Philadelphia
2021
Original drawn in ink over a map of Philadelphia.
31.4cm x 52cm
Prints are available from my new studio store.
Original sold.
It's unusual for me to visit a place (on paper) more than once but it does happen!
These two drawings were both crosshatched over folding maps of Oxford, UK. One place, two different outcomes. I'm sharing both again today while I press on with some new locations.
If you have any questions about my process or suggestions of places I should cover, feel free to comment below!
6 days ago
Crosshatching between the streets of Paris (private commission, 2022) 🗺️✍️
1 week ago
Items I've mailed: A Rubik's Cube
In 2011 I wrote a delivery address across several sides of an unscrambled Rubik's Cube. I then jumbled the cube, placed it inside a clear plastic bag labelled "solve me" before dropping it into a mailbox. The idea was that the postal service would need to solve the cube in order to deliver it.
Which surprisingly, they did.
It was received just a couple of days later. Royal Mail didn't solve the cube completely, but they did narrow down the address to two possibilities; the recipient's address being one of them. When it was delivered, the bag was covered in trial and error - possible postcodes noted and crossed out, new postcodes written underneath - and eventually a road name and two possible house numbers.
This was a standout experiment from my time as an art student (2008-2012). It was part of a wider project which involved mailing various 'naked' items, puzzles and artworks, using the postal system as a sort of forced gallery space. It was some of my earliest work around the themes of creative intervention, 'off-road' drawing, and using unusual surfaces or contexts as a channel or canvas for my artwork. Along with other similar experiments at the time, it helped sow the seeds of what I do now, turning old maps into detailed portraits.
1 week ago
Transforming old paper maps into portraits, one line at a time 🗺️✍️
1 week ago
Transforming old paper maps into portraits, one line at a time 🗺️✍️
1 week ago
Transforming old paper maps into portraits, one line at a time 🗺️✍️
Audio is from my appearance on BBC Radio Solent, where I was invited on to chat about my portrait work for Universal Music and the John Lennon Estate
1 week ago
Transforming old paper maps into portraits, one line at a time 🗺️✍️
Audio is from my appearance on BBC Radio Solent, where I was invited on to chat about my portrait work for Universal Music and the John Lennon Estate
1 week ago
For anyone new here... my work and drawing process in a nutshell 🗺️✍️
1 week ago
Crosshatching over old paper maps... my process in a nutshell 🗺️✍️
1 week ago
Some (hopefully) calming lines for a Monday afternoon. My mark making might be fast at times, but my overall process is slow and grounding.
Thank you all for taking the time yesterday to look around my studio, I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the tour! As I mentioned previously, I'll deep dive into my map collection in a future newsletter.
2 weeks ago
If like me you're a bit nosy and like to poke around other artists' spaces, you should look out for my next newsletter, dropping tomorrow. I'll be giving a little tour of my studio, talking about some of my inspirations... and recounting the story of Dave, my missing goldfish.
If you don't already receive my newsletter, you can sign up via email using the info at the top of my profile. It's free to join.
Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend!
2 weeks ago
"Nothing makes me feel older than a software update. Everything changes, and by the time I’ve got the hang of things, it’s time for the next update.
For the most part I’m not against advances in technology, I just wish it would slow down a little. I remember the days of buying a videogame on a disc or cartridge, knowing it would stay that way forever, imperfections and all. It was solid and predictable, dependable even. Software today feels like water between my fingers. Always changing shape, never solid – a constant stream of features added, features taken away – it can feel so frustrating.
In a practical sense, thinking about maps specifically, the ability to update maps digitally is of course incredibly useful, and I use Google maps along with most other modern technologies. But in terms of what appeals to me, what I find most intuitive, most comfortable, I’m very old-school. I like pens on paper, calendars on the fridge, lists in a notebook. If a daily task can be done in the real world away from a screen, that’s often the way I’ll do it."
I have an in-depth interview in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine! I'm in great company too. It's out March 1st and can be pre-ordered now. A huge thanks to the writers and editors at @beautifulbizarremagazine for the feature 💙
2 months ago
A few popular prints still in stock. Some of my personal favourites have sold out and I only have proof prints to hang on my own walls! I don't really tend to hang a lot of my work anyway. At least not in my studio as you'd perhaps expect.
To make prints available to collectors, my finished drawings are carefully reproduced using heavyweight papers and archival inks. Print runs are always limited in number, and once they sell out, that's it, they're gone.
There are thousands of my prints hanging all over the world - to know that so many people see my work every day is very special to me - and of course it allows me to continue doing what I do, what I love to do. So thank you to all collectors and enthusiasts who make that happen 🙏
3 months ago
New prints have dropped ✨
Thank you so much to everyone placing early orders! There are 3 new prints, two of which (Minneapolis, pictured here, and Buffalo II) can be found in my studio store.
Washington DC is available from @abendgallery
All links are at the top of my profile
3 months ago
These three locations - Washington DC, Buffalo, Minneapolis - will be available as prints very soon. Keep an eye out for my next newsletter for details.
This time last week my latest prize draw came to a close, and a winner was picked at random. A huge thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the winner!
3 months ago
Fast, confident lines crosshatched over an old map of Buffalo, sourced from one of the many atlases in my collection 🗺✍️
Just a quick reminder - this time next week I'll be gifting a rare (no longer available) Brooklyn print from my studio to one of my newsletter subscribers, picked at random. Check the link at the top of my profile if you'd like to enter the draw. Someone has to win, and if you already receive my newsletters, you're already in with a chance.
Buffalo will be included in my next release of limited prints and originals, dropping in just a few weeks from now. Can't wait to share more with you all!
4 months ago
This map of Buffalo will be available in my next studio release, which drops in just a few weeks! The release is US themed and we're working on the print runs as I type.
To coincide with the release I'm gifting a print of Brooklyn II (see my previous post) to one of my newsletter subscribers, selected at random. To enter the draw you just need to sign up to my newsletter, which you can do using the link at the top of my profile. You have until next Sunday, November 16th - the day after my birthday - to enter. If you're already signed up, you're already in the draw. It's as simple as that. Good luck!
4 months ago
Are you feeling lucky?
My next studio release is US themed (after last month's UK theme), with new prints and originals dropping in just a few weeks from now.
This Brooklyn print won't be included as it's no longer available, BUT... I do have a rare AP (Artist Proof print) in my plan chest which I'd love to gift to one of you at random.
To enter the draw, simply join my email newsletter using the link at the top of my profile. If you're already on my mailing list you don't need to do anything at all, you're already in with a chance.
I only send newsletters every so often, usually just to share new work, new news (so just, news) and any other updates from my studio. It's free to receive, and unlike the mysterious algorithms of social media, if you're on my mailing list, you will always see my updates.
4 months ago
Close-up of Keira Knightley crosshatched over Boston, commissioned in 2023 by @disneyplusuk and @20thcenturystudios
Scroll to see the full portrait 👀
4 months ago
Sunset in the studio.
My windows are east facing, so I only really get direct light early in the morning - which is fine - but then if the sky is clear around late afternoon, I get a softer display of sunlight, reflected from neighbouring buildings.
The colours create a warm atmosphere and the shapes change minute by minute. Perhaps one day I'll record a timelapse.
4 months ago
New prints are live!
Massive thanks to everyone already placing orders, it makes all the hard work and preparation worthwhile.
A huge thanks also to the collectors acquiring originals from the release... of all the new works in store there's just one original remaining.
You can view the full details (as well as the new prints) using the links at the top of my profile.
5 months ago
Chelsea, London (2025, sold)
Prints coming this week! Sign up to my newsletter to receive a reminder along with other updates from my studio.
The process video (second slide) was recorded in real time as always... no speeding up or slowing down of footage. Just a few different sequences put together.
This was crosshatched using a fountain pen, instead of my usual pigment liners. Pigment Liners are great for delicate details, but occasionally something a little heavier is needed. I have a few different fountain pens, and I use a range of inks, either cartridge-fed or through an ink reservoir (a tiny cartridge-shaped plunger that sucks up ink from the bottle)
A warm thank you to the collector who acquired this original from my latest studio release 🙏
5 months ago
New prints go live NEXT WEEK! This map of Woolwich will be included.
The release is Thames themed and will feature a wider map of Greater London, along with Chelsea, Woolwich, Marlow to Maidenhead and further upstream of London, the city of Oxford.
Email subscribers will receive a newsletter within the next few days containing full details of the release - they'll also get an early heads-up once prints have been listed in the store. If you'd like to join my mailing list, you're more than welcome - you know where to find the link!
My next newsletter will also contain info on the original works. I currently have no originals available thanks to my wonderful collectors, so I'm very excited to be making these new locations available. Again, keep an eye out for that newsletter ✉️✍️
Any questions in the meantime feel free to comment below
5 months ago