Jonathan Williams

Cineworld IMAX Edinburgh Launch

2011-12-02T13:19:00.005Z

Cineworld, one of the UK's leading cinema groups, is about to launch a new digital IMAX theatre system in their Edinburgh multiplex on 21 December 2011. To mark the occasion, the new IMAX theatre will be showing advanced screenings of the much anticipated Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. With ground-breaking digital projection, cutting edge audio technology and one of the largest screens around, the IMAX Experience will allow film fans to enjoy the biggest blockbusters like never before. Edinburgh is the first of three Cineworld locations to roll out an IMAX theatre with additional openings in Nottingham and Sheffield scheduled for early 2012.

BD Network London commissioned this artwork for two 96 sheet billboards and all sorts of other touchpoints to promote the IMAX Edinburgh launch.

Propel Your Career

2011-05-26T17:35:00.000+01:00

FINS.com is an online resource providing careers and industry advice for financial professionals. Launched in July 2009 by DowJones & Company (publisher of The Wall Street Journal) FINS.com offers a job search engine and index to financial sectors such as accounting, capital markets, hedge funds, private equity and wealth management as well as information on more than 1,500 financial services companies.

This is one of four characters commissioned by Dana Snyde of DowJones to promote FINS.com.

Job Prospects: The Trans-Olympic Athlete

2011-05-14T21:55:00.005+01:00

At Istanbul 2020, the Paralympic Games drew larger audiences than its Olympic equivalent, as developments in prosthetic limbs led to an astonishing series of records. By Mumbai 2028, performance-enhancing drugs were so common in everyday life (from the miracle ‘Jet-Lag’ drug to executive ‘creativity enhancers’) that the IOC legitimised them. By Dhaka 2040 developments in human cell production made Paralympics redundant – and a new games took shape with no bans on genomic alterations or nano-medical enhancements. As the Trans-Olympics graced Europe at Milton Keynes 2062, British hope Victoria Sayal (above) is close to the seven-second mark for the 100 metres.

One of four future professions commissioned by Andy Taylor for ES magazine. Text by Richard Godwin.

Job Prospects: A.I. Guy

2011-05-14T08:45:00.001+01:00

Jackson (above) is one of three humans who works at the Centurion retirement home in East Finchley. His job is to service the A.I. machines who do the caring. ‘Charlie… wakey wakey Charlie,’ he’ll say, waving his hand at the robot’s preceptors. Then he’ll turn to you with some inscrutable diagnosis: ‘That’ll be your mood interfacer’ or ‘the nano-drive’s totally screwed’. His abrupt manner unnerves the centagenarian residents, more used to the predictable service bots. There is a rumour that Jackson shares his basement office with an interactive sex doll named Pearl. The rumour’s true: Jackson doesn’t really care for humans.

One of four future professions commissioned by Andy Taylor for ES magazine. Text by Richard Godwin.

Job Prospects: The Space Architect

2011-05-13T23:52:00.002+01:00

Predictions about the future always tell you most about the time they were made in. Let’s say a Brylcreemed futroscoper from 1961 was trying to soothsay what kind of jobs would exist in 2011. His imagination would naturally dwell on Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s recent space flight. I can just see him hammering the typewriter now, the excitable fool: Sputnik Commander! Rocket Bus Conductor! Space Warrior!

My suspicion is ... the future could well be, you know, a bit meh. Technology will astonish us, but it will still fail (did our 1961 guy foretell the forehead-thumping evening I recently spent defragmenting my hard drive?). Metropolitan couples watching the 2061 equivalent of Mad Men, set in a 2011-era internet start-up, will find some of our workplace attitudes appalling (‘To think how ageist we were!’), some laughable (‘Look at the size of that BlackBerry!’) and some, perhaps, admirable (‘Remember social security?’).

They’ll still probably be trying to pull the girl in accounts, angling for a promotion and moaning about the Tube. With any luck, they’ll recognise us as humans, just like them. So what would you rather your grandchildren became – a vertical gardener, a space architect or a geeky A.I. guy?

One of four future professions commissioned by Andy Taylor for ES magazine. Text by Richard Godwin.

Job Prospects: Vertical Farmer

2011-05-13T10:34:00.000+01:00

Laura is passionate about the local produce she grows on her high-rise Bow allotment where developments in aeroponics and hydroponics allow 20 storeys of vegetable production. The food industry has become split between traditionalist and 'sub-molecular gastronomists' who have revolutionised food production (and high-end restaurants) with their ability to engineer taste on a molecular level. Laura sees her brand of hi-tech, low-carbon production as the ideal middle way between technology and tradition.

One of four future professions commissioned by Andy Taylor for ES magazine. Text by Richard Godwin.

Hemingway and Gellhorn

2011-01-02T23:00:00.000Z

Rumour has it that San Francisco based Philip Kaufman will be directing an HBO film about Ernest Hemingway and his relationship with Martha Gellhorn entitled Hemingway and Gellhorn, starring Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman. Reportedly shooting begins this year using SF locations such as Pier 80, which is surprising because no one knows of Hemingway spending any time there. Key West, Cuba, Paris, and the Northwest yes, SF not so much. San Francisco magazine commissioned this illustration of Kaufmann directing a scene at an SF street café for the cover of January's issue.

Art direction by Ellen Zaslow.

The Gentrification of Dogpatch

2011-01-01T23:33:00.005Z

The historic district of Dogpatch lies on the eastern side of San Francisco with some of the oldest houses in the city, dating from the 1840s. In the last twenty years Dogpatch has attracted a growing community of artists and designers, becoming the latest SF neighbourhood to be colonised by loft studios and chic boutiques.

San Francisco magazine commissioned this portrait of siblings Chris and Ben Ospital, owners of Modern Appealing Clothing, who are converting a stable house on 22nd Street into a new store. MAC started as a Hayes Valley store / gallery and became a popular gathering place for those who combine fashionable tastes with progressive leanings. Ben and Chris Ospital and their mother, Jeri, are on the cutting edge of San Francisco's Slow Clothing movement, which combines new ideas about beauty with old-fashioned concepts of utility.

Art direction by Ellen Zaslow.

Santa Shrink

2010-12-23T11:55:00.009Z

BlackBook magazine asked me to illustrate a bittersweet holiday memoir from Augusten Burroughs, author of Running With Scissors. "Growing up" writes Burroughs, "I was aware that other families had rituals. In my family, the only ritual occurred each fall when my mother suffered a psychotic breakdown and had to be hospitalised. In would come the psychiatrist, a man who dressed like Santa Claus year-round. He would put her in the passenger seat of his old Buick and drive her to a distant motel where he would then medicate and 'talk' her through the 'episode'.

"My mother was going to become a famous writer. But she did not. Instead I became a writer. In my determination to be nothing like her, I became exactly what she wanted to be. I became my mother. Except, every fall, I do not go crazy. Instead I write a book. I write it all at once, consumed by the process. Unable to do one thing besides. It has become my ritual. It is as if Santa has come in his Buick and taken me away to a motel. Uncanny, really."

Art direction by Tom Ackerman.

Brakes Logistics Health & Safety Card (4)

2010-12-22T21:31:00.002Z

Brakes Logistics Health & Safety Card (3)

2010-12-22T17:41:00.003Z

Brakes Logistics Health & Safety Card (2)

2010-12-22T16:53:00.004Z

Brakes Logistics Health & Safety Card (1)

2010-12-22T16:39:00.005Z

Brakes Logistics is a recognised market leader in multi-temperature food distribution providing major UK foodservice customers with the simplicity of a national 'one stop' delivery service. Brakes asked me to create a series of clean colourful spots towards a health and safety card for delivery vehicle drivers.

Art direction by Warren Hickson.

City Trumps: The Quant Academic

2010-11-19T09:40:00.000Z

Square Mile magazine commissioned this illustration of the archetypal quantitative academic for a series of 'City Trumps'. Art direction by Matthew Lewis-Hasteley.

City Trumps: The Eurotrader

2010-11-19T09:36:00.000Z

Square Mile magazine commissioned this illustration of the archetypal eurotrader for a series of 'City Trumps'. Art direction by Matthew Lewis-Hasteley.

City Trumps: The Barrowboy

2010-11-19T09:32:00.002Z

Square Mile magazine commissioned this illustration of the archetypal 'barrowboy' banker for a series of 'City Trumps'. Art direction by Matthew Lewis-Hasteley.

City Trumps: The Traditionalist

2010-11-19T09:24:00.006Z

Square Mile magazine commissioned four illustrations of archetypal bankers for a series of 'Top Trump' city profiles. First up: The Traditionalist. Art direction by Matthew Lewis-Hasteley.

How to Create the Perfect Dinner Party

2010-11-01T11:28:00.000Z

What's On magazine (Dubai) commissioned this cover illustration in the style of an Airfix kit for 'The Perfect Dinner Party', a feature about chefs competing with each other to host the best possible dinner party.

Art direction by Louise Browne for Motivate Publishing.

Zombie tilt

2010-10-29T11:13:00.003+01:00

Poker Player magazine commissioned this zombie portrait of Nick Wealthall for a column about the danger of zoning out at poker tables. "Everyone tilts. You stop thinking actively and consciously about your decisions and slip into a zombified catatonic state, mindlessly clicking without thinking about your play." Nick shares a few techniques for combating zombie tilt: "Nothing breaks a trance-like state like a good slap across the cheek. You can administer it yourself or get a friend or family member to do it for you – you’ll be surprised how keen some of them will be."

Art direction by Marc Southey for Dennis Publishing.

Potato Bake

2010-10-20T11:43:00.004+01:00

Oxford University Press asked me to create another set of small, simple illustrations for Switch, a lively, colourful book called aimed at 12-16 year old English language students in Spain. The images show different stages of preparing a potato bake.

Peel some potatoes.

Boil the potatoes.

Slice the boiled potatoes into rounds with a sharp knife.

Chop an onion into small pieces.

Fry the slices of onion in oil with some bacon cubes.

Arrange the slices of potato in a baking dish as if to make gratin. Tip the fried onion and bacon into the dish.

Bake the dish for 30 minutes.

Salmon Salad

2010-10-08T18:16:00.011+01:00

Oxford University Press asked me to create this set of small, simple illustrations for a lively, colourful book called Switch, aimed at 12-16 year old English language students in Spain. The images show different stages of preparing a salmon salad.

Wash some lettuce leaves under a tap.

Grate some carrots.

Grill some fresh salmon fillets on a flaming barbecue grill.

Add the chunks of grilled salmon to the lettuce and carrot in a salad bowl.

Mix vinegar and oil in a small glass bowl with a metal spoon.

Pour the dressing over the salad.

Season the salad with salt and pepper.

The Cube

2010-10-08T08:58:00.004+01:00

The Cube is a nerve-wracking ITV gameshow hosted by Philip Schofield which tests contestants skill and determination to the maximum as they try for a £250,000 prize. Each week a new challenger tries to complete a series of tricky games under intense pressure. The players have nine lives and must get through up to seven tasks to win. The game looks deceptively simple, but nothing is as easy as it seems for the contestant standing inside The Cube, feeling the tension of a spotlight and the scrutiny of a studio audience.

These images were commissioned to illustrate an information pack for TV networks broadcasting The Cube in other languages and territories.

The Pact Between Men

2010-10-07T17:28:00.009+01:00

'The Pact Between Men' is an aspirational story which adapts Johnnie Walker's global 'Keep Walking' campaign for the Chinese market. In sharp contrast to the quiet reflective whisky mood in the west, Chinese drinkers consume whisky in the company of close friends, on a night out in a noisy karaoke bar.

Set against the backdrop of a dreamy metropolis, 'The Pact' follows the progress of four friends walking the path to greatness together - friends who have already formed a successful architectural partnership. One of these four dreams of becoming a film director; the other three decide to fire him, not because of incompetence but because they have to honour their promise to help him reach his full potential. In the last scene, the four friends raise a toast and say 'Keep Walking' signifying a pact to help each other progress through life.

'The Pact' has been used as a cross-platform sequential storytelling structure to create over 7 million unique visitors to Johnnie Walker's Asia Pacific site and unprecedented media value across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

Ogilvy One Beijing commissioned about 20 images or skins for a mini site within Johnnie Walker's Asia Pacific website. These images formed a series of integrated scenes which were built into 3D navigational pop-up books. Each element on a page links to a different section of the mini site.

Your Business Without You

2010-07-04T22:58:00.003+01:00

If you run your own business, you may have considered the issue of succession planning. Continuity is often the last thing people plan because they don't like to think their business is going to end, but a smooth transition takes three to five years. Think Publishing asked me to illustrate the process of handing over a practice to a new owner for AAT magazine.

Art direction by Dom Scott.

Get ahead of the curve

2010-07-02T14:22:00.012+01:00

How do you spot trends and position yourself for greater happiness, success and wealth? Most of us think we can see change and predict where the world might be heading, but few of us have the skills to adapt as it happens. Men's Fitness magazine asked me to illustrate a column for futurologist Magnus Lindkvist introducing the tools and mindset needed for in-depth trendspotting.

Art direction by Donovan Walker.

Two Step

2010-02-24T21:11:00.012Z

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for Two Step, a short story by Maile Meloy from a new collection called Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. “I wanted to write about love and adultery in such a way that the nature of the story changes, as you read it,” she told Prospect, “in which the power shifts among the characters and what you understand about them turns, and turns again.”

Maile Meloy’s first novel, Liars and Saints was shortlisted for the 2005 Orange prize. She is also the author of the novel A Family Daughter and the short story collection Half in Love. Her stories have been published in the New Yorker, Granta, Prospect and other publications. In 2007, she was named one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists. Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It (to be published by Canongate in March) was selected as one of the New York Times Book Review’s Ten Best Books of 2009. She lives in Los Angeles.

Art direction by David Killen.

Lead your pack

2010-02-09T09:06:00.006Z

On the field or in the office, you need to get the best from your team. Men's Fitness magazine asked England rugby union captain Steve Borthwick to share his expert advice. "Any team is home to a number of very different personalities, and as captain your responsibility is to get to know each man personally so that you can manage them individually and as part of the team," says Borthwick. For this double spread I've illustrated a range of locker room personalities: the prima donna, the nervous newcomer, the jaded veteran, the volcano, the mistake maker ...

Art direction by Donovan Walker.

The Not-Dead and the Saved

2009-12-07T20:01:00.007Z

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for a poignant, thought-provoking story by Kate Clanchy about parental love and sacrifice in a hospital ward. The Not-Dead and The Saved has been awarded this year's V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize and the BBC National Short Story Award.

Clanchy's story has been praised for its "rich lyricism" and "deeply affecting style ... an account of a deeply painful experience" that becomes "richer on every re-reading." Critics were impressed by its "acute control of emotional tone and by the vividness and generosity of the writing."

Kate Clanchy was born in Glasgow in 1965 and educated in Edinburgh and Oxford. She currently lives in Oxford where she now works as a teacher, journalist and freelance writer.

Art direction by David Killen.

Push

2009-09-08T12:35:00.003+01:00

Chicago magazine commissioned this artwork for a diary page called Push: One Chicagoan's 40-week Stumble into Fatherhood. It's a portrait of the writer and his wife, whose pregnant dreams play out like Bunuel films on three hits of acid. House-sitting a talking cockatoo, rabbit and dog, swimming in green Jell-O . . .

Art direction by Kim Thornton.

Taming the banks

2009-08-27T07:34:00.015+01:00

Adair Turner, chairman of the FSA, answers a group of leading financial analysts in this month's Prospect magazine, calling for greater vigilance from big investors, global agreements that regulate financial insiders and a recalibration of moral values for the world's biggest industry.

Art direction: David Killen; inspiration: Gustav Moreau.

Haunted

2009-08-26T16:41:00.013+01:00

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for Haunted, a memoir by Kamran Nazeer. His best friend Ben killed himself but then continued to make appearances. Kamran doesn't believe in ghosts or life after death, but he wants Ben to go.

Art direction by David Killen.

Don't Panic!

2009-07-15T09:35:00.007+01:00

Poker Player magazine commissioned this portrait of columnist Nick Wealthall (in the style of Lance-Corporal Jones) about the importance of keeping calm under pressure. Against all odds Nick holds up the six clubs for a winning straight.

Art direction by Marc Southey for Dennis Publishing.

Magic

2009-07-13T19:04:00.006+01:00

Magic is a short story by Carlo Gébler about a persistent drug trafficker serving time for his offences. Gébler was born in Dublin in 1954 and has taught at Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and HMP Maghaberry, where he has been writer in residence since 1997. He is "drawn to conflict as a writer, and you’ll find there is no greater crucible of conflict than a prison.”

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

Living Arrangements

2009-06-28T16:59:00.008+01:00

Living Arrangements is a new short story by Alistair Morgan about a woman who discovers an uninvited guest in her home. The author was inspired by two incidents. The first was "a news story about a man in Japan who discovered a woman secretly living in his apartment. He found her by setting up cameras after noticing his food was disappearing. The second was last year’s outbreak of violence in South Africa. Immigrants from neighbouring countries were attacked and killed after being accused of stealing local jobs."

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

The BMX Bandit

2009-06-26T22:47:00.001+01:00

From a distance, people often think there's something seriously wrong with Benjamin's face. It's only when they get up close, and look past the baggy jeans, hooded top, and low-slung BMX, that they realise he's 43. Benjamin works for a design agency in East London and carries a record bag. He rides on the pavement, and if people get in his way he'll shout something like “gnarly!” or “yo!” At the weekends, Benjamin and his friend Jeremy used to like going to London's South Bank, to hang out with teenage skateboarders. They haven't been for a while, though, ever since Jeremy caught a gnarly air and wiped out, big-time. The doctors say he might need a new hip.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

The Urban Speedster

2009-06-26T21:06:00.004+01:00

Clive has a pink, all-in-one lycra leotard, and doesn't see why he ought to be ashamed about that. His bicycle cost many thousands of pounds, and is made of the same sort of stuff as badminton racquets. Clive rides his bicycle every day but, at the weekend, instead of cycling at high speed to his job in the City, he'll cycle at high speed to a bicycle shop. Here, he will spend many more thousands of pounds having bits removed from his bicycle, and replaced by other bits that are almost, but not entirely, exactly the same. Clive's bicycle lives in the living room, in front of the television. He has no wife.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

The Folding Commuter

2009-06-26T19:08:00.006+01:00

In his shirt-sleeves, sensible helmet, shiny black shoes, suit trousers and restraining cycle clips, there's something about Nigel's overall cycling look that faintly screams “pervert”. Not that he cares. For him, cycling isn't about fun. It is simply an efficient way to get from his suburban semi to the station, and then from Liverpool Street to the office. Nigel has no interest in cycling culture, and is fond of telling people that being on a bike is no reason not to follow the Highway Code. All the same, he is inordinately proud of his Brompton folding bicycle. When his wife borrowed the clip-on mini-pump without telling him, he sulked for the whole weekend.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

Michael Jackson RIP

2009-06-25T23:07:00.001+01:00

Door in your Eye

2009-05-30T08:37:00.002+01:00

Door in your Eye is a curious short story by Wells Tower about a large hearted old man viewing the world from a studio flat window. The sense of unfulfilled desire, world weariness and alienation - contained by doors and windows - immediately suggested Edward Hopper . . . which sounds unbearably sad but without spoiling the story let's just say it doesn't turn out as you might expect. Door in your Eye is taken from a new collection by Wells Tower called Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned (Granta).

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

2009-05-19T14:51:00.028+01:00

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists tells the story of a group of working men who are joined one day by Frank Owen, a journeyman-prophet with a vision of a just society. Owen's spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system rouse his men from their quietism. The book is recognised as one of the most authentic novels of English working class life ever written, a masterpiece of wit and political passion ... although it is Owen's forbearance rather than his radicalism which moves me. His capacity for suffering is almost masochistic, so I depicted him with an emaciated Christ-like aura as he endures the harassment and intimidation of his overseer (left) and employer (right).

With the recent anniversary of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' publication, and a star-studded Radio 4 serialisation, sales of the book surged. In the midst of a dire economic climate, it confounded expectations by reaching number six in the Amazon Movers and Shakers list. Last month the actor Ricky Tomlinson caused a further spike in sales when he commended the book on BBC1's One Show. A former plasterer and a union activist, Tomlinson believes Tressell's message is timely. "Nothing's changed. People are still getting killed in the building industry. There's hardly any safety work, hardly any hygiene conditions. Toilets are as rare as rocking-horse shit." Penguin have re-designed the cover (using a revision of artwork created in 2004) and a reprint will be shipping in a couple of weeks.

Commissioned by Jim Stoddart for Penguin.

The Sinking Pound

2009-03-17T09:45:00.019Z

Community Care commissioned this image of the sinking pound for a feature about how the credit crunch is affecting statutory, voluntary and private providers in social care. Art direction by Stephanie Fenner.

Darwin 200

2008-12-20T22:52:00.002Z

February 12th 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, arguably the most influential scientist of modern times (in ways that he himself would never have imagined). No single researcher since has matched his collective impact on the natural and social sciences; on politics, religion and philosophy; on art and cultural relations. Nature magazine commissioned this portrait (c.1840) for the cover. Art direction by Barbara Izdebska.

Old school, new school

2008-12-09T11:03:00.018Z

PepsiCo commissioned this series of character studies for Old School New School, an online game promoting Sobe, Amp and Mountain Dew products. Users coming to the website would be greeted by animated characters representing both old and new styles. Art direction by Tribal DDB Dallas.

The Band

2008-11-17T08:45:00.001Z

Your image as a band says you are visionary or progressive or edgy, or that you're trying really hard not to care about the way you dress! A fashion faux-pas could signal the end of a promising career . . . heed the wisdom of The Rock Bible:

'If you're a man, wearing make-up increases proportionately to your inability to play a musical instrument.'

'Women should dress like color-blind prostitutes. Men should look like hot women.'

'Unless you're sitting on a horse, lose the cowboy hat.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Book of Revelation

2008-11-14T09:22:00.011Z

Gazing into the abyss, the prophet foretells a time when many-headed wild beasts roam the wasteland of rock devouring all that remains: The Buddyheaded Pitchforkagon, Lord iTunia & His iPods, YouTuberius, SXCMJ3000 ... but alas, his words of wisdom fall on deaf ears:

'The great rock prophet ... saw maddening disinterest in his plight to save the world of rock from utter folly. Neither the meat-headed banger nor the methodical noodler saw fit to heed the admissions of those gone before them and many a false prophet and warner-monger did usher in the very end of rock.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Fan

2008-11-14T00:29:00.007Z

No matter how talented the band, how soulful the delivery or how poetic the songwriting, it'd be nothing without a devoted flock of undiscriminating diehard fans. Here's a few guidelines for faithful followers from The Rock Bible:

'Showing up at a show three hours early to get a primo space in front of the stage is reaffirming to all those around you that you don't have a life.'

'No waiting to get an autograph for more than half an hour (although even that seems a bit too long). The band is either getting high or already back at the hotel.'

'If you ask a crew member for a set list, it's best to listen to the first answer you get. Any subsequent requests will be met with an increasing insult and chance of removal from the venue.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Keyboardist

2008-10-27T09:21:00.008Z

If you're a talentless nobody playing keyboards for a lousy band, The Rock Bible is your manual! Before you fill up the airwaves with self-indulgent synth noodling, here are the rules:

'No keyboards without full-sized keys. Smaller keys are only for Christmas morning, when your parents think a mini keyboard will be your gateway to becoming an accomplished musician.'

'There's only one person who will look more ridiculous and offensive in leather pants than the lead singer: the keyboard player.'

'If you play the keyboard with one hand and the tambourine with the other, you are neither a keyboardist nor a tambourine player.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Singer

2008-10-25T15:03:00.006+01:00

Henry Owings is touring bookstores during October and November, explaining how The Rock Bible was conceived / created / written, as well as delving into his own history and work with Chunklet. Head along to one of these venues for intimate discussion, Q&A and signing:

10.25.08 - Quimby's, Chicago, IL 7pm
10.26.08 - Shake it Records, Cincinnati, OH @ 3pm
10.27.08 - Subterranean Books, St. Louis, MO @ 7pm
11.07.08 - Atomic Books, Baltimore, MD @ 7pm
11.09.08 - AKA Music, Philadelphia, PA @ 3pm
11.14.08 - Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA @ 6:30pm
11.16.08 - Sonic Boom, Seattle, WA @ 3pm
11.17.08 - Powell's, Portland, OR @ 7:30pm

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Guitar and Bass Players

2008-10-24T10:38:00.009+01:00

Whence cometh The Rock Bible? What's with the faux-Biblical thing anyway? Polyphonic Spree drummer Brian Teasley explains . . .

'As I peruse the aisles of planet corporate bookstore, I realise something: every two bit hobby has a Bible . . . except for rock and roll. Until now! Now there is a new demographic disease spreading like salmonella in a bowl of frat boy barf. That's right dear reader . . . The group I refer to is you and your lousy band. It's time we punished you all for your sins and sent you on the way of the enlightened'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Drummer

2008-10-24T00:30:00.017+01:00

Grammy Award winner Henry Owings is publisher of Chunklet magazine, a no-holds-barred chronicle of the music industry. Variously a DJ, promoter, record producer and booking agent, Owings has toured with rock bands for nearly a decade. No surprise, then, that The Rock Bible is packed with closely observed cliché-busting wit and wisdom for the celestial life of rock 'n' roll . . .

'If you get a drumstick endorsement, don't take one of those lame promo photos acting like you're breaking the sticks in half.'

'All drummers wearing headsets should be required to take a food order.'

'No drum gloves. if you can't hold on to drumsticks, you may want to rethink the "playing" part of playing drums.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

Genesis

2008-10-23T21:30:00.009+01:00

'In the beginning Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, which begat the publishing of "Memphis Blues" by Hart Wand in 1912 (often credited as the first blues title), which begat W.C. Handy writing "St Louis Blues" (often credited as the first real blues song) in 1914, which begat . . .'

Thus opens The Rock Bible, an epic window through which Henry Owings offers a tantalising glimpse of the authentic rock ’n’ roll life. Like Moses delivering the Ten Commandments, he lays down rules for musicians, wannabe musicians, and rock fans of all ages.

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

Monkey Shoulder

2008-07-07T14:38:00.019+01:00

Monkey Shoulder is a triple malt Scotch whisky aimed at a new generation of whisky drinkers - rebranding a classic for 20/30 somethings without losing its sense of heritage. William Grant & Sons commissioned a series of characters to help build a new identity, challenging more traditional perceptions of the whisky drinker. Art direction by Ambition.

The world's first triple malt

2008-07-05T16:28:00.011+01:00

Monkey Shoulder is a vatting of three single malts distilled by William Grant & Sons: Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie. 'Triple malt' because it blends three malts without using any grain, placing it somewhere between blended and single malt whisky. William Grant & Sons comissioned this artwork to illustrate Monkey Shoulder's triple parentage. Art direction by Ambition.

Coopering

2008-07-04T10:21:00.009+01:00

The smooth vanilla notes of Monkey Shoulder come from the oak barrels in which it is stored. Bourbon casks are shipped over from the US and repaired on-site at William Grant's cooperage. In this illustration I've tried to capture the hot hard reality of a physically demanding and highly skilled process. Art direction by Ambition.

The evolution of cocktails

2008-07-03T10:22:00.018+01:00

Monkey Shoulder is a triple malt with a smooth rich flavour, making it an ideal whisky for mixing. Read reviews from the UK's top bar-tenders at the Monkey Shoulder website and try the taste for yourself. William Grant & Sons commissioned this artwork to promote a series of events celebrating the changing face of whisky cocktails. Art direction by Ambition.

Rick

2008-06-30T11:03:00.006+01:00

OgilvyOne commissioned a series of character studies for a large insurance client. 'Rick' is a relaxed, amiable kind of guy offering jargon-free advice and information to customers about pension policies.

The Axe Effect 2

2008-06-29T19:04:00.001+01:00

Illustrations commissioned by Unilever Axe for the 'Kama Sutra', a book of distilled wisdom for students of the legendary Axe Effect. Design and art direction by Vibrandt.

The Love Doctor: Lily Allen

2008-06-21T15:06:00.004+01:00

Lily Allen recently suffered a miscarriage and the break-up of her relationship in the space of a few weeks. Now she’s split with the baby’s father, she may feel that what seemed like a dream life has taken on a nightmarish quality. How can she safeguard her self-esteem – and is there anything she could have done to save her relationship? Ask the Love Doctor . . . Commissioned by Zest magazine.

Roots, reels and rambles

2008-05-15T14:31:00.004+01:00

Alistair Anderson is reckoned one of the finest Northumbrian pipers and concertina players in the world. The music lives through him: face to the rafters, rapt, he paints a sound-picture of heathery hills, peat-brown burns and lonely farms under black Border skies. He plays with body and soul, sweeping the concertina up and down, swirling it round in circles as he steps in time like a dancer, shaking and cajoling a stream of Northumbrian hornpipes, reels and waltzes out of the instrument. Commissioned by The Ramblers Association for Walk magazine.

Warren Buffett spells it out

2008-03-05T11:40:00.035Z

It's official ... the Sage of Omaha pronounces the R word. And since he's now the richest man in the world we ought to sit up and take notice. So what's his secret? While falling stock prices signal a recession, Buffett focuses on other metrics. He analyzes and pores over the underlying economics of his investments - if the fundamentals are solid and a company is generating consistent bottom-line growth, ultimately the share price will reflect that. Buffett rides out short-term fluctuations and reaps the rewards of increased earnings and/or dividends over time.

Commissioned by Real Business magazine.

Bwise2 sexual exploitation

2008-01-04T20:23:00.001Z

Barnardo's provides a range of services to support children at risk and prevent future harm from neglect, abuse and sexual exploitation. Last year they commissioned a suite of illustrations for Bwise2 sexual exploitation - a pack enabling teachers, social workers and counsellors to educate young people about sexual exploitation with honesty and realism. The material is all based on the experiences of young people supported by a specialist Barnardo’s service. Launched in November 2007, the pack illustrates the process of 'grooming' - the relationships, behaviour and events leading to sexual abuse - as well as helping teenagers develop strategies for prevention. Copies are available from Barnardo's online shop.

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

2007-12-24T10:51:00.002Z

Christmas card and frames for animation commissioned by Sony Playstation GmbH. Design and art direction by TBWA Werbeagentur GmbH.

Jesu beste freunde

2007-11-30T10:34:00.001Z

Double page spread introducing the twelve apostles of Jesus. Commissioned by Lorenzspringer Medien GmbH as part of a guide for communion classes.

To keep a man

2007-10-07T12:35:00.002+01:00

"...to keep a man, you must be a maid in the living room, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom." Commissioned by Unilever Axe as part of the Axe 'Kama Sutra'. Design and art direction by Vibrandt.

Happy Birthday!

2007-08-30T13:01:00.001+01:00

Today London Lite celebrates its first birthday. The free newspaper commissioned a series of artworks for print ads, t-shirts and candy bags to mark the event. Design and art direction by VCCP.

Wedding etiquette

2007-06-16T00:54:00.001+01:00

How not to behave at a wedding. Commissioned by Men's Health USA.

How long?

2007-06-02T00:37:00.002+01:00

In September 2004 Penguin asked me to produce a cover illustration for Lawless World, a compelling account of how America turned its back on international law. The author - Philippe Sands - threw a spotlight on the abuse of detainees in Guantanamo Bay. Even then, it was old news: the first prisoners, arriving in January 2002, had been confined in exposed cages, sleeping on mats, deprived of sight, hearing and touch. More than five years later, despite repeated calls for its closure, nearly 400 men remain in detention without charge and without trial.

Amnesty International say that Camp Six, a new maximum security prison built at a cost of $37m has created "even harsher and apparently more permanent conditions of extreme isolation" which are "pushing people to the edge". In June 2006 three inmates hanged themselves, and this week a fourth - Abd al-Rahman al-Amiri - commited suicide. Michael Ratner, president of the US Center for Constitutional Rights, told the Associated Press the death was likely an act of desperation. "Five-and-a-half years of desperation with no legal way out."

Tarka Revisited

2007-04-20T11:03:00.002+01:00

On the 80th anniversary of the publication of Tarka the Otter, rambler and writer Christopher Somerville traces the wanderings of Tarka through North Devon. He finds that Henry Williamson, for all his poetry, told it exactly as it was - and, miraculously - still is: the stone shippens with their owl’s-eye-yellow lichens, the mires of the Two Rivers estuary and the flowery sandhills of Braunton Burrows. And, down by Taddiport Bridge at Great Torrington, the very ridge of pale grey shillets where Tarka ran, lying downstream of the bridge just as Williamson had described it. Commissioned by The Ramblers Association for Walk magazine.

Of Drunkenness and Thistles

2007-02-13T23:44:00.001Z

Penguin asked me to illustrate a cover for Scotland's Books - a history of Scottish literature by Robert Crawford - featuring a group of seven writers past and present: Louise Welsh, Ali Smith, R L Stevenson, J M Barrie, Robert Burns, Irvine Welsh and Sir Walter Scott.

The Axe effect

2006-11-08T12:35:00.002Z

As part of a commitment to gaining in-depth knowledge of its consumers, Unilever Axe (sold in the UK as Lynx) has commissioned an insight handbook. The Axe 'Kama Sutra' communicates global brand values, enabling managers and partners to make strategic decisions. Design and art direction by Vibrandt.

Local legend: Bird-table Man

2006-11-07T00:34:00.001Z

Self-styled joker Mike Madden wasn't laughing after an incident with an angry squirrel left him in a neck brace. The hapless Yorkshireman constructed a hat to attract bird life in the woodland near his Huddersfield home. Unfortunately the lure of fresh nuts proved too much for one squirrel who promptly launched himself at Mike, knocking him to the ground. Madden ended up with whiplash. "It wasn't funny at the time, I couldn't believe the pain", he quipped. Source: BBC News. Commissioned by Loaded.

My first adventure

2006-11-06T23:26:00.002Z

To celebrate the Scout Centenary in 2007, Royal Mail commissioned a series of stamps depicting 'life-changing' moments in the lives of young Scouts. In this design, an 18-year-old Explorer Scout walks 50km to raise money for Cancer Research, the greatest (and most meaningful) adventure in her life so far. Design and art direction by The Workroom.

Is it real?

2006-10-23T10:38:00.001+01:00

According to Cigarnexus, Habonos SA, a Cuban export company has created a warranty seal to foil counterfeiters. Examine the seal with a jeweller's magnifying glass and a real one should display the words "SELLO DE GARANTIA REPUBLICA DE CUBA", which roughly translates as "Please save us from this old bearded Marxist". Commissioned by Men's Health UK.

A hole in my heart

2006-10-21T13:45:00.001+01:00

The evil Mexican Mr Ramirez! Commissioned by GQ Russia.

The art of packaging

2006-09-25T15:26:00.001+01:00

Commissioned by Packaging News.

Local legend: Pantman

2006-09-20T20:42:00.001+01:00

Pantman is a thirty-year-old Cardiff man who went on a shop window breaking spree dressed only in a pair of underpants. A court heard that Andrew Roxberry caused a total of £75,000 worth of damage smashing shop windows in Queen Street, Cardiff with a workman's shovel. According to the prosecution, Mr Roxberry - who has a criminal record of 217 offences - started by throwing a bottle at the window of Phones 4 U, then picked up the shovel and went along the street smashing a total of 43 windows. The smash-happy lad was finally cornered by local bobbies, who were greeted by him raising his shovel in triumph and lying on the ground, awaiting his arrest. Source (including CCTV footage): BBC News. Commissioned by Loaded.

Only fools . . .

2006-09-18T16:00:00.005+01:00

From a small local business founded in 1848, Amec has grown into a leading international construction company, employing about 45000 people in more than 40 countries, generating annual turnover of almost £5 billion. Recently, however, faced with significant losses in its UK building projects, Amec has been forced to make one or two cutbacks ... Commissioned for the cover of Building magazine.

Tug of justice: two visions of Europe

2006-08-23T22:06:00.001+01:00

Commissioned by New Internationalist to illustrate the tension between social and neo-liberal futures for a European community.

It's a 'tug of justice' between the common people on one side and the nefarious corporate types, grey politicians and bureaucrats on the other.

Owzat!

2006-08-23T12:45:00.001+01:00

"You have to understand the rules. Know where the boundaries are and how far you can go," says Stuart Aitken, Chief Information Officer for UK's Medical Research Council. As well as running information systems, Aitken has a passion for cricket umpiring. He officiates with the Middlesex County League, and has umpired in various countries, including Sri Lanka, Australia and Kenya. "Relax and concentrate. The moment you stop concentrating is the moment something happens that you miss." Commissioned by Paul Martin for the IET Review.

Lube logistics

2006-07-18T23:38:00.001+01:00

Illustration for Shell Globe about the Lubricants Delivery Promise, commissioned by Beetroot Publishing.

History repeating itself

2006-07-09T11:02:00.005+01:00

Catherine Parr is well known as the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But did you know that Henry was the third husband of Catherine's four, making them the most married couple in English royalty? Work in progress for a children's book cover:

Sullen

2006-07-03T11:00:00.001+01:00

Richard Yot aka 'frog' has been running a weekly sketch-a-thon at AOI discussion. Artists have one hour to interpret a given theme. Here's my drawing for this week, inspired by the raven-haired princess of gloom PJ Harvey.

San Fran's gone all Upper Class II

2006-06-19T09:40:00.001+01:00

Haight-Ash hobo with a touch of Noel Coward.

BedZED head

2006-06-02T01:50:00.002+01:00

Designed in 1999 for the Peabody Trust and built on the site of a former water treatment works, the Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient mix of housing and work space. This portrait of the architect, Bill Dunster, was commissioned by the RIBA Journal.

New York's gone all Upper Class II

2006-05-18T22:50:00.001+01:00

All due respect to the Ford Crown Victoria, the yellow checker cab urgently needs a makeover. Here's my proposal, based on a 1937 Rolls Royce: spacious, distinctive, stylishly impractical and wastefully extravangant. Who could ask for anything more?

Zen and the art of logistics

2006-05-18T15:05:00.003+01:00

"It’s going back to basics," says Phil Young, Head of IT at Amtrak Express Parcels. "I’ve got a tattoo on my shoulder of a Chinese symbol that means ‘simplicity’. That's what it's about. Keep costs down, keep turnover up, you’ve got to make a profit." Commissioned by Paul Martin for an interview in IET Review.

Le moment est venu

2006-05-16T13:54:00.001+01:00

Kriek Belle-Vue is produced by the Belgian tradition of mixing fresh cherries and Lambic beer (spontaneously fermented beer made in Brussels). Jef and Jos, brewers of Kriek Belle-Vue, are celebrated for their laconic wit, uneventful lives and KBV moments. This portrait of Jef and Jos was commissioned by Duval Guillaume Brussels on behalf of InBev and used as a KBV beermat.

Riding with T-rex

2006-05-16T13:06:00.001+01:00

Tyrannosaurus Sue - the largest, most complete, best preserved T-rex fossil yet discovered - stands 13 feet high at the hips and 42 feet long from head to tail. Weighing an estimated seven tons, she would have been longer, and probably faster than a double decker bus. Commissioned by Harcourt Education for a spread about fossil hunters of the Cheyenne River.

New York's gone all Upper Class

2006-05-12T01:27:00.001+01:00

Advertising for first-class long-haul aviation tends to play out along familiar lines: svelte cabin attendants, exquisite food, exotic locations, balding men in suits etc. Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class deliberately sets out to subvert these well-worn themes with a playful use of irony, appealing to a more youthful / aspirational / self-aware audience. The Statue of Liberty delicately sips tea from bone china . . .

Enough to make your skin crawl

2006-05-12T01:25:00.001+01:00

There are almost 4000 species of cockroach worldwide, apparently. Most live in tropical / subtropical forests and aren't considered a threat to public health. About 10 species, however, have adapted to human environments and become the 'pest' we know and hate, a carrier of diseases such as salmonella, typhoid, leprosy and even bubonic plague.

Penna Plc on behalf of Ecolab (world leader in commercial pest control) asked me to illustrate a series of recruitment ads for surveyors, technicians and sales executives. This one takes the form of a natural history display cabinet, with specimens lovingly collected and pinned down for scientific examination. The final sample Cockroachus Historicus has been brutally crushed: unlike the competition, Ecolab takes no prisoners.

San Fran's gone all Upper Class

2006-05-10T12:06:00.001+01:00

As part of Virgin Atlantic's £5m multi-media marketing campaign, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y+R (Virgin's London advertising agency) recently commissioned a series of images promoting the Upper Class Suite. Appearing in the UK press, internet and 96 sheet billboards across London, the illustrations mix cliches of English landed gentry with familiar aspects of New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Bruce Lee wears a monocle, an easy rider hunts foxes . . .

How to be an English cricketer

2006-05-05T17:10:00.002+01:00

Commissioned by The Wisden Cricketer as part of a feature on playing cricket for England, this took me back (previous previous) to my days of Airfix model kits: small fingers fumbling with even smaller bits of plastic, slowly dissolving into a single formless lump of Bostik and Humbrol.