Pottsblog

Soundgarden

2012-01-31T12:46:00.000Z

The drawing project for Ryan Cox's music prose collection A Circus Mind continues apace with a visual stab at the almighty Soundgarden. Black Hole Suns, Jesus Christ Poses and Tendrils abound.

Clean Green?

2012-01-27T12:58:00.000Z

New year. New cover illustration. New Scientist. Nice. How clean is green energy? Eh?

The Getaways

2012-01-24T14:39:00.001Z

I'm physically and mentally back in the studio now after a generous Cornish Chrimbo break in St.Ives followed by a snowboarding trip to La Plagne in the Alps to smash the January gloom. Here's a montage of schnaps from the last few weeks. Full steam ahead for 2012.

Amen To That

2012-01-05T14:27:00.000Z

Happy New Year to all and sundry. 2011 is in the can and here's one of the last illustrations I produced from that bygone era. It's for a piece in The Economist called 'Seven seconds of fire' about the ubiquitous 'Amen Break' which I had simultaneously never heard of and heard a million times before. It's an oft-used drumming sample that's been recycled ad nauseum over the years. Tuunnee!

Tears Of An Elephantine Clown

2011-12-09T14:54:00.001Z

Here is this year's design for my agent Anna Goodson Management's annual coaster campaign. 'Circus' was the theme so I conjured up this clowny elephant creature to plonk the coffee on.

The Finkler?

2011-12-09T14:33:00.001Z

Here are some illustrations for Hadassah Magazine in the States to support an extract from Howard Jacobson's Ribalow Prize winning novel The Finkler Question.

Who You Gonna Call?

2011-12-07T13:57:00.001Z

Here's another illustration in response to a story, this time for Whitstable's Horsebridge Arts And Community Centre's 'Ghosts' exhibition. I chose a number and landed an extract from Fritz Leiber's tale Smoke Ghost to illuminate with a spectral image. It will be haunting the gallery from tomorrow until 23rd December.

26 Stories Of Christmas

2011-12-06T09:36:00.001Z

I've contributed to an online project called 26 Stories Of Christmas which unveils a unique illustrated Christmas tale every day this month up to Boxing Day. A selection of writers were paired up with an illustrator and I created an image to support Laura Kennedy's story The Magician which appeared on the 4th December. Well worth a look here, it's like advent calendar choccy for the mind and eyes.

Swimming Online

2011-12-02T15:50:00.001Z

Here's some work I can blab about now that the revamped Nominet Trust website has launched. It's a couple of illustrations for one of their provocation papers looking at developments to safeguard children online called 'Physical metaphors for digital safety'. I ran (swam?) with the water as interpipe metaphor on this and enjoyed using a simple but colourful approach.

Smashing Pumpkins

2011-11-25T17:44:00.001Z

Here's another illustration for the Circus Mind book of music prose, a Billy Corgan portrait for a piece on the Smashing Pumpkins. On that note have a smashing weekend y'all.

Flame On

2011-11-21T15:18:00.001Z

Here are a few belated shots from a recent trip to lovely Dorset over bonfire night weekend. Stayed in the market town of Bridport and popped to Lyme Regis on the Saturday to take in fireworks at the Cobb and an inferno on the beach. Blazin'.

Scorpio

2011-11-15T17:33:00.000Z

I chanced across the stone-cold classic Dirty Harry on the tellybox again recently and was reminded of the insane brilliance of Andy Robinson's performance as the Frisco nutjob Scorpio, particularly his schoolbus nursery rhyme routine. It also reminded me that a friend had requested his portrait so here it is in it's original monochrome and with a seventies subdued palette. Hope you like...well, do you punk!?

Nirvana

2011-11-10T17:43:00.000Z

Here's the second portrait for the music poetry collection A Circus Mind, of a total of twenty I'll be working on over the next few months, the troubled Nirvana figurehead Kurt Cobain. I'm digging the simpler brush pen drawing style for this particular job, will see where it takes me.

Bridge Over Techy Waters

2011-11-08T16:58:00.001Z

Here's another cover illustration for CIO magazine looking at the art of building bridges to partnerships in business technology.

Joy Division

2011-11-02T14:03:00.001Z

A busy few weeks have kept me out of the blogosphere but, dammit, there will be posts. So to kickstart this joint here's the first taster of a long term project I've been working on recently. I'm collaborating with the author Ryan Cox and a crack squad of illustrators, Julia Minamata, Zela Lobb and Dushan Millic, on a book of music inspired prose called A Circus Mind. For me it's an exciting chance to experiment with drawing and portraiture and wallow in some of my favourite music. First out of the gate are Joy Division and a suitably ghoulish post-Halloween interpretation.

Gridmobile

2011-10-21T17:21:00.000+01:00

Here's an illustration for Miller Mccune magazine in the States looking at the possibility of electric cars that can generate cash from powering and regulating the grid. Nought to sixty quid in no time.

Fly-By

2011-10-13T14:40:00.000+01:00

More aerial based illustration pulling a loop-the-loop on the blog, this time for AOPA Pilot Magazine looking at how pilots tend to have a lot on their mind. Just land the thing would yer!?

Power To The Peeps

2011-10-04T10:11:00.000+01:00

Here are some illustrations for a feature in Ethos Magazine looking at Localism in action around the UK whereby local volunteers work together to improve their communities in various ways. A refreshing change from wholesale rioting methinks.

Fido

2011-09-28T17:11:00.001+01:00

If I had a dog it might look like this mashed-up angry Atariesque animal. It's very hot today.

Inflight Illustration

2011-09-27T17:08:00.000+01:00

Here's a recent illustration for Flight Training Magazine in the States looking at how US pilot training programs are more long-winded than those of countries such as Canada and the UK. Test-flew a more stripped back graphic style on this one which I'm liking.

Taking That

2011-09-23T16:04:00.000+01:00

This post is out to lunch and will be back at a later date.

The Lost Boys

2011-09-16T16:11:00.000+01:00

I recently went along to Future Cinema's California Classics weekend at Canary Wharf where they were reviving eighties nuggets The Lost Boys and Top Gun with outdoor screenings. I wasn't really feeling the need for speed so opted for death by stereo instead and went for The Lost Boys' mulleted vamps and greasy saxophonists. Santa Carla was recreated with a fairground, arcade hall, comic store and vampire lair all populated by actors and motorbike gangs hamming it up to eleven. The film was preceded with a cheese-tastic group karaoke session of the theme Cry Little Sister (Thou shall not fall etc.) and the movie itself was still great fun despite Corey Haim's fashion atrocities.

Hive Talkin'

2011-09-14T16:11:00.000+01:00

Here's an illustration for America's Billboard Magazine for an article on the creative minds behind the MTV Hive website. Buzzzzed up the colours on this one (no change there then) to go for a modern take on old school MTV graphics.

Le Weekend Part Deux

2011-09-13T10:24:00.002+01:00

My wife and I zipped through the Chunnel on that Eurostar again recently for another rumble with Paris. We spent a fun evening at the Phillipe Stark designed budget hotel Mama Shelter, the rooms of which came with snazzy light-fitting masks based on comic characters, in our case the dynamic duo of Batman and, er...Obelix. The Père Lachaise Cemetery was nearby so we had a wander around the necropolis, finding Oscar Wilde and losing Jim Morrison, before moving over to stay in the Canal Saint-Martin area. We strolled up the canal to the Parc de la Villette, stopping to gawp at the Logan's Run-style spectacle of the huge Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie with it's towering disco ball, before spending an end-of-summer evening in the Parc des Butte Chaumont supping le vin at the lovely Rosa Bonheur bar, our new favourite spot in Paris. On Sunday we got our tourist fix following a literary themed walking map around the left bank of the Seine, ticking off the sights en route (bonjour Notre Dame) and spotting the pads of Hemingway, Orwell and Kerouac amongst others. It were bon.

Business Class

2011-09-08T16:54:00.000+01:00

Here's another editorial pic for The Telegraph, this time for a HSBC supplement about globe-trotting UK business folk exploring new markets.

Images 35

2011-09-06T14:34:00.002+01:00

Bit of a delayed post this but what the hey? I popped along to the AOI Images 35 Exhibition a couple of weeks ago at Bankside Gallery London for this year's awards night. Had a top evening catching up with friends and colleauges and checked out some of the great work on show. My BBC Proms 2010 illustration was hanging in the Advertising category and goes on tour with the exhibition across the country. Also picked up the new Images 35 book and here's a spread with a few of my bits and pieces that passed muster with the judges.

Paths Of Infamy

2011-09-05T11:29:00.000+01:00

Busy couple of weeks in Pottsville, will get the posts flowing asap. For now, here's a Monday morn drawing of little known actor, Timothy Carey, who I've recently discovered from a couple of early classic Stanley Kubrick films. He plays a louche sharpshooter in the influential heist movie The Killing and an unfortunate French soldier facing execution in the WW1 anti-war film Paths Of Glory pictured here. He smash'n'grabs every scene he's in with his oddball charisma and built a reputation for pissing-off his fellow actors according to this interesting article on his barmy career and underground legend status. Will be all over this guy's crazed oeuvre.

Cloudy WIth A Chance Of Data

2011-08-23T16:46:00.000+01:00

Here's a recent cover and feature illustration for IBM Magazine looking at the latest hardware fit for the clouds. Bit like David Essex's Silver Dream Machine. No? Oh ok.

Tuppence Alert

2011-08-17T17:01:00.001+01:00

If you find yourself flipping through the pages of this month's Advanced Photoshop magazine you'll find me contributing my tuppence worth in a feature on Global Advertising Styles. Thanking you.

Call It

2011-08-15T17:58:00.000+01:00

I went all analogue on Friday and took a screen printing workshop at Printclub London which I enjoyed the heck out of. I took along my latest film head drawing to put the ink squeegee to. It's the preternaturally bad-assed Anton Chigurh, from the Coen brother's masterpiece No Country For Old Men, played brilliantly by a medievally mop-topped Javier Bardem. More screen printing to come methinks, can't wait to get my hands dirty again.

Small Audio Dynamite

2011-08-11T18:10:00.000+01:00

Here's an editorial illo for Canada's Globe & Mail for an article on how tiny ear buds crunch massive audio.

Sonatine

2011-08-05T17:01:00.000+01:00

You can't 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano I reckon so here's a scene from my favourite film of his, Sonatine, a gorgeous, blackly comic slice of existential yakuza action with oodles of seaside gunplay. Knockout.

Folly For A Flyover

2011-08-02T17:35:00.000+01:00

I went to a pop-up cinema, dubbed the Folly For A Flyover, nestling under the A12 flyover in Hackney Wick at the weekend to catch a screening of fifties rebel classic The Wild One. The folly was built from reclaimed and donated materials next to the Lea Navigation Canal and was a great space to soak up a bit of campy Brando on a warm summer evening.

Tim & Eric In The Flesh

2011-08-02T16:16:00.000+01:00

Last Friday I went along to see comedy mentalists Tim & Eric's Awesome European Tour, Great Job! 2011 Just Islands show at Camden's Electric Ballroom in Lindin with that f*cking bridge (watch the trailer to see what I'm talking about). It was diarrheatically funny and they were ably supported 'In The Mix' by DJ Dougg Pound. Loving this poster artwork too by Duke Aber.

Carrie On

2011-07-29T17:39:00.000+01:00

Some Friday sketchbook action before I call it a day. For some reason the crazed death stare of Sissy Spacek from the pig's blood drenched finale of Brian De Palma's classic Carrie popped into my brain this afternoon so had to put pen to paper. Right, get me out of herrreee.

Piggy Bank Riding

2011-07-28T12:16:00.001+01:00

All a bit quiet on the blogging front recently but here's a little something from the last few weeks, a series of three finance themed illustrations for a weekly Aviva sponsored supplement in the Telegraph. I well and truly ram-raided the piggy bank of ideas for this one and I'm happy with the loot.

Beeks!

2011-07-13T17:21:00.001+01:00

As it's my birthday today I thought I'd treat myself to a lil' portrait. It's the amazing Paul Gleason, deadpan stalwart of classics such as Die Hard and The Breakfast Club (again), seen here in his crowning comedy role as the insanely abrupt Clarence Beeks in the brilliant Trading Places. Nobody delivers a line like this guy.

Comeback Kid

2011-07-12T17:19:00.000+01:00

I've had my head down working away on various projects over the last couple of weeks without so much as a digital murmur but here's a cheeky little editorial in the meantime. It's for Denver's 5280 Magazine and an article about the comeback of 50 year old American 1984 Olympic gold cycling legend Alexi Grewal.

Birthday Club

2011-06-29T13:37:00.001+01:00

It's my wife Liz's birthday today and I've drawn one of her celluloid heroes to mark the occasion. It's the mascara-caked 'goth chick' Ally Sheedy from John Hughes' classic The Breakfast Club trying (and failing) to resist an unwanted and horrendous make-over offer. Happy birthday hon!

Optimised

2011-06-23T15:26:00.000+01:00

Latest Design Week illo for a Private View piece on creative optimism in troubled times, taking in WW2, the sixties and the present day with Paul Smith's new scent Optimistic cited as an example of designers willing to experiment outside their comfort zone.

Barrier Grief

2011-06-23T15:01:00.001+01:00

Here's a recent editorial piece for National Mortgage News about the legal barriers being introduced in the US on foreclosures and defaults. Red tape huh?

Spanish Castle Magic

2011-06-16T15:01:00.000+01:00

Been back from Barcelona and Catalonia for well over a week but still there in my mind, chomping on padron peppers and slurping the gin *sigh*. Anyway here are a few snaps from the trip which started with four nocturnal days at the Primavera Sound music festival held at the concrete-tastic Parc Del Forum overlooking the Med. Musical highlights for me included Interpol, Deerhunter, PIL, Grinderman, Factory Floor, Battles and the brash Odd Future. We spent a couple of days re-adjusting our post-festival body clocks taking in beautiful Barcelona and enjoyed a memorable trip to Ferran Adrià's new cocktail joint, 41 Degrees, sampling the great drinks and bizarro snack delights such as Parmesan Ice Cream sandwiches and the mysterious Fake Pistachios, all topped by the chance appearance of the amiable elBulli celeb-chef himself at the table next to us...whoop! After the city break we drove up the coast to the lovely Dali-centric Cadaqués, where we were based for the last three days, squeezing in a daytrip to nearby medieval Besalú and crag-perching Castellfollit de la Rocha. On the final day we strolled the lovely seafront at Sitges before shooting off to the airport and home, tired but inspired.

V&A Illustration Awards 2011 Shortlist

2011-06-07T17:26:00.003+01:00

I was proper chuffed to find my name on the shortlist in the editorial category for the V&A Illustration Awards this year. My Urban Utopia illustration for New Scientist was doing the rounds for me again and faced some tough competition at the award ceremony last night where the excellent Oliver Kugler took the honours. I couldn't attend the prize giving unfortunately but I'll be popping along to see the exhibition at some point where I think my piece can be found on a screen with shortlisted winner's work until 17th December.

The Tingler

2011-06-06T15:16:00.001+01:00

Back in rainy London town after an excelente break in Barcelona and Catalonia, of which I'll post more about soon. While I was away though I was chuffed to find out I'd won a competition run by the Aubin Cinema to design a poster for a special 'Vincentenary' screening of a classic Vincent Price schlock horror The Tingler, originally shown with a new screen gimmick called Percepto! (which I suspect involved having a rubber worm-thing thrown at your head). I missed the film screening, unfortunately, but here's the design for the poster which was on display at the cinema.

Uptown Car

2011-05-23T16:08:00.000+01:00

New illustration for Automobile Magazine charting the rise and fall of the Lincoln Town Car from it's heyday as New York's glamorous upscale transport service to the imminent closure of the assembly line.

Deep Benching

2011-05-17T15:28:00.000+01:00

So I metaphorically stepped up to the plate, gave it a 110%, and attempted to knock it out of the park with this baseball themed cover illustration for CIO Magazine, which is actually about building a stronger IT department of course.

Secret Cinema Goes To War

2011-05-17T13:18:00.001+01:00

I went along to Secret Cinema again recently over Easter, this time staged at the Old Vic Tunnels under Waterloo station. On arrival at The Embassy we presented our pre-prepared French identity cards at the military style checkpoint and avoided the steely gazes of the guards who were detaining people at their leisure. We made it passed the checkpoint into a dark and atmospheric recreation of North African backstreets, mosques, food markets, cafe's and embassies all populated by arabic speaking folk and policed by temperamental French military, who could also be found dishing out a bit of torture in one of the antechambers. I got the impression it wasn't going to be a showing of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, as one punter suggested, and soon twigged it was the classic sixties insurgent film The Battle Of Algiers. For the screening itself we were bundled through hidden passages into a makeshift cinema to watch the powerful film which is still as relevant as ever in it's brutal depiction of the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule. It was more of an appropriately solemn affair for such a challenging film but great to see this classic transformed into an inspired experience.

Pucka Brand

2011-05-16T16:24:00.001+01:00

Latest Design Week illo for a Private View column looking at the successful branding of TV's foodmeister Jamie Oliver.

On The Buses

2011-05-11T10:03:00.001+01:00

I went along to the Serco Prize for Illustration 2011 awards on Monday at the London Transport Museum where my London Flow illustration is exhibiting amongst the 50 shortlisted entries. It was a great venue for the ceremony, surrounded by historical London buses of all shapes and sizes, and the exhibition featured some excellent work, particularly from the worthy winners. I didn't go home with anything on the night but it's great to be part of the exhibition and I certainly wasn't anywhere near as grumpy as this waxwork goon behind the wheel!

Know Your Limits

2011-05-10T15:09:00.001+01:00

Here's some brand spanking cover and spot illustrations for the current issue of New Scientist. They're for a feature about the limits of human knowledge and how there are things that will simply always be beyond our ken. Know what I mean? No, oh, ok.

Studio With A View

2011-05-09T17:27:00.000+01:00

The Action Stations crew moved into a new studio space over the weekend just around the corner from our previous digs in Shoreditch. We've got more space to play with and panoramic views over the back of Liverpool Street to ogle at all day. Mmmniccce. Place is a mess right now but will post better pics when we've straightened the joint out, toot sweet.

Kent Dash 2: Naked Boogaloo

2011-05-05T17:33:00.000+01:00

Had a lovely ol' time in Whitstable again over the bank holiday weekend. We attended the Post Nude exhibition opening night which was a hit, lots of folks queueing up to see hundreds of naked postcards arranged in the smallish gallery space. My two contributions made it through the postal service intact and were up amongst some really good stuff. I though it best to keep my clobber on during the show to the relief of everyone in sight. For the rest of the sunny weekend we visited the new Turner Contemporary Gallery, a welcome addition to the Margate coast, lounged on (and under) the sandy beach and took a return shuttle to Planet Dungeness to explore the solitary wind-blasted terrain once more.

East London Mornings

2011-05-04T13:06:00.000+01:00

I was recently invited to contribute an illustration of a local(ish) cafe to the East London Mornings project, set up to celebrate the diversity of independent coffee shops in the area. I chose the charms of The Counter tucked away in deepest Hackney Wick and well worth a visit if you're roaming nearby. There's an upcoming exhibition of work from all the artists involved in the project at Mouse & De Lotz Cafe in Dalston on May 17th from 7pm. Thanks to Katya for getting me onboard.

Balkan Bash

2011-05-04T12:36:00.000+01:00

Next up is a rousing cover illustration for Songlines magazine which explores the music (and seeming brutality) of the Balkan brass scene. Who knew?

Consumer Bundle

2011-05-04T12:16:00.000+01:00

Hold on a min while I brush the tumbleweed from the blog. Ok, back in business. I've been away and busy in equal measure recently so I'll be catching up with a few posts over the next few days. First up is an editorial illustration for Consumer Reports in the US for an article rating the best value telecom bundle packages available to mankind.

Nudelings

2011-04-19T16:52:00.001+01:00

Here are a couple of clothless original artwork postcards that are making their way down to Whitstable in the post as we virtually speak. First up is Nudo followed by The Burning Bush (...ooooh matron). They're for an upcoming open invite exhibition at the Horsebridge Arts & Community Centre entitled Post Nude which opens on 1st May. Disrobe your mind.

Colourspaces Interview

2011-04-12T17:22:00.001+01:00

Thanks to Brand Nu at Colourspaces for the interview that was posted last week. Get ready to read!...If you're in the mood that is.

Inside Outsider

2011-04-12T14:50:00.001+01:00

Here's a new illustration for Design Week's Private View column which looks at the creative/client relationship and whether a designer should have an outsider's perspective or an insider's understanding.

London Flow

2011-04-06T13:13:00.001+01:00

Here's my entry for this year's Serco Prize for Illustration run by the AOI and London Transport Museum. The theme was the River and the brief was to depict the Thames as a central feature of London life and transport. The swirly composition was loosely based on wake patterns in the water and it was fun working iconic city elements into the shapes. So this week I was pleased as punch to hear I've been selected amongst the Top 50 entries for the exhibition on May 9th at the London Transport Museum where the winners will be announced. Splosh!

McDynamics

2011-04-04T17:43:00.000+01:00

Here's a cover illustration for the Redmond Channel Partner magazine looking at franchising amongst the Microsoft Community. A disc drive-thru of sorts (sigh).

Snappy Update

2011-03-30T18:46:00.001+01:00

The Photography section of the website has been given an overdue update today. I've been rummaging through the archive to pick out some of my favourites from the last two years. Very cathartic, if a little distracting. Back to work, fool boy!

Y Face

2011-03-29T18:21:00.000+01:00

Today's rumblings in the sketchbook laboratory.

No Balance

2011-03-28T15:57:00.000+01:00

Here's a speculative pitch illustration I worked on last year for New Balance's New York store. This long organic strip of an image was to represent a runner's journey through the Big Apple and also a history of New Balance itself. Unfortunately the job did a runner on me and never materialised but I sure enjoyed working out with it.

Talkin' Shop

2011-03-23T15:22:00.001Z

I've contributed my tuppence worth of thought bubbles to an article in the current issue of Design Week by Garrick Webster. It's about how advances in technology have had an effect on the illustration world, Photoshop for me in particular. I cited one of my IBM campaign illos as an illustration that, at the time, stretched my lassoo tool throwing ability to the limit. Yehawww.

Cee Lo Redux

2011-03-15T11:02:00.001Z

New re-edit of the recent Cee Lo Green online promo for Big Lights, Brighter City made here at the studio by Action Stations. This time featuring Wiz Khalifa so you'll find some fresh animated wizbits in there. It's well Taylor.

Schieß Dem Fenster

2011-03-11T16:53:00.000Z

Direct from Nakatomi Plaza, the incomparable Alan Rickman as uber 'Eurotrash' villain Hans Gruber from the classic Bruce Willis vest odyssey Die Hard. This one goes out to Plug and Alex in Japan.

Norwegian Wood Posters

2011-03-11T14:16:00.000Z

Here are a couple of designs I created recently for a Norwegian Wood film poster competition over at Don't Panic. There were some official film stills to work with and my fading memory of the book from a few years ago. I entered the first design for the competition as I felt it was probably closer to the tone of the story but have a soft spot for the second nonetheless.

Introducing The Japanese New Wave

2011-03-09T17:56:00.000Z

I was asked to write an introduction, along with 20 fellow international illustrators, for a book entitled The New Wave Of Japanese Illustration compiled by Cristian Campos. Some spreads from which are online here. It has some amazing work in it and it doesn't make me a lurid shade of illuminous green with professional envy at all! It's well worth a look if you can get your hands on it, currently published in Spanish, French and Italian editions. Subarashii stuff!

It's Business Time

2011-03-08T17:25:00.000Z

Here's a recent illustration for CIO magazine looking at how IT execs can transform their tech know-how into business skills. Suit up.

iLand

2011-03-03T14:52:00.000Z

Latest illustration for Design Week for an article looking at Hyper Island digital media school in Stockholm and the dearth of similar institutions in the UK.

Monday Face

2011-02-28T17:47:00.000Z

Super Clark

2011-02-25T16:14:00.000Z

Gee! Clark Kent sure knew how to put a redneck in his place. Christopher Reeve ruled.

Normal For Norfolk

2011-02-23T17:50:00.000Z

Enjoyed a first visit to Norfolk recently for a weekend escapade and stayed at a lovely old windmill in the quiet village of Cley-Next-The-Sea. Took the opportunity to explore and snap the Norfolk coast including the epic sandscape of Holkham Beach and the picturesque towns of Wells-Next-The-Sea, Burnham Market and Holt. Some delicious grub and pints by roaring fires ensued but, alas, no sign of Alan Partridge.

Applied Arts Award Win

2011-02-22T18:12:00.000Z

The winners for Canada's Applied Arts Photography & Illustration 2011 competition were announced today and I was chuffed to see my name on the list for the New Scientist cover and feature illo 'Urban Utopia'. Now, where's my frock.

New Jack

2011-02-22T11:43:00.001Z

Update - Voting's over for me, already out for the count. Ouch, 'Adrian!' Tough crowd.
SOS! Competition entry requiring immediate attention. I've entered my recent NYC illustration, now called New Jack after a fit of the Van Peebles, into a Threadless competition to have it printed onto a Thermos and T-shirt. If you get a chance to vote then it would be much appreciated.

I'm Gonna Have Me Some Fun

2011-02-18T16:59:00.000Z

Weekend message from Segeant 'Mac' Eliot, the awesome Bill Duke, from the original Arnie-tastic Predator.

Talk To Me

2011-02-16T15:45:00.000Z

Here's a selection of postcards, stickers and mini business cards I recently sent out as a first wave of a self promotional push. If you've received any of these so far I'd love to hear your thoughts.

It's Aliiive!

2011-02-16T15:10:00.000Z

Speaking of Action Stations we've finally put our animated work together on one handy blog, perfect for all the family! Go to it.

Cee Lo Green Promo

2011-02-15T18:55:00.000Z

I can finally post about this online promo we made last year at Action Stations for Mr. Cee Lo Green and his upcoming single Bright Lights, Bigger City. It's a kaleidoscopic blast of the city at night with the song's lyrics cunningly worked into filmed and stock footage. You can watch it here at them Youtubes. It's alriiiight.

Bad Vilbs

2011-02-15T17:50:00.000Z

Delta

2011-02-14T16:04:00.001Z

Personal collage work inspired by an old magazine I picked up called 'Flying'.

I'm Walking Here

2011-02-08T17:33:00.000Z

I've been dabbling with more self initiated work this year which has been refreshing. Here's a monochromatic collage of fractured street scenes pieced together from personal photographs, drawings and painted elements all based around the capital city of inspiration. New Yawwwk of course.

Zorin

2011-02-01T18:08:00.004Z

Sketchbook time with the deliciously evil Christopher Walken as Max Zorin from the saggy Roger Moore Bond flick 'View To A Kill'. I love this guy.

What's In Store?

2011-01-31T16:10:00.004Z

I've added a few more prints to the Store on my website and reduced some prices so come and have a look-see. There's also an added Request A Print feature if there's something you see on the site that you would prefer a print of. Just get in touch with your request via email on info@andy-potts.com with a description or screengrab of the image you would like and I'll see if it's available. I'll do my darnedest to accommodate you.

Editorially Speaking

2011-01-28T15:49:00.004Z

The latest issue of Advanced Photoshop is running an article on editorial illustration which I've contributed some thoughts and illustrations to. It's informative stuff and features some great work by the likes of Andrew Archer and Darren Hopes. Worth a gander.

Techy

2011-01-26T16:44:00.003Z

More technology themed illustration for Consumer Electronics Vision Magazine looking at the coming onslaught of Internet enabled TVs. Surf's well and truly up.

Radliness

2011-01-25T14:28:00.005Z

In an attempt to blast through the January blues I took off for a long weekend of snowboarding in the Austrian Alps with my bro and a few keen cohorts. Despite the lack of recent snow the extensive Kirchberg / Kitzbuehel pistes were well groomed enough for some of us to flirt with radliness (it's in the Urban Dictionary, honest). I was barely introduced to rad personally, getting down in one piece tends to float my boat. There was some breathtaking Mount Olympus style scenery to chew on with some dramatic descents through the clouds and the hostel kept us pumped full of cheer and Jagermeister with a few tall tales of severed noses thrown in for good measure. Ahsum!

Holy Ad Grail!

2011-01-20T12:41:00.003Z

Here's the latest piece for Design Week's Private View column looking at how award winning ads should be both the most creative and sales-effective and thus take on the mantle of the industry Holy Grail. Cue choir.

Vision, Or Lack Thereof

2011-01-10T16:35:00.009Z

Here's a cover and spread illustration for Futurelab's latest, and possibly final, issue of Vision looking at global connectivity in education. Futurelab was recently downsized during the new UK government's Quango cull last year so it's all change there. Big thanks to Ben and Marissa for all the work over the years and good luck!

Gadget Heat

2011-01-07T17:05:00.003Z

First out of the 2011 gate is this illustration for PC World magazine looking at the 'Hottest Tech' coming this year. 3D is the buzzword so expect lots of vivid protrusions.

Cornished Again

2011-01-07T16:38:00.005Z

Back at the studio in a verrry grey and wet London crying into my keyboard and reminiscing over another lovely sojourn to Cornwall over the Christmas break. An indulgence of beach walks, cosy pubs, cornish pasties and mulled cider. Here are a few pics from around St.Ives and Padstow to gander at. Now 2011 beckons, must snap out of it...hup, hup, hup!

Chrimbule Time

2010-12-21T18:31:00.003Z

It's very festive looking round our neck of the woods in London after a good dumping of snow over the weekend followed by the inevitable travel apocalypse and hysterical panic in the streets. Ahhh, Christmas. On that note I'll wish everybody a wonderful time over the holiday and a happy New Year. Bring on that 2011!

In The Zone

2010-12-16T16:04:00.002Z

The TIF zone to be precise. Here's an illustration for Estates Gazette looking at Tax Increment Funding which is all about boosting the infrastructure through future taxes...innit.

Friendo

2010-12-03T12:45:00.006Z

Here's a cover illustration for CIO magazine in the States looking at how big business is going about friending a more social media savvy customer base. Hello good buy!

Brutal Sugar

2010-12-02T11:51:00.006Z

Here's the latest Design Week illo for an Adrian Shaughnessey article entitled Sham Parade that lays waste to the corporate 'circus tricks' of The Apprentice and regressive advertising industry gimmicks that hark 'back to a sort of 1950s Brutalism'. Everyone's fired!

Mad Coast

2010-12-01T10:51:00.004Z

Here's this year's design for Anna Goodson Management's annual coaster promotion. Mad Men was the theme which is fine by me as it's one of my all time favourite TV shows. My Old Fashioneds will be all over it.

Cyclorama Part Deux

2010-11-30T11:07:00.005Z

Speaking of cycling around the city here's a design I created recently with that theme in mind.

Shard Times

2010-11-30T10:35:00.004Z

It's snowing in Londonshire today but on a clearer morn last week, on one of my regular cycle rides around the capital, I stopped to take in the latest skyscraper reaching for the smoggy heavens. Renzo Piano's The Shard is going up pretty quickly and will be the largest 'pointy thing' in London Bridge, and the European Union apparently. Let's see if they can build higher than the enormous lampost next to it.

Now That's What I Call A Plug

2010-11-26T14:15:00.003Z

Studio bud and talented 'crazyman' Ian Stevenson has just released an excellent little book of drawings that opens a big can of comedic whup ass on art in all it's modern guises. Now That's What I Call Art is well worth a looksy.

Noir Heads

2010-11-24T14:20:00.005Z

Here are a couple of choice characters I've been meaning to draw for a while. They're plucked from two classic film noirs I've only just recently got around to seeing. First up is Johnny Clay, played brilliantly by Sterling Hayden, in mid-heist iconic clown getup from Stanley Kubrick's fantastic The Killing. A riveting and highly influential (Reservoir who?) horse racing robbery caper with cracking dialogue by Jim Thompson and stunning black and white photography. Get on it!

Back in August I went along to a petrol station cum pop-up cinema in London called Cineroleum to watch classic noir D.O.A. A rollicking, slightly laughable, murder mystery with the killer hook of having the hero, Frank Bigelow, investigating his own demise to some absurdly slow-acting luminous green poison. Everything is cranked up to fever pitch including a stand-out oddball performance by Neville Brand as Chester, a simple wild-eyed thug eager to kill Frank in the most painful ways possible - 'Think I'll give it to you in the belly!'