Curious Fiend

Curious Fiend began as an idea for a cheap simple zine that exhibits established, as well as up and coming creative individuals and their work, regardless of the medium or outlet, in a print magazine. After getting the people involved that you see here, it seemed only fair to make something more than just a simple zine in order to show them in the best light. So here it is, the first issue, hopefully it has succeeded in showing these individuals in the best way possible. Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way and get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved.

Curious Fiend is available in all it’s full colour print glory at http:// curiousfiend.bigcartel.com/ so let us make more by going and buying one. Thanks...

(Image by Mr Jago)

MAKING ARTWORK SINCE HE BEGAN SKATING CHRIS BOURKE PRODUCES STRIKING PRIMARILY BLACK AND WHITE IMAGERY THAT IS INFLUENCED BY RELIGION, NATURE, POLITICS AND TATTOOING, TAKING INFLUENCE FROM HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A TATTOOIST. NOW HE HAS WORKED FOR SKATE COMPANIES LIKE DEATH SKATEBOARDS AND CONSOLIDATED, AS WELL AS EXHIBITING INTERNATIONALLY AS PART OF THE OUTCROWD COLLECTIVE. HE ALSO RUNS SPINE, A WELL ESTABLISHED SKATE SHOP AND GALLERY SPACE IN WORCESTER.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? Well, I’ll explain an average working day as days off are a rarity. Get up, make tea, wash, dress, go to my skateshop, deal with a ton of shit I’d rather not deal with, maybe have a brew or two with any heads that are passing through, hopefully sell some boards and try and fit some drawing work in during the quiet times, five o’clock head home, maybe a skate if my knees allow, work on drawing, dinner, more drawing. some quality sofa and movie time with my wife, bed, my ideal day, wake up, its summer! Shower, a leisurely breakfast with my wife, take a motorbike ride out somewhere nice, stop and visit my mum and eat one of her curries, head home, work on art/drawing. In the evening head to a perfect concrete bowl where all my best friends are and my friend nige has his sound system set up playing all my favorite tunes, theres an amazing veggie bbq going on and I am making tricks I can usually only dream of, home, watch a movie with Jo, bed, sounds perfect!

You use many different techniques to make your pieces, what is your preferred process like to create a piece? I dont really have a preferred process, I mean I love print making, but if pen and ink serves the design better I will happily use that. sometimes ideas come fully formed, sometimes it takes longer to realize the initial idea. How would you describe your work to someone without showing it to them? Ah, I probably wouldn’t try What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I went to a comprehensive school in handsworth Birmingham, I didn’t take art at school so when I left I went and did my art o level, I got into art college to do a foundation course and then went on to study silversmithing for 2 years, thinking it was a sensible option for getting a job, it wasn’t. So I guess I have some basic art training but most of the techniques I use now I have taught myself. My time at school taught me not to expect too much, I wasnt served by the school system, so much of it was a complete waste of time.

Did you always have aspirations of doing art and illustration or did you want to do anything else when you were younger? Like I said in the last question, school taught me to have pretty low expectations, if I had gone to some fancy posh school I may have been better informed about my options, as it was I kinda just found my own way. I have pretty much worked for myself since leaving college, I have done so many different things, and I’m sure there will be a lot more changes before this trip is over! I wanted to work in forestry as a very young kid, I didnt even really know what it meant, I just thought being in a forest all day would be better than being in an office! it wasnt until I found tattooing that I got really serious about my art, that was in my early twenties. When did you realize you could make art for a living, or did it just happen accidentally? I still dont make a living out of my art, its a constant struggle, all the work I have produced has been produced alongside working full time, blue collar art! The more I get involved in working for bigger companies the more I realize how out of step with big business I am, I love the work I do with the skateboard companies I work for, because we are all pretty much on the same page in terms of our outlook, its different

Do you listen to music when you are working, who and what do you listen to? working for some of the bigger companies where you and your contribution and work are taken for granted and undervalued. I dont work for people that make me feel like that (anymore). What do you do in your spare time, if you get any? I dont get much. read, listen to music, hang out with my wife, answer interview questions! Any particular influence or inspiration? No particular influence, I can give you a list of people who inspire me to work and to keep working, Tony Benn, HH the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Bill Hicks, The Clash, Peter Tosh, Woody Guthrie, The Minutemen, Bob Marley, Lynd Ward, Alan Moore, Kathe Kollwitz, Jim Jarmusch, Felix Leu, Filip Leu, Haile Selassie, John Cardiel, Mark Gonzalez, Nick Zorlac, a varied bag, I could go on and on here............ Favourite skate artist/graphic? Heres three (of many) Powell/ Peralta, Ripper by VCJ. G&S, Neil Blender coffee guy by Neil Blender, the Driven, Jason Jesse by Mark Gonzalez.

Oh yes! I couldn’t live without tunes, I listen to a pretty varied bag of stuff, if you popped round you might hear Bad Brains, Firehose, Husker du, Israel Vibration, Alborosie, Anthony B, Sizzla, Gentleman, Braintax, Jehst, Roots Manuva, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Sleater Kinney, Woody Guthrie, Billie Holiday, The Clash, Toots and the Maytals, Willie Nelson, Fugazi, Billy Bragg, Godspeed you Black Emperor, A Silver mt Zion, Lutan Fyah, Horace Andy, The Twinkle Brothers, De La Soul, is that enough? I could go on nearly forever! Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? Well I am at the stage where if someone approaches me about commercial work its usually because they like what I’m doing, so as long as I like the brief and feel happy working with the company I can usually come up with something I am happy with and feel is worthwhile. so I guess as long as the gig is right I’m just as happy working on that as I am working on my personal stuff, as really there is nothing separating the two.

Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I used to be pretty precious about keeping work, these days not so much, my wife has a couple of pieces which I have given her, and I try to keep one of each skateboard I design, but to be honest if someone offers me money for a piece I am usually so skint I cant say no! What is your recommendation to someone who wants to make art for a career? I honestly dont know that I have anything worthwhile to say other than love the work, because if you dont start out from that point the whole thing will be a waste of time, your own work is your greatest adventure. What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfil? I’ve got a couple of shows coming up, more board graphics, more prints.

Checkout more details of Chris at... http://www.chrisbourkeart.com

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? My day might have an unusual start for an artist. I get up at 7 and cycle to the gym and then I’m in my studio for around 9 and work until 7 or 8 in the evening. I can’t work for more than 2 hours without going out for food or coffee. I like going to the gym because it helps me stay disciplined and that feeds into my work. I also like being in a non-creative environment so that its refreshing for me when I reach my studio. My day is quite structured around food and coffee because without my routine I’d crumble and get nothing done. The soundtrack to my day is hip hop, electronica and jazz. Played very loud. IRISH BORN AND NOW BASED IN LONDON’S EAST END, CONOR HARRINGTON IS AN ARTIST WITH DEEP SEEDED ROOTS IN GRAFFITI AND WHOSE WORK HAS, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS GAINED CRITICAL ACCLAIM. AFTER HIS RECENT SHOW WITH CHLOE EARLY AT KINSEY DESFORGES IN LA, IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY. HIS ABSTRACT SPRAYPAINT AND OIL WORK, ALONG WITH FIGURATIVE ELEMENTS THAT WHEN COMBINED WITH INTENSE DETAIL PRODUCE PIECES THAT MAKE YOU STOP AND PAY ATTENTION.

How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it? I always hate describing my work, maybe because I’m not very good with words. But I guess the first thing that hits you is the military element and then the abstract graffiti text. I like playing with opposites - oils and aerosol, graffiti and fine art, abstraction and figuration, chaos and control. I paint representatives of power and strength but break them down with layers of paint and tags, sort of like stripping them of their authority.

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I always say I had both an informal and formal education. The latter being a degree in Fine Art at Limerick School of Art and Design. But first up I painted graf since I was 14. learning the ropes and the do’s and don’t in the days before the internet was a great experience. Have you always wanted to be an artist, what would you be doing if not for this? I’ve always wanted to be an artist. I’m fairly useless at everything else but I love music and I used to play the sax so I guess if I wasn’t painting I’d be some sort of musician. When did you realize you could make art for a living, what was your break into art? Its hard to say. I lived at home in Cork for 2 years between finishing art college and moving to London. In Cork I was able to do a lot of commercial work, the type of thing I would never do now but at the time it served its purpose. I also sold the odd painting here and there but really I guess moving to London was the best thing for me. There’s a real market here and an open minded one at that.

Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any? I’d love to say ‘oh I don’t get spare time, I’m too busy painting’ which is true to a certain extent but with painting it is very important to stand back and get some perspective. I don’t do anything out of the ordinary. I go to the cinema a lot and I hate to resort to Irish stereotype but the pub does help to unwind. What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? Music I’d say. I like people who make things differently and aren’t tied to a specific scene. How long does it take you to finish a piece? On average 3 to 4 weeks. The smaller works don’t get done any quicker for some reason. What would you say is your main weapon of choice, pen, brush, spraycan? My paintings are 80% oils and brush and 20% spraycan. I couldn’t make work without either.

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing art, best place, person met? Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? I can’t work without music. I have a decent enough system in my studio and I play music very loud. I never hear the phone. I listen to a lot of hip-hop and electronica but I also like jazz and classical and global folk music too. I find that hip hop makes me restless and when I have a classical piece on my focus and attention if far better. I slow down and take my time. Contemplative music is definitely better for my concentration but I love throwing on some pounding beats to wind myself up. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I’m afraid I never hold any piece back. Its a funny thing really. You work on something for so long that it almost feels like a relief when the van comes to bring it to the gallery. I did a piece last year called ‘The Story of Us and Them’, and I reckon its my best piece. I wish I had it on my wall.

Definitely traveling. Thats the best thing about being involved in graffiti and street art, you get to travel and paint in interesting places. In 2004 I went to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Painting a wall in Soweto is definitely the coolest place I’ve painted. Who would you say, right now is doing something fresh or exciting? Alex Farto/Vihls. What is your recommendation to someone who wants to make art for a career? Work hard. Cheesy but true. What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I’ve my next show at Lazarides in November so thats going to dominate my time but I’ll get to go out and paint in Italy this summer and hopefully somewhere else too before my show comes along.

More on Conor can be found here... http://www.conorharrington.com/

DAVID SHILLINGLAW WORKS TO CREATE IMAGES THAT REPRESENT HIS VIEW OF THE HUMAN CONDITION, WORKING OFTEN DIRECTLY ONTO OBJECTS AS APPOSED TO THE TRADITIONAL STYLE OF CANVAS, HIS WORK IS AS EXCITING AS IT IS INDIVIDUAL. HE HAS EXHIBITED WIDELY IN THE UK AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY AND IS AMONG OTHER THINGS THE PROJECT CURATOR AT NOWHERE NORTH GALLERY, AS WELL CONTRIBUTING TO FECAL FACE. CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND EXPERIMENTING HE CONSTANTLY PRODUCES INSTANTLY LIKEABLE WORK WITH GREAT DEPTH.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? Coffee .Eat. Coffee. Work. Coffee. Work. Sleep. Coffee Its hard to say what an average day is like. I am often juggling several projects/jobs at once. I usually have to work to deadlines, so my day depends on what I am work on/towards. I have recently been teaching in a school so that dictates a time frame to my day. But in terms of working on my art, I enjoy working on many things at once, skipping from one thing to another. I like to work late at night when there are no few distractions. And recently I enjoy working early in the morning. Ideal days for me are making art, eating great foods with great people in great places. How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it? Hand made, playful, eclectic, and dynamic. What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I completed a degree in Fine Art. I met some really great people. I think university taught me how to teach myself.

Have you always wanted to be an artist, what would you be doing if not for this? From a very young age I was drawing and making stuff, I think I always wanted to be an artist of some kind. If I weren’t an artist I would join the circus, when I was a kid I wanted to be a clown. When did you realize you could make art for a living, what was your break into art? I guess I realsied I could make a living from art when I sold a painting. But I have always had other jobs, its great when I do sell art, but it never stops being a struggle and I enjoy that aspect of being an artist. I also make money from illustration, set design, teaching and all this stuff feeds into my own practice. I think I would be making art if I were selling stuff or not. As for my ‘break’, I don’t really feel like I have had a break into anything, people measure success in different ways, maybe my first ‘break’ was selling a painting, maybe it was my first solo show, maybe its doing this interview right now. I think all the things you do just keep adding up to get you where you are.

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing art, best place, person met?

Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any? I love cooking. I Cycle and I read a lot. I also manage a gallery in the warehouse where I have my studio (www.nowherenorth.co.uk)

Traveling to great places is an amazing part of being an artist. I have exhibited in China and Turkey among other places, and I met some really great people and experienced true magic along the way.

What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? Anatomy, semantics, cartography and phrenology are a few things I am currently very inspired by and interested in. How long does it take you to finish a piece? Anywhere between 5 minutes and 5 months. Relative to size, material, deadline etc. sometimes I think something is finished and then a year later I’ll paint into it, or nail something to it. To quote Picasso, he said something along the lines of “To finish a painting, is to kill it”, I like that. What would you say is your main weapon of choice, pen, brush, spraycan? Weapons of choice: Coffee and a sense of humor. I use all kinds of tools and materials. Watercolour. Felt tip pens. Crayons. Domestic paint. Posca. Tip-ex. Biro. Glue. Paper. Spray paint and Old type writers.

Who would you say, right now is doing something fresh or exciting? Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? I always listen to music. My current play list sounds something like Bob Dylan, Cold War Kids, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, Beck, Cody Chestnut, David Bowie, Beastie Boys, Sly & The Family Stone, Wilco and John Martyn. I think music does affect the content of my work; sometimes song lyrics can end up in my paintings. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I have a few that I won’t sell. One that springs to mind is ‘Dim Sum and then some’. I really love that painting; I made it in China while I was doing a residency in Beijing. It is hanging on my bedroom wall.

The list of artists I admire gets longer every day. If you want to check out some freshness in the art world, go visit www.fecalface.com, or www.myloveforyou.typepad.com or www.rojo-magazine.com they are awesome websites, full of interviews with impressive artists and photos of exciting exhibitions happening around the world. What is your recommendation to someone who wants to make art for a career? Stick to your guns, and be prepared for amazing things to happen.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I have just got back from setting up my solo show in Bristol at the Here gallery www.thingsfromhere.co.uk the show runs till April 25th 2009. I’d like to own a pig and a penguin.

More on David and Nowhere North here... http://www.davidshillinglaw.co.uk http://www.nowherenorth.co.uk

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day?

COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN AND STILL BASED IN THE WEST COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY BRISTOL, MR JAGO, PART OF THE SCRAWL COLLECTIVE, GREW UP BEING INFLUENCED BY HIP HOP, CLASSIC MARVEL COMICS AND GRAFFITI, THE LATTER BEING THE CLEAREST ELEMENT OF INFLUENCE ON HIS WORK. EXHIBITING WITH THE COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUALLY INTERNATIONALLY HIS UNIQUELY ABSTRACTED FIGURES HAVE MADE HIM A STAPLE INDIVIDUAL IN THE UK’S STREET ART SCENE

Average day = up. X1 cup of tea, do the emails, X1 cup of coffee then out the door and to the studio to paint [ or try ]. I cant tell you about the evening times, they are far to disturbing, or is it boring, I cant remember.

Have you always wanted to be an artist, what would you be doing if not for this?

Ideal day would be heading for somewhere with rivers, woods and farm smells and hopefully seeing at least two squirrels and a Sasquatch.

I didn’t realize so but, yes. When I was younger I wanted to draw monsters so that someone could put them in a film.

How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it?

I imagine I would probably be trapped in a job I never wanted if not for art.

Somebody called me Mr. Where’s Wally today. When I asked why she explained that she had to look for quite a while to see what was in my painting. I guess I would describe it as abstract with figurative elements. I’m not very good at talking about my own work im afraid.

However a back- up dream job would be a ranger [they do exist, my friend was one for a while and he knows the difference between good and evil fungi]

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it?

I was approached on a couple of commercial jobs when the “scrawl dirty graphics and strange characters “ book was released, at the time I was answering phones and growing an ulcer. It was the first time I had been offered more than £60 for my scribbles. It made sense, I should leave this hell box and have a go at winging it. Since then I have moved away from commercial jobs and turned my hand to painting.

I did art right through to university where I specialized in illustration. I didn’t really like being told what not to do but life outside the institution was wicked.

When did you realize you could make art for a living, what was your break into art?

Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any?

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing art, best place, person met?

As you can guess there isn’t much spare time but I must admit to wanting a good fish . So far this year I have been twice with my friend Carl, between us we have caught one crab. What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? Many things but motion, nature and machines seem to be the most powerful. I’m on a ongoing quest to combine them all in a way that fits my emotions at that time. How long does it take you to finish a piece? This differs depending on my levels of confidence . on a good roll it can be three days on a bad one 10. walls are different though, I like to get it all done in a day. What would you say is your main weapon of choice, pen, brush, spraycan? It has to be the brush, you can get so many different marks from it. I do like the spray can more and more these days.

Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? Music is a very important part of my painting process, maybe even more important than tea. I tend to need music to suite my mood. Sometimes when painting is going badly I will realize that I am listening to something that just doesn’t fit with the day. Electronic music seems to have enough different styles to suite many moods. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I finished a dyptich a couple of weeks ago which is my favorite piece to date. I’m trying not to look at it too often as I will eventually forget the thrill I got from when I knew that it was finished and there was nothing else I could add/take away. I don’t like keeping any of my own work, once its finished I would quite like someone else to have it.

Its all been an amazing unexpected trip. I have flown to lots of different countries around the world met and worked with many amazing peeps and generally gained a perspective about being here that has made my life feel like it makes sense. The feeling that I am meant to be doing this with my life is the best thing art has given me. Who would you say, right now is doing something fresh or exciting? There are lots of people doing lots of different types of fresh and exciting work out there today. But the peoples work I feel leaves me grinning and thinking every time that I have seen something truly original are the WSSK [ wet shame ] boys . Individually they all come fresh so combined they are a force to be reckoned with. [in my humble opinion ]. What is your recommendation to someone who wants to make art for a career? Keep the faith ! Also get a manager if you are not good at business.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I am in a few of shows coming up later this year. In June I am showing as part of stolenspace’s summer group show, after that I’m lucky enough to have the project room at Thinkspace gallery as part of the Modart Magazine curated group show this august 14th until sep 4th, very exciting, some amazing artists are involved, then it’s a solo show at The Don Gallery in Milan in September and then I’m in a group show at Gallery 1988 in San Francisco in October. As for ambitions I am hoping to continue painting and evolving for as long as life is with me, but on a fantasy level I would very much like to have holidays.

Check out Mr Jago and the Scrawl Collective here... http://www.mrjago.com http://www.scrawlcollective.co.uk

(Image by Si Scott)

ANNA GARFORTH STUDIED GRAPHIC DESIGN AT CENTRAL ST MARTINS BEFORE SETTING UP HER OWN GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO, ABE. AS WELL AS THIS ANNA AND HER CREATIVE PARTNER ELEANOR STEVENS, WORKING UNDER THE NAME EL & ABE, HAVE BEEN INSTALLING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ‘MOSSENGER’ PROJECT, CRAFTING TYPE FROM MOSS, INTERNATIONALLY. THIS INSPIRING AND ORIGINAL WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN CREATIVE REVIEW AND HAS BEEN EXHIBITED AT; OVER DESIGN OVER, AND EXHIBITION IN ITALY SHOWCASING 44 INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DESIGNERS.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? My average day consists of eating, playing (but not for long) and working, my ideal day would be playing, eating and playing more. What is the process like to create a piece, is it time consuming? Everything I do is quite time consuming as I am my own worst critic. I pick apart my work and re-construct it over and over until I feel slightly better about it. How would you describe your work to someone without showing it to them? Detailed and living.

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I went to Central Saint Martins, I have grown a lot since then and have much more freedom to experiment without the anxieties the college gave me. While I was in education it restricted me a lot as I was always so goddamn paranoid about everyone and everything being cooler and better than me. Did you always have aspirations of doing design and illustration? Art has always been my world and my aspiration has always been to spend my life being creative. What would you be doing if not for this? Gardener or cook.

What do you do in your spare time, if you get any?

What has been the best project you have had the opportunity to work on?

Eat cake, sip tea and dance.

The moss art, as it gave rise to an ace collaborative partnership between myself and Elly Stevens. We are called El&Abe and work only in the green field of design.

Any particular influence or inspiration? Nature.

What would you recommend a person to do if they wanted a career in design and illustration?

Favourite graphic designer or artist? Nature.

Follow your heart and what you believe in.

Do you listen to music when you are working, who and what do you listen to? Yeah I love listening to the Well Deep album with grimey uk hip hop tunes, I like working listening to Dizzy Rascal, Roots Manuva, and anything a bit grimey. I also love listening to Reggae.

Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? I like both just as much. I have been lucky enough to always get commercial work that I enjoy and stuff I believe in. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to be used commercially or otherwise, where is it now? I am happy with most of my stuff because I always do the best I can with every project. I dont mind my work being applied to anything it suits as long as I believe and support what it is being used for.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfil? El&Abe are turning an old urban garage into a secret garden for Brompton Design District. We are creating living type out of mustard seed, curly cress and wheat grass. Its an event that is being held over May in Kensington to get the community together and talking about nature. My ambition is to learn about being self sufficient and exploring this through my art work.

Check out more of Anna’s work and her work with El & Abe at... http://www.crosshatchling.co.uk

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? I normally get up around 8ish and have a shower etc... Get to work in the studio 9ish and check emails and schedule to see what’s going on that day. Most days are pretty much like this just cracking on with the work. My ideal day would be pretty much the same but just in NYC. What is the process like to create a piece, is it time consuming?

WITH A UNIQUE AND INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE STYLE, SI SCOTT AND HIS BRAND OF HAND DRAWN TYPOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION HAS LANDED HIM WORK WITH SOME PRETTY MAJOR CLIENTS, HE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN COUNTLESS PUBLICATIONS AND BLOGS. HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN WORKING ON HIS OWN PROJECT, COLLABORATING WITH DESIGNER ELECTRONIC POET, TO CREATE A RANGE OF CLOTHING THAT FEATURES UNIQUE DESIGNS AND WHICH WILL BE SOLD ALONGSIDE OTHER BRANDS IN THEIR OWN STORE, PAPER SCISSORS STONE.

It is very time consuming - but I think that’s where my main enjoyment in design comes from. I love the process of creating and crafting a piece together. I can’t really say how long each piece takes as each one is different.

How would you describe your work to someone without showing it to them? Digital art created by hand. What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I studied a Btec in graphic design then a foundation and onto a degree in graphic design (pretty much the same as most I think). I really enjoyed my years of study just having loads of time to play around with my own ideas and spend time doing letterpress / screen printing etc... The years that stand out for me as high lights were my foundation year and the 3rd year of my degree. Did you always have aspirations of doing design and illustration? I’ve always wanted to do something to do with art - just didn’t know what. I didn’t really know what graphic design was until I got to art college.

What would you be doing if not for this?

What has been the best project you have had the opportunity to work on?

Probably work in a record shop or something like that?

I don’t think it’s happened yet - I like to look forward and move on as quickly as possible.

What do you do in your spare time, if you get any?

What would you recommend a person to do if they wanted a career in design and illustration?

I go to loads of gigs and try read when ever I get the chance.

‘Work hard and be nice to people’

Any particular influence or inspiration? I think my main influences are music as it is the only other thing apart from design that I never get bored with. On a Design front I would have to say Farrow / Pentagram / Frost / Designers Republic. Favourite graphic designer or artist? Graphic Designer - Farrow Artist - Deanne Cheuk Do you listen to music when you are working, who and what do you listen to? Yes - constantly! There’s too many to mention but at the minute I am listening to Interpol / Bjork / Radiohead / The National etc...

Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? It’s 50/50 really. I think if you did one all the time it mite get a bit stale so if you can do a bit of both then that’s great.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfil? I’ve just opened a store in Leeds (Paper Scissor Stone) with two others. The store sells artwork / clothing / product - a lifestyle store really!

Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to be used commercially or otherwise, where is it now?

As far as ambitions go I would love to do some work with high-end fashion brands and bands that I really love.

I am still really happy with the work I did in the 3rd year of my degree which I am thinking about producing as limited edition books at some point?

For more information on Si go to... http://www.siscottstudio.com and http://www.paper-scissor-stone.co.uk

(Image by Simon Peplow)

JODY BARTON HAS A UNIQUE STYLE OF ILLUSTRATION THAT REMAINS UNIQUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT TECHNIQUE OR MEDIUM HE USES TO COMMUNICATE, WHICH VARIES GREATLY.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day?

EDUCATED AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART IN LONDON, JODY HAS DEFINED HIMSELF AS AN ILLUSTRATOR WHO CONSTANTLY PRODUCES GOOD WORK, AND IN A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL VOLUME TOO. WORKING FOR ICONIC MAGAZINES LIKE THE FACE, ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE ATTRACTION TO HIS WORK.

How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it?

Just working at my desk and cycling around to see friends... Cake is usually playing a role...

It’s about words, humour and confrontation. I’m a wordhead, a bookworm, a bookhead.. What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? Camberwell College and the Royal College both confused, and stimulated the desire to shout obscenities.

Have you always wanted to be an illustrator, what would you be doing if not for this? I’d like to be a rock star please... Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any? I love bicycles and cake and bass guitar and Keith Moon on the drums. What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? The writing of Herman Hesse, the music of Black Sabbath. Favourite illustrator or artist? Andy Warhol.

Favourite blog/blogger?

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill?

FRENCH

A show in Copenhagen, and a move toward more painting and less fucking email!..

http://funeralfrench.blogspot.com Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work?

For more on Jody visit his site.. http://www.jodybarton.co.uk/

I like listening to Drum Bumps by the band Tortoise. Or Eminem. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I never really sell original art. I have a storage place where it all is.

Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? I enjoy the money and sometimes the challenge of commercial briefs. What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing illustration, best place, person met? All the people I have met play a part. Anybody who is a good friend is the best inspiration.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? Average day would be getting up at ten-ish and heading to the studio where I try and balance drawing with faffing about but usually fail and end up spinning on my chair looking out the window until it’s time for lunch and I can get a tasty wrap from round the corner. Yes! At around six I head home to try and undo all the time wasting I did that day. I scan stuff and try and make it look presentable. When I finally admit defeat I watch Freaks & Geeks on DVD until bed.

CREATING WORK THAT HAS UNDERCURRENTS OF FOLK INFLUENCE, LIZZY STEWART CREATES MAINLY PENCIL DRAWN PIECES OFTEN TRANSLATED TO PRINT MEDIUMS, WORK THAT IS INFLUENCED SIMPLY BY HER DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES. CURRENTLY (AT TIME OF PRINT) FINISHING HER DEGREE IN ILLUSTRATION AT EDINBURGH SCHOOL OF ART, AND WITH AN ALREADY EXCITING AND IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF PROJECTS BEHIND HER. WORKING ON PROJECTS INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL AS HER COLLABORATIONS WITH DESIGNER JEZ BURROWS; PARTICULARLY SING STATISTICS.

An ideal day would involve getting up at a reasonable hour, walking around Edinburgh in the sunshine, having lunch at my favourite Swedish café and spending all my money in Analogue Books. I might do some drawing too. How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it? I think I tend to vary my style a bit depending on the application of the image but as a rule I’d say slightly awkward, wonky drawings with too much pencil with a sort of folk influence. But I’d probably be wrong.

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I am currently in my final year at Edinburgh College of Art. It’s been OK. I think lots of people get frustrated with their education, I certainly have, but for the most part its worth getting really stuck into college and rinsing the facilities dry while you can! Have you always wanted to be an illustrator, what would you be doing if not for this? I wanted to be a painter but when I started a degree in Fine Art I suddenly realized that it wasn’t for me anymore. So I tried out illustration instead. I have no idea what I’d do if it wasn’t for illustration. I’m skilled for nothing else! I guess I would have like to try out something fashion related but I doubt I would have been any good at it. Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any? I like cycling around the park behind our flat and watching films. I wish I was more active. Illustration is so sedate.

What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? Places are a huge inspiration on me. Where I am has a huge effect on how I work and what I work on. Equally whatever I’m reading/listening to tends to seep in to what I’m drawing. Favourite illustrator or artist? Carson Ellis every time. I want to live in her pictures. Her work with the Decemberists was what first introduced me to contemporary illustration while I was still at school. Suddenly there was this whole world of artists that I had no idea about. It’s all her fault. Favourite blog/blogger? Oh god. I love blogs. Its disgusting just how much I love them. Choosing one is hard! I love Camilla Engman’s blog and Fine Little Day by Elisabeth Dunkler. My Love For You Is A Stampede Of Horses is always amazing too. Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? Always. I tend to listen mainly to folkier stuff when I’m working (I say ‘folkier’ I mean indie-folk, not REAL folk music) like Bonnie Prince Billy and Smog. Bands like Grizzly

Bear and Songs Ohia make me want to draw too. I love finding beautiful songs and trying to approximate the feeling I get listening to them into what I draw. I’d love to do some crazy, colourful stuff based on Animal Collective or Man Man I have a feeling that would be really fun. Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now? I’m not sure. I did a drawing last year that was A1 size and took ages that I wouldn’t want to part with. It was St Basil’s Cathedral with a tree growing through it. I’m not sure if it’s the piece I’m most happy with but it represents the most work I’ve ever put into one drawing so that’s something I guess Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? I like briefs. When I have too much freedom I’m liable to procrastinate or just draw the same things over and over. Briefs allow you to think about a variety of subjects that you’d otherwise never touch. Saying that there comes a point where you wonder why you are being commissioned for certain things when they just don’t fit in with the kind of work you do.

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing illustration, best place, person met? I recently organised an event called the ‘After School Club’ where a selection of young illustrators and designers spoke to students about their work and their experience and so on. Stuart Kolakovic, Nous Vous, Plats, Alex Ostrowski and Jez Burrows all did wee talks about their lives and that was awesome. It was a great way for students to connect their experience in education to what might happen to them once they graduate. It was also an amazing opportunity to meet some wonderful artists. Also meeting Shea’La Finch who runs Tiny Showcase at a little gig in a church hall in Edinburgh where I was selling t shirts and posters was pretty cool as it lead to me doing two prints and an exhibition with them.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? Graduation! Currently my only real goal is to have a good degree show. I have a month and a half ish to go and its getting tense! After that I’d like to be able to start work as a reallife illustrator. I guess my ambition is to never have to get a ‘real’ job! Perhaps that’s a bit hopeful!

For more on Lizzy check out... http://www.abouttoday.co.uk

CONSIDERING HE DIDN’T INITIALLY SET OUT TO BECOME AN ILLUSTRATOR, MATT DENT NOW HAS LEFT A TRAIL OF COMPANIES IN HIS WAKE WITH A BUNCH OF NICE WORK. DAZED AND CONFUSED ARE JUST ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HE HAS LEFT WITH HIS TRADEMARK STYLE OF WORK. PRODUCING PLAYFUL AND DETAILED IMAGERY, HIS WORK IS EXCITING TO LOOK AT AND SUCCEEDS WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN DRAWING THE EYE. HIS CONCEPTUAL PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS ASIDE FROM PROFESSIONAL WORK CONTINUE TO PROMOTE HIS INTRICATE AND PLAYFUL STYLE.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? An average day! I normally wake up at around 9:30, I pretty much go straight to my desk. Firstly I check my emails, and then plan out in my head what I need to do for the day. I work pretty slowly at the start of the day, normally generating ideas and working on personal stuff. Then as the day goes on, I normally work on any commissions I have and start working on any IYN names, I have on the ever-increasing list…. Oh and every so often I play a game of football, bike ride or adventure out with my girlfriend! How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it? My work is very playful and colorful! I tend to find it hard to describe what subject my work covers; I like to think it targets everyone, those who are interested in art and those who are not. I like to make work that is personal and gives more of an impact than just a doodle or sketch. This is something I am finding great about my personal projects, as it allows me to create something more personal that people can relate to and understand!

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I actually had a really good education, At school I was always encouraged with my art, I had some really good teachers. My brother was a few years ahead so we were always known for our art. I decided against choosing art at University, as I was also really interested in New Media and film. During my degree I kept on drawing and sketching until I decided I really enjoyed this, so I decided to set up a website and put all my work up. I started to get a lot of interest, which encouraged me to push on and try to make it as an illustrator. Have you always wanted to be an illustrator, what would you be doing if not for this? I didn’t always want to be an illustrator, because I wasn’t completely aware of all the possibilities. I didn’t realize that I could make a career out of drawing! I think I would be doing something more technical, I was always interested in flash and after effects, but not ever enough to take up full time. Alternatively I would be working for my family business!

Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now?

Any hobbies in your spare time, if you get any? Good Question! I used to play football like five times a week, until I started my job as a full time illustrator. I had to cut down a lot, as I wanted to focus on my work. I still play a bit here and there, as much as I can really. I also play lots of other sports when I get the chance. What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? A big inspiration are my family and girlfriend, the amount of support I get is crazy. They really believe in what I do, so it helps a lot. I think I work so hard because there is so much I want to achieve, like starting a studio with my brother, and all the other things that go with growing up.

Favourite illustrator or artist? Without sounding biased Chris Dent! I have watched every aspect of him growing up and developing as an artist. His work is very original and he manages to produce something mind blowing pretty much on a weekly basis…. There are loads more but Chris definitely tops the list for me. Favourite blog/blogger? I really enjoy Its Nice That, Human Resources, My love for you, Booooooom. Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? I definitely love listening to music when I work; I very rarely switch on the TV. I listen to so many different artists and genres, subconsciously they probably do affect my work, but I couldn’t pinpoint a specific person or band.

I really like the FACT posters that I have been doing! They are really fun, and I pretty much get to do what I want with them. Creative Freedom is great. I also worked on some snowboards recently; this was probably the ultimate job I could have wished for! Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want? I do really enjoy doing my own personal work, and initiating my own projects, but I also really enjoy a good fun brief. It’s sometimes great to get an art director to lead the work in a different direction but in keeping with my ideas and style.

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing illustration, best place, person met? I have worked with some cool people, but its still pretty early on. I still have so much to achieve, which is very exciting, I hope to meet loads more people and travel a bit too. What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I have some T-shirts coming out with Timberland in August! I am also releasing my own set of T-shirts and zines. I have a super cool collaboration that I am working on with a friend in the states. It’s going to be amazing! I also have a project running at the moment called IYN. It’s been really popular so far, if you are interested just check out my site!!

More on Matt here... http://www.state28.com/

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? I surface around 7am, clasping a cold mug of tea, and gasping in disbelief at the realisation that although my eyes have widened, I am still not in the land of the living. Stumbling down some stairs to munch on three blocks of Weetabix, or something of a similar nature follows. I’ll then Bath in water, brush my grill, then it’s back down the stairs, onto my trusty steed, and off in the direction of work, where I am regularly put to the test by the mini minds of the future.

CHARACTER BASED ILLUSTRATION IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO WELL AND EVEN MORE SO TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN, SIMON PEPLOW IS ONE OF THESE ILLUSTRATORS WHO DOES IT RIGHT. HIS WORK’S SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION, USING JUST THE RIGHT AMALGAMATION OF HAND MADE AND DIGITAL WORK CREATES WORK THAT IS IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE. AS WELL AS HIS OWN WORK, HE IS ALSO ONE PART OF THE CURATING TEAM BEHIND THE JOYFUL BEWILDERMENT, A COLLECTIVE GROUP SHOW THAT HAS JUST RECENTLY HAD IT’S SECOND OUTING AT ANALOGUE BOOKS IN EDINBURGH.

Ideal day - doing what I love for a living, whilst having some kind of positive influence on the youth makers of the future. How would you describe the subject and style your work to someone who has not seen it? Lo-fi shenanigans with a motherly message.

What sort of art education did you go through and how was it? I was schooled via the regular means - college, more college and university. I personally found it very useful, I guess it’s all relevant to the individual, you take snippits of wisdom appropriate to you at the time, then experiment, and hopefully leave whatever institution with an understanding of the direction you want to be furthering in. I also learned a great deal from skateboarding and traveling to San Francisco in 2001, this was an enlightening experience in itself. Have you always wanted to be an illustrator, what would you be doing if not for this? Nope, skateboarding ruled my youth, and Art ran parallel to it. I had no idea a course in illustration existed until I’d visited SF. I guess my dream was to be a professional skateboarder. However I quickly fell out of love with the idea after returning from the States.

Do you have a piece of your work that you are most happy with and wouldn’t or didn’t want to sell, where is it now?

Any hobbies for your spare time, if you get any? I dig table tennis, and razzing around on my racer. What would you say is an inspiration for you on your work or your progress? The human condition is a regular treasure trove for ideas, and pondering the absurd and diabolical times we find ourselves wedged within. Favourite illustrator or artist? There are way too many inspirators to document, I salute all that have chosen to embark on a solitary mission, and with whatever medium as their message. Favourite blog/blogger? Nathaniel Russell

Do you listen to music when you are working, does listening to a particular type of music affect the content of your work? I tend to listen to melancholic musicians/bands like; The Smiths, The Dears, Nick Drake, British Sea Power, The National, Elliott Smith, Dinosaur Jr, Joseph Arthur, and Neil Young. However I get equally amped on bands like The Talking Heads, Animal Collective, TV on the Radio, The Whitest Boy Alive, Rogue Wave, Tokyo Police Club, Tommy Guerrero, Joni Mitchell and Vetiver. I’ve been using the digital dukebox that is Spotify of late, I typed in an artist I was seeking, and some random opera called ‘Travel’ came up instead. I gave it a whirl and was pleasantly suprised by it’s epicness! It became evident that many of the characters drawn during this new musical discovery, had wide mouths agasp. So I guess subconsciously, I had been affected by the pieces of music. Music always mirrors the mood I’m in, and if not completely inspiring the creation, then certainly it aids the birth of an idea to blossom for sure.

Nope, I’m a perfectionist, which has it’s many pitfalls. Therefor I have yet to create anything that I’m overly stoked about. Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to draw what you want?

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of doing illustration, best place, person met?

Both have their positive and negative attributes. One gives ultimate freedom, but offers little direction, the other less freedom but agreed finality.

Meeting fellow illustrators, purveyors and loyal supporters of Illustration, a truly humble and talented breed of beings. This will always remain a highlight for me. What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I’d like to move in a new direction of image making, been feeling a constricted of late, and a little stagnant, so a re-shuffle is in order. Taking the more refined bits of my work and moving into new mediums! Although I muttered this last year and it was loosely realised. so failing this, a Catherine Wheel up my arse? To find out more on Simon and The Joyful Bewilderment visit...

http://simonpeplow.blogspot.com/ http://joyfulbewilderment.blogspot. com/

(Image of Sticky‘ photography by Alex & Cocco © 2009 www. distilennui.com ‘)

WHAT STARTED AS BUNCH OF BMX RIDING MATES HAS NOW BECOME A REPUTABLE TEAM WITH MEMBERS OF IT BECOMING WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE UK. AVERSION BMX HAS BEEN FEATURED EXTENSIVELY IN RIDE BMX MAGAZINE, INCLUDING ARTICLES THAT MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HAVE WRITTEN. BRANCHING OUT IN OTHER WAYS TOO, THEY EVEN HAVE A BUNCH OF TEE SHIRT DESIGNS AVAILABLE FROM THEIR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW THE TEAM’S VIDEOS AND PHOTOS OF SESSIONS, BMX RELATED AND OTHERWISE!

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? An average day at the moment is pretty hectic! I’m woken around 7.30 by my ridiculous alarm, wondering if I’ve even been to sleep, hobble to the bus / train / read / walk / sit / wooooooooooooorrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkk / walk / train / read / bus / home / eat / college work / college work / college work / sleep. Haha my ideal day wouldn’t be too different in a way, probably get up as early, go to work but then finish at 3 (its summer in ideal land) get the fork out of London and head to some trails with some guys from Aversion, ride / film till dark, go for some food then come back and edit a video before bed! How would you describe what the Aversion team is to someone who doesn’t know anything about BMX? That’s pretty easy – it’s a bunch of guys that ride kids bikes everywhere and anywhere for fun. It just happens that everyone involved is pretty amazing at riding their bikes so people seem to be interested! I make tee shirts and film everyone and put it out on the web. How many people make up the Aversion BMX team? 11 of the raddest guys you’ve never met!

Gav Shortall Max Wood Mike Miller Sean Brown Dave Butcher Vince Mayne Alex Kennedy Josh Walford Luke Marchant Mark Love Antony Watkinson How long have you guys been riding together, when did Aversion become the team name? Aversion was the name even before we had a team! I started AV with a close friend Sam Taylor right at the beginning, we wanted to make some shirts and give them to Gav and Max so we started thinking of names! Sam text me one day with Aversion and it seemed to stick! That was about 4 years ago now! Aversion got kinda serious around 2 years ago when I just decided I’d had enough of putting half effort into it and built a new site and expanded the team a little!

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of Aversion, best place, person met?

What else apart from riding is Aversion about? Aversion is really about going places with people. Going new places with good people! What do you do apart from Aversion, work etc? At the moment I’m finishing my degree in Graphic design at Ravensbourne, working part time at The Sunday Times, and on a work placement at SEA design. Its pretty much a 7 day week so I’m barely even getting chance to ride at the moment! Aversion is chilling while I finish but summertime should be back with AVengence! (is that a word?) You also do a lot of BMX photography and writing for certain publications, how did you get into that? I mostly do videography, but with all of it I just fell into it! When you’re out riding it just seems natural to want to record what’s happening. I started with the worst Kodak digital camera I’ve ever seen, taking pictures of jumps I built and worked up to a video camera! I just filmed everytime we went anywhere, even before Aversion I was running various little sites about the people I’d ridden with so it was all just a natural progression. I got to write for Ride UK bmx magazine purely because of Aversion, first I wrote

a little article about a session of ours that they covered, and then whenever they do features on any of the Aversion riders they ask me to write the intros! Who or what would you say is an inspiration in your work with Aversion and otherwise? Inspirations is pretty much my biggest word at the moment! Aversion inspiration is anything and everything I’m seeing. In terms of the design I do it’s a case of looking at the BMX scene and trying to look further than it (unfortunately I haven’t always done that), the bmx design scene seems so stuck in copying skateboarding, badly it just bums me out! It has been improving and the quality of everything is getting there but I think its still pretty bad!

Ah man any of the trips we’ve done have been absolutely amazing, but probably the Estonia trip for the simple session! It’s a huge BMX event in Tallinn and a fair few of us all went over! It snowed like hell and I didn’t even get to ride but the whole time was amazing! Imagine a hotel full of pro bmxers. It was carnage times 1000. Apart from the carnage it was amazing just walking around such a strange place with the guys! Definitely one of the best things I’ve done in or out of Aversion!

Any stories about gnarly drops, breaks etc?

Have you got a favourite rider, who is it if you have?

Hopefully I’ll get some time when I finish school to get back on to Aversion, go some really good places and film everyone shredding! Its been on the backburner for a while so when I do get some time I’m going to have to be even more on it to make it good! Probably a Euro trip in the summer sometime filming a little video to burst back onto the scene with! Apart from that just constantly push myself to uncomfortable places and out the other side hopefully!

Haha probably Gav Shortall, because he got me into bikes and always does stuff I can’t believe!

Countless! I’ve been fairly lucky I guess, accept once when I found this strange hip around Ravensbourne halls – landing on grass and thought I would try to tailwhip it even though I couldn’t tailwhip properly! Evenings + grass + dew = front foot slip + Knee bending backwards! I have it on video! What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill?

To find out more about Aversion and to check out Louis’ work go to... http://www.aversionbmx.co.uk and http://www.louismikolay.com

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day?

JOHNNY BUDDEN AKA STICKY IS A MEMBER OF THE PRO PARKOUR TEAM AT THE HEAD OF THE WORLDWIDE FREERUNNING NETWORK; URBAN FREEFLOW, WHO REPRESENT THE WORLD’S BEST PRACTITIONERS. STICKY AMONG OTHER THINGS HAS DONE COMMERCIAL WORK FOR BIG NAME BRANDS LIKE MERCEDES BENZ AND ADIDAS, ITS PRETTY LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE SEEN HIM IN A CAMPAIGN AT SOME POINT. MAINLY THOUGHT HE SPENDS HIS TIME TRAVELLING WITH HIS TEAM TO OBSCURE PLACES TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST. ‘ photography by Alex & Cocco © 2009 www.distilennui.com ‘

Ideal day is being seen training by a secret special task force and them asking me to work for them, being equipped with baggy bottoms, a tazer and a gun, my job would be to jump out of a helicopter onto blocks of flats and chase and capture villains to help man kind.. Average day is sleeping with one eye open hoping it will be sunny and dry. Making some calls to the team hitting up a fresh place to session ( or the scaffolding set up in my garden) , ripping my hands to shreds and not being able to walk after and having footage to watch back and remind me of what was conquered.

How many people make up the team? Just over 10 in the core team , but we have hooked up sponsorship for fresh talent too.

How would you describe what you do with Urban Freeflow to someone who doesn’t know anything about freerunning/parkour?

How long have you guys been together?

Urban Freeflow is the world’s largest Freerunning network, with 1000’s of members worldwide it stands tall. We do live performances, chorography, commercials, and teach, we cater for anything freerun. We do a lot of work at grass roots levels, going into schools, one on one tuition to things such a teaching the Police and Royal Marine Commando’s how to get down.

Did you ever think you would be paid for doing something that although is clearly hard, you enjoy it?

6 years.

It never crossed my mind, I just loved doing it. I used to get home from school, eat my apricot wheat’s, and then head to the local leisure centre but to jump around outside it. Spend lessons thinking of what I was going to try on my way home, and then often fail, and then psyche myself up for a couple of more days and let the cuts heal then try again ha.

What do you do apart from parkour, work etc?

Any stories about gnarly drops, breaks etc?

I don’t have to work. I manage to get by on Freerunning. Thing is, everyone may look at what I do and think that’s full of risk and a bit daunting, the same way I see working full time in office is daunting, It’s a cliché but you only live once, you should be in control of your life, if you want to do something then do it. Each to their own. Why waste time on this one life you have by doing things that you don’t enjoy but have a choice not to do it, it’s a no brainer.

You shred your hands up and pick up the odd sprains and strains. Freerunning isn’t a case of getting to the edge of a roof and going wahooooo I’m going to jump. Everything is calculated, and has been practiced and worked on again and again with serious repetition. You start low and start slow and build your confidence. After a very short amount of time you realize how fatal something’s can be and how important things like checking your surfaces areas and being focused are.

You do some illustration too, how come you decided to pursue the parkour more passionately? Illustration has always been a hobby; I don’t think I’d ever want to feel I’d have to do it. I do it because I genuinely enjoy it and know that if I am doing it, it is because I have the time and ideas for it. Who or what would you say is an inspiration in what you do? It’s so hard to name people; it’s anyone who shows dedications and determination. From Stevie Wonder to Johnny Knoxville, to Mark Spitz to medical staff who work hard to look after us. I should’ve just written everyone and everything.

What has been the best thing you have got to do because of it, best place, person met? Kicking back with Samuel L Jackson and a night of Hollywood legends at the VGA awards after getting the award from a helicopter to a hotel to the stage whilst flipping off the foo fights and tony hawks tables, in full freerunner fashion. The Royal Variety performance gave me shivers, seeing the New York skyline at night with my team when I was 16 on a payed trip by Adidas to open the biggest Adidas store in the world with Anna Kornikova. Spending time teaching people like the Royal Marines and Jack Osbourne were equally eye opening and special moments. Did a performance with Asimo the first robot by Honda, the world car show, a prodigy music video. I have been truly lucky, been luckier to do it all with my friends, and even luckier to still being able doing it.

Funniest thing you’re done, had happened to you, witnessed? Ahh I don’t know, every trip something happens. I ran through Times Square in New York in a mankini in the middle of January, got the whole team to shoot me naked at paintball, been locked out my room naked in Dubai and had to break into Laundry rooms to get clothes to get a spare key from the lobby two weeks ago, jumped in the Thames off a bridge, there’s a stream of stuff that happens regularly.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? There are talks of some sort of film, which would be off the hook! The thing with this ‘job’ is that you never know what a company is brewing up and wanting to use you for, it could be a random Tuesday and I’ll get a text saying ‘ yo fool how do you feel about hitting Dubai for two weeks to perform in front f royality’ , equally there can be time that it doesn’t happen for a while so that’s why we make the most of them.I am eager to Freerun 1000 miles for charity that is being planned at this minute. I just want to keep my head down and train while others rest. There are things I want to do everyday on my scaffolding and get mad if I can’t do them. I want to produce more videos, teach more people, travel and spread the word and become wiz on my pocket etch a sketch.

Check out more of Sticky at... http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/ StickyUF

(Image of The Kemistry)

RATTUS RATTUS TO USE HIS FULL NAME, IS A DJ WHO IS WELL KNOWN IN THE CLUB SCENE, PARTICULARLY IN EAST LONDON, IT’S UNLIKELY A FRIDAY NIGHT GOES BY WITHOUT HIS NAME BEING ON A FLYER SOMEWHERE. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTS OF 2 YEARS YOUNG URBAN NERDS CLUB NIGHT, RATTUS HAS BEEN AS FAR AS AUSTRIA AND SOON IBIZA TO PROMOTE HIS PARTICULAR BRAND OF RAPED BY BASS, A MIXTAPE HE PRODUCES.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? Check my inbox for anything new I’ve been sent and then start annoying my neighbours by mixing or making some tunes. I try and spend alot of time figuring out pitch perfect mixes or good double drops. Then usually I’ll be out DJ’ing in the evening or out at a mates night or to see someone DJ. In an ideal world I’d like to be DJ’ing every night but apart from that everythings great. How would you describe your music and the genre it is in to someone who has never heard it before? I play pretty much anything with loads of bass, the genres I mix change depending on crowd and where in the country Iím djing but its always got a lot of bass to make people dance. I try and put older classic dance tracks in with newer more upfront stuff from electro to dubstep to drum and bass. So you’re always bound to here something new and something old in my sets.

Describe what Raped by Bass is? It started as a bit of a joke between me and James from Urban Nerds as that’s how his ears used to feel after a session of raving at FWD. It seemed logical to call my next set of Mix CDs that, as they were full of bass heavy music. Did you always have an interest in making music and DJing, or did you get into it later on? I always used to make tapes for my mates when at school, full of stuff I thought they should hear I suppose it was a logical progression to start DJing, although I didn’t get decks until I was 18 and I was rubbish then! Producing and remixing has come much later and is something im still in the process of perfecting.

What would you be doing if not for music?

Who is your favourite dubstep mc/dj/ producer?

Astronaut, Actor, Formula 1 Driver or something else equally hard to succeed in.

In terms of the big boys Rusko is someone I relentlessly play and have never been disappointed with a release. But in terms of up and comings I’m a massive fan of Skism, 501, Noisses and Rack N Ruin.

When did you find that the music took over from the work side of life? Over the past year everything has just snowballed, from three years ago when I was driving over the country and not getting paid to now, where I’ve headlined events. It was always the overriding presence in my life but when your not getting the money in, precious time is always taken up by some bullshit job.

Who is your favourite musician aside from the genre? The Prodigy and Paul Simon have both been there since I first started listening to music and I’ve never tired of them. What do you do in your spare time, any other interests? I think I’ve forgotten what spare time is... this is a 24-7 job even going out is an oportunity to meet people and network. it’s hard to switch of from that mindset but I go and see a bit of theatre when I get the chance.. I’m also a pretty good drinker. Any particular influence or inspiration, in music or otherwise? I take alot of ideas from everywhere in regards to mixing and music. I suppose the biggest influence is every gig I do as you try out mixes and tunes and take everything that goes down well from it to apply it again. As well as learning from the mistakes!

When and where is the best place you have played? Probably the first time I played Fabric it was such a buzz to look up to a packed room of ravers and remembering the times when i’d been in that crowd dreaming of playing there. But any Urban Nerds night is always such a buzz everyone is so keen for my sets and now me and Klose One do the four deck set thats been getting amazing responses.

What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfil? Quite a few festivals I’m just of to Snowbombing, then Spring Nine Festival, an Ibiza tour and then Outlook festival. Im hoping to get out some proper releases by the end of the year and take the 4 deck set to some more festivals in the mean time.

Check out Rattus at... http://www.myspace.com/ djrattusrattus

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? Days are pretty random, none are the same unless you work a 9 to five which I don’t at the moment. So that’s hard to describe… An ideal day I guess would include a lot of relaxing listening to music in the sun with people I care for. How would you describe your music and the genre it is in to someone who has never heard it before? Again a hard one, probably a combination of hunting soulful melodies, and abstract trippy beats, it’s best to listen to our stuff. How many people make up the Kemistry?

THE KEMISTRY IS KEMI AND BARE BEATS, A TWOSOME WHO AFTER A YEAR IN EXISTENCE HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME PRETTY EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE. PLAYING AT MANY RECENT FESTIVALS IN LONDON AS WELL AS GIGGING RELIGIOUSLY WHENEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE. ONE HALF OF THE KEMISTRY KEMI, ALSO RUNS CLUB NIGHT; MINDIE, A NIGHT SHOWCASING MUSICIANS AS WELL AS ARTISTS, FILM MAKERS AND DESIGNERS.

2 - me (Kemi) singer/songwriter Bare Beats (Rob Farnam) who makes the beats. Steve Sincock plays the trumpet at some of our live shows, he’s rad, so I’ll mention him too.

Did you always have an interest in making music, or did you get into it later on? Pretty much always to be honest, I’ve always wanted to involve myself in music, I think I’m pretty lucky that I can sing and write. But I only decided to actually get properly involved about a year ago. What would you be doing if not for music? I reckon I’d be working in fashion or something, but I refuse to think about it. Although there isn’t much money made working in these kinda industries these days, so I might need to come up with a plan b soon!

When did you find that the music took over from the work side of life? When I found myself working in an office and not caring about what my job was. Made me shit at the job in question, so I thought it was time to call it a day…

What have you got coming up with Mindie/the Kemistry, any ambitions you want to fulfil?

What do you do in your spare time, if you get any? I get a lot of spare time. I like to party…and paint? I talk a lot on the phone to my mates about boys, like most girls. Ha. I go to a lot of gigs, when I can afford to as well. Any particular influence or inspiration, in music or otherwise?

When and where is the best place you have played?

I think everything inspires me as well as influences me, I’m into a lot of music as is Rob, plus we are both pretty different as individuals, so The Kemistry is basically an example of what happens when you are influenced by so much.

We played at Monto Water Rats last year, the sound in that place is awesome, and the crowd loved us. Nice little venue, I saw Skunk Anansie there not too long ago and it was immense.

Who is your favourite musician? Oh gosh, way too many to mention man.

When did you start Mindie? About 3 years ago, whilst sitting on a chair working at a theatre in Toronto thinking I need to get my arse in gear and sort my life out.

Well Mindie is gonna be 3 in about a Month, so I’ll be celebrating that on the 16th of May at 93 Feet East, Line up is pretty good too, The Pillers of The community are a hilariously good band from Leicester www.myspace.com/ thepillersofthecommunity and also Adaggio the violinst will be bringing his fiddle down which I’m pretty excited about, he always blows people away. With The Kemistry, we are just gonna enjoy ourselves for now, writing and recording new songs, and gigging whilst trying not to get exploited who knows, watch this space I guess…

How would you describe it?

For more information on The Kemistry and Mindie visit...

A night of new music, and artsy stuff, with good vibes, booze, hot men if you’re a lass, and pretty girls if you’re a dude.

http://www.myspace.com/mindie_ spreadit http://www.myspace.com/ thekemistrymusic

(Image by Craig Burton)

SNAP CLICKER AKA JAMIE BUCKINGHAM, IS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO, IF YOU ARE A GRAFFITI WRITER IN THE UK, ARE LIKELY TO HAVE SEEN HIS FLICKS SOMEWHERE, WHETHER IN A GRAFF MAGAZINE OR A WEBSITE. HIS WORK IS NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF GRAFFITI RELATED PHOTOGRAPHY HIS WORK IS GENERALLY RELATED TO HIS FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. MAKING PHOTOS THAT PEOPLE TAKE ON AN AVERAGE DAY OUT INTO PHOTOS THAT EVOKE THE EMOTION FELT AT THE TIME OF TAKING IT, USING HIS INTERESTS AND PEERS AS THE SUBJECT MATTER.

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? I am currently lucky enough to not be working in a 9 to 5 deadend job. Having worked in offices and intense corporate environments, my ideal day is essentially what I am managing to do now. I wake up, drink my overly sugared tea, prepare my i-pod and hit the streets and parks to take photos and draw. Meeting people and dogs on the way is the only bonus I ask for. How would you describe your work to someone without showing it to them? I try and take pictures that look like memories. My favourite kind of flicks are those which have a real sense of time and emotion. A band called The Cinematic Orchestra included a set of photographic prints with their last album, to convey an emotion to match the tunes. This idea really inspired me, and I basically work on that ethic. Your images often depict graffiti or the individuals doing it, what were you into first the photography or the graff? As most writers know, doing the graffiti inevitably leads to documenting it somehow. I photograph the things and people

closest to me. My second family are all graffiti writers so it’s natural that I shoot the things they do day to day. As the years have passed, my friends have overtaken me skill wise so I like to kick back and just observe the madness these days. Who or what has been the most interesting/fun to photograph? My best friend’s little sisters are the most fun to shoot. I’ve been taking flicks of them since they were around 4 and 6 and they are now 9 and 11. They are so natural in front of a camera and always give off this raw emotion. They are both incredibly clever too, and each time we go to the park, they teach me about a new bird, or the mating habits of some tiny bug.... It’s great! When is your favourite time to photograph? Sunset. Without a doubt. I find it the hardest time to get lighting the way I want it, but when it’s right, it just looks spectacular. I think it’s probably in key with the whole ‘capturing memories’ thing. The most memorable moments for me have involved sunsets.

Did you go through any specific education and how was it? I went to a private school. It was a complete nightmare and I hated every second of it. I’d never change it because it stood me in good stead for my life and gave me a good education but they didn’t support art as a career. I ended up not getting into any colleges or uni’s because if you weren’t an OxBridge candidate they weren’t interested. I’ve been family/self taught almost everything I do creatively today. What do you do in your spare time, if you get any? My spare time consists of hunting down rare music, making mixtapes for girls and watching masterchef. If I can fit in buying trainers and a bottle of Sailor Jerrys in there somewhere then I’m a happy man. Oh, and of course dropping my one piece a year to sustain my infamous graffiti career..............! Did you always have aspirations of photography, what would you be doing if not for this? If it weren’t for photography I think I’d be alot more pent up and aggressive. My character demands alot of instant gratification because I’m impatient and like to work fast. I love to sketch but the time it takes sometimes angers me. Photography gives me something creative at

a fast pace. This will probably be my downfall.... I’ve always loved photography but never thought anyone could make a living from it! Any particular influences or inspiration, favourite photographer? Bresson and Lartigue were my favourite photographers as I grew up. I hit 19/20 and discovered people like Ollie Grove, Will Robson Scott and DarkDaze who all really inspired me. Mainly it’s my tunes that inspire me to actually take photos. I think on some weird audio/visual level where i hear a tune and see the kind of picture I want to shoot. I rarely spend a minute of the day without some music playing. Favourite graffiti artist? You can’t choose just one man! Mode 2’s characters taught me more about sex than any biology lesson at school!!! His depth of colour and style is mindblowing. Askew is doing things with letters at the moment that not many people can top. I think Teach will forever be one of the best London writers. DDS in their prime were more than an inspiration. Anyone who got up in West London or the District would have got my attention. People like Dame, Zero, Tame 55, the late 90’s style masters.

What personal projects are you currently working on? I’m currently trying to relocate away from the city, find more rural surroundings to shoot. A change of pace would be really nice.Ideally I’d like to gather a proper body of work I feel satisfied with and put on a show somewhere. I think that’s the real test at this point, trying to create or assemble a decent body of work that has some relevence. We’ll see..... Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to photograph what you want? I like be greedy and have the best of both worlds. I’ve never been good at fashion photography because i’m a quiet person behind the camera. If I have a brief and a concept to work to then i can work towards an image I have in my head, but most of the time I don’t like working in pressurised conditions. I’d prefer to spend a month shooting random stuff and have one flick that I love rather than work an afternoon to a brief and take 50 pictures I don’t care about. What would you say to any aspiring photographers who want to specialize in? I guess the main thing is to do you, be yourself. Like any creative industry you have to be able to bend

and be flexible with your work if you want to survive. But above all it’s like anything else. It’s like making hit records. Britney Spears has made a killing in the charts and sold more albums than I’d care to count. But the Funk Brothers played on more hits than The Stones, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys combined....... you ever heard of THEM?! It’s all about staying true to what you know, enjoying yourself and not doing it for the trendy cool fame scene. What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? My only ambitions are to be happy. I’ve been doing alot of photo retouching and odd bits to beat this credit crunch rubbish. Working freelance is pretty hard without the right contacts so until I get a steady income, thoughts about shows or publications have to be on hold. The reality of growing up and paying the bills.....! I’ll be focussing alot of effort into the new RT website www.representlondon.com, trying to keep my blog updated at www. snapclicking.blogspot.com and generally learning my trade until I’m a grand wizard......!

For more on Snap Clicker visit... http://snapclicking.blogspot.com

What is an average day for you and what would be your ideal day? HAHA! Busy!!!! My day can consist of a number of things from shooting, to arranging shoots, editing…. And lots of emails haha! Basically my job never really ends! If im not shooting im editing… also where I deal with a lot of people in the states I am sometimes answering emails at 4am haha! Were you into tattoos before you started taking photos?

PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR HIS WORK WITH BANDS IN THE HARDCORE AND METAL SCENES, CRAIG BURTON IS LONDON BASED PHOTOGRAPHY WHOSE WORK IS SHOWN IN BOOKS, EDITORIALS AND EXHIBITIONS INTERNATIONALLY. CRAIG’S WORK OFTEN DEPICTS HIS PEERS, WHETHER THEY BE THE INDIVIDUALS IN BANDS OR OTHERWISE HIS WORK WILL OFTEN FEATURE TATTOOS AND TATTOOING AS AN ELEMENT OF HIS PORTRAITS. HE DOCUMENTS TATTOOS IN A BEAUTIFYING WAY THAT ACCENTUATES THE SKILL AND TALENT THE TATTOOISTS HAVE.

I’ve been into tattoos from a very early age… I remember my Dad and Grandad had them, and I was amazed by them! I started getting tattooed early I was only 15 when I had my first one, and im still going strong now ;) Your photography tends to be of tattooed people, was this just a by product of your interests or were you drawn to taking photos of them for a particular reason? I started taking photos of People firstly, but naturally im into Tattoos, so this was a natural step for me… but on the other hand I shoot a lot of people without tattoos! I often get asked “oh id love a shoot from you but I don’t have Tattoos!” for

me its also about the people… you don’t need tattoos to be different, or to stand out! And this is the main aspect I look for in people! Many of your photos depict customers that have come through the doors at Frith Street Tattoo, and you spend some time there, how did you come into being almost the ‘resident’ photographer there? I first walked through the doors of frith street to get tattooed like so many other people! and was amazed by the level of talent by the guys in there…. Right around that time the guys were asked to do a exhibition of work, which was to be featured in a 2 month showing at a local Carhartt store…. I was asked to do the shots by the owner of frith st, Dante. So I hung out in the shop for the next 3 weeks shooting portraits and shots of people working, and we all put together an amazing show! After that I never really left! The guys liked having me around and we are all like one big family…. Frith street, is like a good luck charm, everyone tied to that shop seems to do well!!!! Love those guys!...

Did you go through any specific education and how was it?

Any particular influences or inspiration, favourite photographer?

I studied a little about photography, but I felt that the course I was on wasn’t really for me…. I’ve kinda always hated being tied down and told how to work! So I cut out early, I started teaching myself, reading and shooting where I could! and I guess I just winged it at first haha! That was 3 years ago, so I’m doing ok so far…. What do you do in your spare time, if you get any? To be honest I don’t get much, but I love traveling, which I get to do a lot through my job…I mostly travel alone, as I find I meet some amazing people and have some crazy adventures… But I also enjoy just hanging out with my family and girlfriend, going to the movies or for a meal and Playing Xbox with my brother haha! Did you always have aspirations of photography, what would you be doing if not for this? To be quite honest I always felt a little different… I NEVER wanted to work haha! just do my own thing and be my own person, before I did this I spent most of my life traveling, meeting people and just seeing the world… that’s actually one of the reasons I started taking photos!

I think I take inspiration from everything… in my life and the life of others… when im shooting or editing, I just do what I feel is right or what feels good to me! I have a lot of dark interests haha! music, movies etc, so I apply some of that haha! Because most people will never know what they don’t see with their own eyes! Whatever life holds for me, I always know that there is an amazing world out there… One day I’ll set off and explore it! How did you get started in professional photography, did you work for someone else? This is often a question I get asked. Ive never worked for anyone else! When I dropped out of college, I started shooting as I wanted to achieve a better understanding of photography, at the same time I wanted to promote myself so I set up a website and myspace… I think I had a good break early on, as I shot a couple of well known bands through a friend, put the pics on my site and it just kinda went from there… But I always say the same thing, its not always getting the start that helps you, its maintaining it! Working hard and having faith in what you do and what you want to achieve!

Who or what has been the most interesting/fun to photograph? I think that’s impossible to answer haha! I have so much fun shooting, I’ve traveled the world and worked with so many amazing and different people…. Every shoot is a different experience! And I take something cool from each one. The bands are another big part of your work, any particular favourites to photograph or hang out with? My favorite band to hang and shoot with has to be Gallows, I shot them quite early on and I have always felt that they are a bunch of guys that are just on the same level as me! They love what they do and do it well! musically there are amazing… and have always given me a warm welcome whenever im at their shows! Plus Frank is a really good friend of mine.

Do you enjoy working to a brief on commercial work or would you prefer to be left to your own devices to photograph what you want? I think it’s important to have a brief, certainly when working for a large company or anyone in fact! There is nothing better than showing someone what you have done for them and having them praise you and be happy with what you have done for them! This only comes from knowing what the client wants. Plus its nice to share ideas…. Besides even having a brief, you can still be creative and show your style. What would you say to any aspiring photographers? I was told something once by someone I will always love and respect, and these are the words that get me through everything! NEVER GIVE UP! What have you got coming up, any ambitions you want to fulfill? I have got A LOT coming up haha! all I can say at this time is watch this space……..

More on Craig here... http://www.craigburtonphotography. com/

Curious Fiend Magazine Issue one For more information visit http://curiousfiend.com or buy a print version at http://curiousfiend.bigcartel.com/ If you would like to submit work; art,illustration,photography or anything for possible inclusion in issue 2 email us. [email protected]

All artwork copyright the artists. (backpage image by SnapClicker.) edition (PDF version) 2009