Keavey Gamwell - itskeavs

Keavey Gamwell

Having been recently introduced, by our lovely, artist of the year, Holly Rees, to an up-and-coming illustrator/gig photographer, Teesside University graduate, Keavey Gamwell, we just had to take a peek. We that peek, we made the trip over to Middlesbrough, and a quaint coffee shop named ‘Off The Ground’ on Grange Road, for a hot chocolate, and a bit of an arty natter. Keavey, she’s recently graduated from the nearby university, having completed a BA Hons in Graphic Design & Marketing (it’s a rather decent, educational establishment, one of us has also studied there, graduating a decade ago this November) – anyway, we digress somewhat, Keavey meanwhile, she’s looking back on the past three years having recently just finished her 2022 Graduate Showcase on her InfoSlashHorror ‘conceptual infographic fusing data and the horror film genre’ - that’s right up our street! It has been three years for her that have seen her traverse through the trials and tribulations of university, take up gig photography, dabble a little in her pastime of illustrating, and looking to make sort of name for herself, alongside the small matter of a global pandemic. “I started university in late 2019, all was good back then, until covid brought everything to half 13

in early 2020,” began Keavey, looking back on those early days of two, key moments, in what is still a young life. “That disruption to life, during my first year at Teesside, it did change things quite a bit. “However, it also gave me the discipline when it came to working from home. “Getting int o a routine, converting a room into a viable workspace, that became the normal, for most of us. “When it came to going back though, that was a bit of a culture shock, but, overall, I’d say I loved the experience I had, and I’m glad that I chose to study a Marketing degree, ahead of Illustration – it became more of a challenge for me.” So, here we have two, working parts, whirring away inside Keavey’s, artistic mind; illustrating, and gig photography (adding in the ability to design as well). The illustrating, to be honest like with most of us, emanates from her younger days – admit it, we all doodled at the very least, some progressed to a little more, arty things, and, with Keavey, it stuck around “Yeah, I used to paint a lot when I was at school, before moving onto illustration,” continued Keavey. “I started freelancing, illustrating, in the summer before going to uni, then I started getting into a little gig photography, and I just

went for it and hoped for the best more than anything.” Gigging, whether it be on-stage, or from behind the lens, can lead to weird and wonderful, fantastical and other-worldly. For Keavey though, she working part-time at Base Camp Boro (https://www.facebook.com/ basecampboro), and whilst possessing an, understandable, admiration for our artist of the year (it’s actually hard to know, Holly is lush), Keavey hopes that her talent from behind the lens snowballs over the coming months, and years. “Holly (Rees), I love her work and I was really pleased when she asked me to shoot at her Bobiks (Newcastle) gig, that was a really dreamy night,” stated Keavey. “It’s refreshing to be able to go out there, and take photos of someone like Holly, she’s lovely. “Last year though, my highlights have to be, that first gig back, in Leeds, the night after the restrictions were all lifted; it was nice to be back out there and I was really lucky to be. “Also, a really good one for me, that was the Flatline gig, a really crazy, heavy metal gig, and something that has a completely different type of energy to.” As for now, well the upcoming months, and years ahead, Keavey Gamwell will, almost certainly, be looking to spread out her wings, and take in what the world has to offer.

There’s plenty out there, you just have to chase your dreams, and grasp it with both hands, or in Keavey’s case, the lens of her camera, should she so wish to. “Photography-wise, I’ve got quite a bit coming up to be honest, including shooting Flatline, Mouses, etc,” she concluded. “With uni having been the main focus over the last three years or so, I’m now having to start building up a portfolio. “As for who would I love to be able to shoot, definitely Paramore, and Julien Baker (a musician from Memphis, Tennessee) who Holly reminds me of, and I told her so, and Sam Fender, he would be great to shoot.” Check out Keavey’s work on her Facebook via https://www. facebook.com/itskeavs/ (delightful, red floral image, courtesy of Eliana Casagrande) (graduate showcase exhibition, images courtesy of Jody McFarlane)

ROMESH RANGANATHAN COMES TO THE CITY HALL FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019 WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW TICKETS ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018

Romesh Ranganathan is back with a brand-new show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, and it’s his most brutally honest show yet.

Fresh from The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League Of Their Own and Judge Romesh, he’s putting showbiz aside to deliver a carefully-curated selection of all the things he has found unacceptable since his last tour, including why trying to save the environment is a scam, why none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him.

Romesh’s cynicism has become his trademark, but since being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards this deadpan humour has become one of Britain’s most respected and popular comics. Now, though, it’s time for the Asian Provocateur to return to his stand-up roots for a while – there’s things he needs to point out, discuss and have a good moan about. Care to join him?

Show drops 2019, don’t miss it.

Tickets for Romesh Ranganathan are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and are £26.50. Tickets can be purchased online at www. theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)