anyone famous; I think h u m a n s a s a ra c e a r e a l l so unique and individual t h a t i t ’s a l m o s t irrelevant whether t h e y ’r e i n t h e p u b l i c a d e g r e e p o r t fo l i o 2013 eye or not. Having said tISSUE h a t w a s#6 c e l e MARCH brity that, I would have loved c a r i c a t u r e b a s e d fo r t o h a v e h a d a c ra c k the most part. Upon at Steve Irwin when completing my degree he was still around; I I was at something of a fo u n d – a n d s t i l l f i n d – crossroads, not really h i s e n t h u s i a s m fo r l i fe knowing what to do; u t t e r l y i n fe c t i o u s . C o m e then one day a noticed t o t h i n k o f i t , I ’d l o v e a n ‘A R T I S T S WA N T E D ’ a d to spend ten minutes online, posted by a guy in the presence of the c a l l e d N i g e l C o o ke w h o Dalai Lama too. owned a stand at Alton To w e r s R e s o r t . ( N i g e l ’s What has been your since become a good m o s t m e m o ra b l e friend.) One thing led to moment so far? a n o t h e r, a n d I s p e n t t h e D ra w i n g A l a n S h e a r e r n e x t fo u r y e a r s s o a k i n g fo r a c h a r i t y a u c t i o n up the summer season ra n k s p r e t t y h i g h , b u t and learning the ropes just getting the inside as a caricaturist into t ra c k i s w h e n I w o n the bargain. m y a w a r d s fo r ‘ B e s t L i ke n e s s ’ a n d ‘ B e s t Is that the only kind of Pa r t y C a r i c a t u r e s ’ a t t h e i l l u s t ra t i o n / d ra w i n g International Society you do? of Caricature Artists’ In a word, yes. I’ve annual convention in dabbled in other related L a s Ve g a s i n 2 0 0 5 . I t fields over the years, at was my first year in various times exploring attendance (with my c h a ra c t e r d e s i g n , l o g o g o o d p a l a n d fe l l o w design, and realistic a r t i s t M i ke C a r l o n ) a n d d ra w i n g . H o w e v e r I it was a blast. Hanging ke e p c o m i n g b a c k t o out and mingling with the fact that I am a my artistic heroes caricaturist at heart, left me tongue-tied at a n d t h i s i s h o w I ’d l i ke times, and I spent most to be remembered when of the week artistically I’ve gone (hopefully crippled by being in m a n y, m a n y y e a r s f r o m the presence of such now). I love the notion caricature royalty; of looking at the world however I seemed to i n a s l i g h t l y s ke w e d , overcome that, going on e x a g g e ra t e d w a y, w h i c h to have a fantastic time I find only in caricature. and creating a gallery This is why I intend to of pieces ultimately s t i c k w i t h i t fo r t h e deemed worthy by my long haul. peers.
o f To m R i c h m o n d d u r i n g THE FREE t h e l a tBIGGEST e nineties. A r e g u l a r s l o t d ra wFOR i n g fo r MAGAZINE tTHE he stu d e n t m a g a zine NORTH EAST ensued, alongside
Featuring
would frequently c o c k u p a d ra w i n g i n s o m e ra n d o m w a y o r a n o t h e r, a n d h a v e t o surreptitiously place a t h u m b o r s u c h l i ke a c r o s s t h e o f fe n d i n g p a r t o f t h e d ra w i n g when presenting the art t o t h e c u s t o m e r. T h i s happened more times than I care to recall! On another occasion, I reduced a lady to t e a r s a f t e r d ra w i n g h e r with, in her own words, a “ m a s s i v e n o s e ”. ( I must admit, it doesn’t fe e l p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d to elicit this reaction from someone; but at the same time, I often wonder why she was s i t t i n g fo r a c a r i c a t u r e in the first place, if she was that sensitive about h e r fe a t u r e s . ) T h e s e d a y s , I ’m s o e x p e r i e n c e d in what I do the humour and funny moments g e n e ra l l y c o m e a b o u t t h r o u g h w h a t I ’m putting down on paper – and the reactions of the crowd watching. Te l l u s 3 ra n d o m f a c t s about yourself? 1.I love listening to C h r i s t m a s m u s i c y e a rround. Sad but true! 2.I have a full-on o b s e s s i o n w i t h N e w Yo r k C i t y : c u l t u r e , h i s t o r y, architecture... smitten with the place. 3 . I w a s o n ‘ T h e Pa u l O ’G ra d y S h o w ’ i n 2 0 0 8 , presenting a customised c a r i c a t u r e p o r t ra i t t o t h e m a n h i m s e l f. To p fe l l a ! W h e n y o u ’r e n o t d ra w i n g h o w d o y o u l i ke to spend your time? The usual, really: chilling out with my fiancée and some good T V, r e a d i n g , c i n e m a , running, drinking, gym (not necessarily in that order). Nothing too
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SAGE Jazz Festival Hiccups Festival Food For Thoughts Music From Rayne And More I f y o u c o u l d d ra w anyone famous past or present who would it be and why? I don’t really have a m a s s i v e u r g e t o d ra w
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Have you had any f u n n y / e m b a r ra s s i n g i n c i d e n t s w h i l s t d ra w i n g someone? To o m a n y t o m e n t i o n ! In the early days o f A l t o n To w e r s I