Chris King

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Retro

Animated video telling the story of Northern Monk Brewery

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Portrait illustration of Cliff Morrison for Yes, Boys Can

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Visual narrative of Northern Monk Brewery’s craft beer journey

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Illustrated carousel scene in comic theme for housing publication

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Book cover design for Mystery Comics No.32 in retro comic style

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Striking illustrations centered on the character

Illustration is just one area in which this multi-talented artist has worked.

Born in the North of England, Chris grew up in seaside town of Scarborough. He attended the University of Northumbria in Newcastle where he gained a degree in Media Production, specialising in Animation and Character design. Chris now works as a successful full-time illustrator and designer; His work has been featured in numerous publications and media, worldwide.

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Interview

What drew you to illustration/design? It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and been good at from an early age, so it felt natural to pursue it as a career. Do you have any formal design training? I have a BA Hons in media/animation from Northumbria University in Newcastle. Where are you originally from? Sunny Scarborough, North Yorkshire! Where do you live now? Leeds. Do you collect anything? Vintage Comics, and Batman Figures. Do you keep a scrapbook? I keep both a virtual scrapbook on my desktop as well as a physical scrapbook. I also keep a sketchbook, which I try and draw something in, at least every day and that’s where most of my ideas start out. Tell us about a favourite project you’ve recently completed. I got the chance to re-illustrate the covers for "The Bad Tuesdays" series by Benjamin J. Myers, from Orion Books. The Art Director James Jones did a great job of designing the covers, and I’m really proud of the way they have turned out. What would be your dream job/commission? I’d love to illustrate a Sci-Fi or horror classic; H. G. Wells's novel "The Island of Dr. Moreau" would be fun. Who are your art heroes? Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and John Singer Sargent. Who are your illustration heroes? Too many to name, mainly comic book artists; Jack Kirby, Paul Pope, Mike Mignola, Frank Frazetta, James Jean. Who is your musical hero? Joe Strummer, absolutely adore The Clash. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into illustration? Persistence. Draw every day and keep going, if you're good enough you’ll get there, also draw what interests you, as the most important thing is to enjoy what you do. Do you think anyone with Photoshop can be an illustrator these days? I think it definitely gives more people access to illustration and design. But it's still just a tool, it’s what you produce with it that counts. Do you have a method for dealing with the feeling of having no ideas? I look to my sketchbook and usually find a seed of an idea hidden in the scribbles and notes. If you won the lottery what would you do with the money? You can now buy the right down to the flamethrower exhaust, so one of those would be nice! Just have to learn to drive first!

Favourites

Café: Salvo’s Café and Salumeria, Leeds Gallery: Nucleus Art Equipment: Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Blog: BOOOOOOOM Magazine: WIRED