Jerwood finalist in Festival showcase A Thousand Words: The Art of Illustration

Jerwood Drawing Prize finalist Glyn Brewerton is among 11 international illustrators whose work is to be showcased during the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival from this month.

From Richard and Judy to a twisty take on the Tarot; from meditations on nature to witty weirdness, the exhibition – A Thousand Words – showcases stunning pieces by artist-illustrators, who work in a range of media including paint, drawing, collage and print.

Brewerton’s powerful northern landscapes, created in atmospheric charcoal, are among 40 works selected for the Festival exhibition.

“The show is a unique opportunity to see how illustration can move beautifully from the page to the gallery wall,” said exhibition organiser Rebecca Dearden. “Artists from across the country were selected for their original styles and fascinating ideas. It was fantastic that two of the artists we just had to have because of their superb work turned out to be local.”

Artists are Annie b., Samuel Bell, Chris Harper, Glyn Brewerton, Matt Murphy, Marc Renshaw, Sue Robson, Squid, Andy Steward, Kirsty Colville and Steve Wilkin.

The exhibition runs from Saturday, June 14 to Sunday, July 13 at the Festival Gallery, Albert Street, Hebden Bridge, and is open from 10.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 5pm on Sundays.

The artists

Annie b.:
Annie b. is based in Cornwall, but works internationally. She illustrates CDs, book covers and children’s books. She says: “Out walking, I tune into the trees and feel an exchange. Just being in their presence opens a doorway to another magical world. I am drawn to their beautiful energy and strength. Back in my studio, in meditation, I tune back into the tree I am painting, open a communication, absorb myself in their magic.”

Samuel Bell:
A graduate of the Arts Institute of Bournemouth, Samuel Bell draws inspiration from an eclectic range of sources. Drawing and application of colour form the basis of his surrealistic, hand-made work.

Chris Harper
Chris Harper is based in Hebden Bridge and studied at Central Saint Martins. His work, he says, explores the relationship between autographic drawing processes and visual communication. As well as creating commissioned illustration for publishers and a range of other clients, he has lectured in illustration across the country.

Glyn Brewerton:
Glyn Brewerton graduated with a first in Illustration and then went on to complete an MA in Communication Design/Illustration at Central Saint Martins College. His haunting, atmospheric work was shown in the Jerwood Drawing Prize this year.

Matt Murphy

An award-winning illustrator, Matt Murphy was this year selected as one of the world’s top 200 illustrators. His clients have included the New York Times, The Observer and The Big Issue. He is based in Somerset.

Marc Renshaw:
Based in North Lincolnshire, Marc Renshaw says he is “compelled to draw in order to convey my experiences and thoughts through observational and autonomous processes”. He uses traditional and new media techniques to manipulate his work intuitively, resulting in an eclectic mix of disparate narratives and wry social commentary.
Marc is currently working towards an MA in illustration at The University of Lincoln.

Sue Robson:
Originally a ceramicist, Sue Robson now works with line drawing, collage and pattern. She describes her work as “decorative, contemporary and stylised. I like to simplify objects to a few lines and incorporate a modern retro palette”.

Squid:
Squid is a London-based designer whose characters and illustrations have appeared in newspapers and magazines, on t-shirt designs, CD packaging and event publicity. Her animation work has appeared on national TV and screened in film festivals in Europe and the US.

Andy Steward:
After graduating with an MA in Sequential Illustration/Design at University of Brighton in 1997, Andrew has worked as a freelance illustrator/multimedia designer for 10 years and is based between London and Brighton.
His work pays homage to the mundane objects taken for granted in our day-to-day. The wire frames and transparency highlight the honestly and humour associated with our favourite iconic imagery in and outside the home. Medium: Paint and transfer.

Steve Wilkin:
Steve Wilkin has 20 years’ experience in design and publishing. He draws every day and – if you’ve ever caught the train from Hebden Bridge to Preston – you could already have been one of his unwitting sitters.
His current interests are intuitive drawings – notes, scribbles, doodles, and other marginalia. He lectures in illustration and run the degree programme and MA Children’s Book Illustration courses at the University of Central Lancashire.

Kirsty Colville

Postal booking for the 40-plus performances and workshops is now open. The box office on Albert Street opens on June 14.

The 2008 Festival runs from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, July 13.

If you’d like to be kept in touch with what’s planned, e-mail hbfestival@gmail.com or visit www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival.