I began experimenting with the book form as a Graphic Design student at Central Saint Martins in London where my final degree work in 1999 was a series of books intended for a hypothetical library on an airplane.
To complete the work I was taught how to bind a hardcovered book in a lunch break by the kind print technician Douglas Bevans and my friend and fellow illustration student: Tina Fox.
Knowing the basics of ‘how-to’, meant I could then begin to explore possibilities of extending and experimenting with the format, tailoring it to suit the topic. This has at times led to more sculptural books.
I have since been working with the format to complement the theme but also looking at how the reader/viewer may handle the piece. When exhibiting my work at artist’s book fairs I use it as an opportunity to see how the audience handle and perceive it. Sometimes this leads to design changes.
The topics of my work have developed over my decades as a book artist.
Early pieces explored the naive expressions of tin toy robots, an interest which has recently returned to my work with: ‘AI’, ‘Fishy’ and ‘Slut, prut, FINALE’. The appeal of the robot came about because I often felt like one, doing the often repetitive work.
My early books explored the simple ideas of life like: ‘Boy Meets Girl’. With more life experience the topics have become more complicated, but I still strive to keep the design simple. I like to say: Investigating life’s details – simple yet complicated.
For many years I only worked with white paper into which I hand-cut my designs – fascinated by light and shade on the simple surface of the neutral page. As print-on-demand has become an affordable possibility I have begun to use other means including photography. Even colour is used when I find it suitable to better communicate my story.
