How did you first get into illustration?
I'd always drawn and painted as a child and teenager. After school I did a Bachelor of Art and Design and they sucked the life out of me, but then I started making gig posters and creating better work and things snowballed from there.
How would you best describe your style of illustration?
I like to think it has a timeless look that won't go in or out of fashion, not that I care about that anyway... Watercolour and gouache portraiture probably best sums it up simply.
Please take us through your design process, where do you start?
I spend lots of time researching images, photography design and film, then collect and compile them. I paint them off my computer screen for reference, usually. The melty face paintings are laid out in photoshop first. All the actual painting is done by hand, all I do afterwards is slightly clean up paintings as my scanner makes them a bit dark.
What tools do you use for your work?
Pencil, watercolour paint, gouache, sometimes waterproof pens- Faber Castell PITT artist pens do the trick. And laptop and photoshop!
When illustrating, do you sometimes get blocked for ideas? If so, how do you overcome that?
I do but it always falls into place- the ideas are always there, it's just a matter of figuring how to get them out.
What would be your ultimate goal as an illustrator?
I don't know! Exhibit overseas? I can't complain at the moment to be honest.
What style music do you mostly listen to when you work?
Psych, rock, classical, audiobooks, podcasts, 60s stuff, ambient- I can listen to anything, it doesn't matter!
Do you have any advice for aspiring illustrators?
I get asked this so often by students. All I can say is you've got to put in the hours- draw every single day. Do lots of research, not just other illustrators. Definitely not just other illustrators.