a killer line-up, it’s a pretty damn good early Christmas present from Grey Lantern and Soup Kitchen, hats off to ‘em!

For the image itself I’ve gone with the doped Santa motif, wanted to get some aspect of the psychedelia movement in there. Had to do some experimenting myself with this poster (with paint that is, and not huffing it). I wanted a trippy background for the windows and Ol’ Saint Nicks snow goggles, so I made a swirling mass on another sheet of acetate and sandwiched it down. I need to refine it for future use, but I think this will become a staple in a lot of work from this point on.

Anyways, enough of the rambling already, come to the show, it’ll be a blinding on!

Grey Lantern brings you Lost Rivers at Kraak Gallery, Stevenson square!

I went for a dark industrial/Gothic vibe with this one, using the idea that a letter can turn a world upside down. Heavy purples and neon pinks finish the feel. Feels good to use a nice dark colour scheme without feeling like all the details lost, I may do more this dark again!

Details for the show here, I’ll be very merry on the night due to not being in work the next day. Awesome.