When did you first become interested in art?

When I was young, we used to visit Uncle Dusty who was an oil painter of dreamy ocean scenes. So I thought if I was an artist I’d always be near the sea.

How would you describe your design style?

Sincere and satirical illustrations, drawn from real life situations.

What inspires you?

I’m influenced by headline news, ancient culture, criminal investigations and patterns in nature; combination of subjects that should keep me busy for many years to come.

What is your favourite piece in your collection?

My latest piece, “Dissolved in Beauty” because its a refreshing new start into a project about patterns in nature. Plus it sparkles when I look at it.

Is there any artistic talent in your family?

Yes there is, my Mum is a master of taste, patterns and flavour, my Dad who has passed on, was a great patient builder. And my Sister is a textile genius.

What is the journey you take to produce your work?

I use my digital camera as a journal, collecting a lot of photos. Sometimes certain images jump out for further inspection and transformation. I start sketching digitally on an iPad. Afterwards, it becomes a large scale drawing made in Photoshop. Then I like to see my designs embossed on a surface. I’m drawn to silk screen, paint and ink because it allows repetition of motif and gives fast, simple colour changes that deliver a tactile hand finish.

What made you want to be a part of Art Rookie?

I like the friendly, welcoming nature of Liz and Jodie. I can see they put their heart into supporting a creative Britain.

When you’re not creating masterpieces what do you enjoy doing?

I practice Falun Gong meditation to keep my mind calm. And spend the summer by the sea watching the sun rising and setting again. I never get bored of that.

Have you faced any struggles getting your work noticed?

Yes I find it hard with the narcissistic nature of promoting myself, so I go back, hideaway and just make something new. Now I think its time to make a concerted effort to do some shameless self-promotion.

Where would we find you hanging out in the UK?

My home city of Liverpool for the banter. Then my home away from home in London for the hustle and bustle. Both are great places for people watching.

What makes British talent different than elsewhere?

A good understanding of satire. Its still a country full of eccentric dreamers.

What are your plans for 2016?

What I’m looking at now, is the way headline news is buried under less damaging but still sensational stories. I see a smoke-screen to protect the interests of another entity. Specifically I’m making a series on the mounting evidence of organ harvesting in China. Former Police Chief Wang Lijun, disguised as an elderly lady, attempted to seek sanctuary and entered a US Embassy in Chengdu. He ratted out his boss Bo Xilai, leaking all kinds of confidential information. Bo had tracked him down using Wang’s mobile phone and surrounded the Embassy. Wang was handed over and then debriefed. The story that rose to the top in the West was Bo Xilai’s wife, Gu Kalai murdering businessman Neil Heyward. This avoids the bigger picture. That being, both Bo and Wang Lijun were believed to be key pioneers and perpetrators in organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience such as Falun Gong and Tibetans. Their faction boss was former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. I’m illustrating this from a book called The Slaughter – Mass killings, organ harvesting, and China’s secret solution to its dissident problem by Ethan Gutmann. Some stories involve a deeper investigation that doesn’t fit into a 24 hour news cycle. They get lost in the system. I want to help uncover and make sense of this story with macabre illustrations and fitting propaganda style slogans.

http://www.artrookie.co.uk/Sigross

When did you first become interested in art?

From quite young, as a kid I tried to emulate (copy) the work of 2000AD artists, such as Brian Bolland and Carlos Ezquerra and it just grew from there.

How would you describe your design style?

Difficult question. Typographic pop geekery.

What inspires you?

Cinema, music, books, the art community in Glasgow, you need a good group of people around you to push you creatively.

What is your favourite piece in your collection?

Probably The Man Who Fell To Earth, it combines my obsession with Bowie, cinema and sci-fi.

Is there any artistic talent in your family?

The dog is a very accomplished dancer with a background in contemporary ballet.

What is the journey you take to produce your work?

Idea, tea, type, tea, colour, tea, song break, delete, new idea, repeat.

What made you want to be a part of Art Rookie?

A lovely email invite and I liked the fact you’re based here.

When you’re not creating masterpieces what do you enjoy doing?

Watching movies and reading, hiking in the Scottish hills when I’m forced outdoors.

Have you faced any struggles getting your work noticed?

I think I’ve been quite lucky so far, I had to change medium from photography to what I do now and managed to get into a young gallery here in Glasgow quite early on and haven’t looked back.

Where would we find you hanging out in the UK?

Glasgow, top city, one of the best art and music scenes around.

What makes British talent different than elsewhere?

Regular tea breaks.

What are your plans for 2016?

I’m not known for having a plan, if I make it to dinner I’m happy.

http://www.artrookie.co.uk/RoboticEwe

When did you first become interested in art ?

Like most, as a child! I loved drawing my favourite characters, as well as making up stories and characters to draw!

How would you describe your design style?

Diverse! I get bored sticking to just one art style – I like to experiment a lot, so my portfolio is very varied!

What inspires you?

Everything! I’m always thinking about future ideas, the art side of my brain never really turns off! Also a huuuuge list of favourite artists and films/animation!

What is your favourite piece in your collection?

Hard to choose! I quite like “Garden Birds,” I think the visual style is quite nice. I also like “Fennec Foxes,” but that may just be because I’m obsessed with them! 😉 I think my “Padme Amidala” painting if one of my best portraits, I really like how the lighting came out!

Is there any artistic talent in your family?

Haha! Nah, its just me! 😉

What is the journey you take to produce your work?

It completely depends! Sometimes I put a great deal of planning and research into pieces, others I  mostly make up as I go along! Everything starts with a sketch and colour tests!

What made you want to be a part of Art Rookie?

As an emerging artist (graduating last summer), I had been wanting to be apart of a British based art /design collective. I really liked the site when I found it – it has a great product range and is a good place to sell prints!

When you’re not creating masterpieces what do you enjoy doing?

Creating art is my thing, but other than that I am hugely passionate about film, animation (my degree is in Animation Production) and travel! I read a lot of history (and other non fiction) books and watch a lot of documentaries, I have a huge thirst for knowledge! I’d really love to make some time to learn a foreign language,  but its hard to choose just one to focus on! (Not to mention making the time!)

Have you faced any struggles getting your work noticed?

Sure, its a continuous struggle! There are so many incredible artists out there, it can be really hard to stand out! Its a slow road, but its all progress!

Where would we find you hanging out in the UK?

Living the reclusive artists dream! (My home, drawing)

I’m also just a liiiittle obsessed with zoos and natural history museums! Every city I travel to, I just have to visit the local ones!

What are your plans for 2016?

Keep on improving my portfolio and travel loads! I’ve been freelancing steadily for the last few months, but I’m hoping this’ll be the year I finally decided on a more steady career to break into – there are so many paths its so hard to choose! Right now its between visual development for animation and children’s book illustrating – I’m really interested in telling stories visually!

http://www.artrookie.co.uk/sophieeves

Hey everyone!

Art Rookie is so excited to announce its debut exhibition ‘Best of British’ in collaboration with theprintspace.

We are showcasing an elite selection of Art Rookie artists.

On the 17th March we are hosting the Private view in Shoreditch, London. It will be a fantastic night with free drinks and entertainment! Prints will be available to purchase on the night!

You are all invited. Friends and family members too!

Artists include:
Helen Green
Karl James Mountford
Robotic Ewe
Luke Fisher
Sophie Ewes
Laura Amy Thompson
Mike Hazard
Artistic Side Of Life
Natt
Ainsley
Amy Lewis
Collage by MC
Lucy Schmidt
John Holcroft
Stephen Millership
Patrick Welham
Miss Wearer
3 competition winners to be revealed!

Looking forward to meeting you all there.

Private view
Complimentary drinks and music from DJ Twogoodsouls
Thursday 17 March 2016, 7.30pm-10pm
theprintspace, 74 Kingsland Road, E2 8DL

Exhibition
Friday 18 March -24 March 2016
Open 9am to 7pm, Mon-Fri

View more info on our events page – http://bit.do/bestofbritish

We’re excited to announce our new competition in association with theprintspace!

Win  the opportunity to be 1 of the chosen 3 new artists to be shown in a group exhibition at theprintspace, amongst a selection of Art Rookie’s elite British artists!

This is a fantastic chance to have your work exhibited at theprintspace Gallery in Shoreditch, the creative heart of London. The exhibition will welcome your guests with a private view, including drinks & entertainment.

To enter, you must be a member of Art Rookie. Sign up here for free , and upload the artworks you’d like to enter. Then, submit your Art Rookie profile via email to: .

Submissions close March 11 2016 (11.59pm), and winners will be announced on March 14 2016.

http://www.artrookie.co.uk/ladiebirdy

When did you first become interested in art?

I have always had a love for design and was inspired by my grandmother who was an oil and watercolour painter and taught me from a very young age how to draw and paint.

How would you describe your design style?

My design style is very abstract, fun, colourful and unique. If it makes me laugh, it will make my customers smile.

What inspires you?

I am really inspired from graffiti street artists, I love the colours and striking design styles. I think our streets are sometimes too grey and dull so it is nice to see someone has been creative and shared their talents. I love going to new cities and hunting down the street graffiti, its my geeky thing, everyone has a geeky thing and this is mine.

What is your favourite piece in your collection?

My favourite piece in my collection is my little book of Londoners, which is an alphabet of the people you find around London. Currently I sell this on my website www.ladiebirdy.com but look on here in the next few weeks as I will have prints on here for sale.

Is there any artistic talent in your family?

Just my Grandmother, refer to question 1.

What is the journey you take to produce your work?

I normally think of an idea, then will sketch it out to see how it looks. I often leave the doodles for a couple of days before I commit to drawing out on my computer. With more practice I can get the designs to come out as I visualise in my mind. I will then ask friends and family their thoughts before I see on my website and Sytall in Spitalfields Market.

What made you want to be a part of Art Rookie?

I received a lovely email from Art Rookie asking to submit my designs. Also have looked at the talent on here and wanted to be a part of that. I think Art Rookie is a great idea to help Artists get there name out there. Marketing is the hardest thing so this is perfect.

When you’re not creating masterpieces what do you enjoy doing?

Photography, mostly street art, and candid photos of people in different cities. I also love cycling and regularly do the Dunwich Dynamo which is a 200k overnight cycle from Hackney to the Coast.

Have you faced any struggles getting your work noticed?

Yes – although I apply and submit to everything. I believe that any exposure is good exposure. Just before Xmas I applied to get into the London Illustration Fair, at OXO Tower Wharf and was successful. From this weeks exposure I made some great contacts with Book Publishers and Buyers from different Stores.

Where would we find you hanging out in the UK?

Living in Acton, and working weekdays at my stall in Spitalfields Market, unless its really cold and wet then ill work in my studio.

What makes British talent different than elsewhere?

I think designs made about London really stand out, and are quite obviously different from other countries. For me these are the best.

What are your plans for 2016?

Working with Hatchette Childrens Book Publishers on 4 children’s books. I also applied to the Liberty Artist Open Call and will be displaying my book in their shop this summer. I am hoping to get into Top Drawer this August so have to plan for that, but first a trip to Colombia with my Boyfriend to grab some sun.