ILLUSTRATING SUCCESS
ILLUSTRATING SUCCESS There’s something captivating about a badger in pyjamas with a hankering for pancakes. Could it be his charming nightwear, expectant paws or the child-like relatability? Whatever the answer, alumnus and illustrator James Ward has made a successful business out of drawing it. After graduating from the Illustration BA course (now Illustration and Visual Communication) in 2008, James set up a small business, Jimbobart, in 2009. His products, including ceramics, homewares, artwork and clothing, each feature his original designs of animals mirroring all manner of human behaviours – be it wearing pants, DJing or gorging on cheese. Over the past decade, the demand for Jimbobart’s charming designs has increased, with over a thousand sales of the iconic badger pancake plate last year alone. Making a living as an artist is no mean feat, so how has James turned his love of drawing into such a successful business? “I was encouraged to draw for as long as I can remember,” he says. “When I was young, I would copy from a bird book, sketching the pictures and even writing out all the text! I always hoped to make a living out of drawing, and imagined that as long as I was producing artwork to pay the bills, I would be happy. “So I chose to study Natural History and Scientific Illustration, but having just left school, I didn’t really have enough focus. I travelled and worked for a few years before returning to my studies a bit later; that’s when I went to Westminster. “I really enjoyed my time at University. The tutors were super
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encouraging, and there was time to create a proper portfolio of work and experiment in different mediums. “The degree show was a particular highlight. The experience was so valuable, and in fact, someone who came to the show invited me to exhibit somewhere else, which led me to sell my first pieces of work. “Another highlight was meeting my best mate, Zack Mclaughlin. Since graduating, we’ve continued to push each other through friendly competition.
Photo credit: Yeshen Venema
| ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2020
We’ve shared studio spaces for long periods in our careers and it has been amazing to see his work and company Paper and Wood develop. Selfemployment can be lonely, so to be able to share some of the experiences and challenges alongside him has made a big difference.” Following his degree, James took a trip to Sweden, where he was introduced to natural history surface design and was inspired by the potential in designing ceramics and
