Rochdale artist Doodlher

Vic Whitaker (Doodlher) creates stunning artwork that can be spotted at a variety of different locations across Rochdale.

From murals and window decals, to prints and illustrations for beer cans, the artist's creative work encapsulates the charm of Rochdale.

Rochdale Style Magazine chatted with Vic to find out all about her recent art projects, what inspires her work and what she hopes people take from her art.

Style: Tell us a bit about you and your work

Vic: I grew up over the hill from Rochdale in Rishworth and moved here about eight years ago. The switch from a rural to an urban environment was like a springboard for my creativity. I’d regularly go into Rochdale town centre to sit and draw. Previously I’d been really shy about drawing in public, but I gradually built up the courage and confidence to just do it. This is why so much of my work features Rochdale landmarks, people and buildings. Rochdale was my first proper muse.

I categorise myself a pen illustrator. Pens are my primary tool and most of my work tells a story or has some kind of a theme behind it. Drawing with pen has always been a thing for me, even as a child.

My dad did a lot of joinery and he used fine tip pens for his designs. I used to borrow them, they felt so grown-up. I loved creating strong black outlines and honing in on fine details. I guess that’s stuck.

Nowadays I love combining my penwork with other mediums, including paint and digital. The same goes for surfaces. Although I mostly work on paper, I’ve also worked on wood, plaster, clay and slate.

I split my Doodlher time between commissions and creating artwork for my shop. I love it when people come to me with the seed of an idea and I can help them develop it into a fully-fledged piece of art.

I recently completed a beautiful commission that combined a pen illustration of a local landscape with Van Gogh’s Starry Night, painted in his style. I’ve also created illustrations for apparel, beer cans, and there’s my mural work too.

What inspires your art?

It’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what inspires my art. I know that lockdown had a negative impact on my creativity. Being unable to get out experience the world made my productivity dwindle. Once restrictions were lifted, I was backup-and-doodling within a few months. So, life and the world - that’s what inspires me.

My interests definitely influence what I draw. I’m interested in history, understanding how things came to be. Travel, food, culture. I also like the challenge of taking an idea and turning it into something tangible.

I’m a productive person. My head likes being busy and drawing is a great way for me to give it something to chew on.

Tell us about some of your recent local projects

One of the new things I’ve been playing with recently is the process of creating paper illustrations that can be displayed outside. They’re commonly known as ‘paste-ups’.

During the Uprising street art festival that took place in Rochdale in the summer of 2019, a number of well-known paste-up artists spontaneously rocked up and hid their creations around Rochdale. Only a few of them remain today. It’s something I’ve always wanted to have a go at as it allows me to create artwork on paper at my desk without a time limit, then install it at a location outside.

The first paste-up I actually created for Rochdale can be found at Voltalab Sound Studios on Kenion Street. It’s a big piece, it fills an old window. The second is a smaller illustration of two rats scurrying out of The Pint Pot on Baillie Street with a glass of ale.

I’m currently working on another piece featuring Gracie Fields. It’s a project that keeps evolving and is very much still a work-in-progress.

I’d like it to be displayed somewhere in Rochdale town centre when it’s finished and I’ll be looking for location suggestions when the time to paste it up arrives.

Beyond paste-ups, but staying local, I’ve also recently finished pen illustration commissions for Rochdale Sixth Form College and the Town Hall.

What do you hope people get from seeing your artwork out and about?

I’ve got quite a few pieces now in Rochdale town centre, including some large painted murals. I personally really enjoy exploring towns and cities through the street art that’s on display.

Between shops, coffee chains, bricks, and street furniture, there’s something really unique about seeing the art its residents and visitors have made.

My paste-ups are designed to add a bit of fun and positivity to the street. If one catches someone’s eye and puts a smile on their face, then that’s a win!

Lucy Fieldhouse