Title: FREE THINKING
Published Size: 59mm X 39mm

Matthew Sweet and guests discuss routine, repetition, and our sense of time with art critic TJ Clark, and philosophers Lucy Bolton and Clare Carlisle, on BBC Radio 4. The daily commute to work for many thousands of people would fall into that mundane repetitive category.

Title: FREE THINKING

Radio Times publication “…the theme of doing the same thing again and again, referencing Groundhog Day.” Although Kierkegaard asserted that it’s impossible to have the same experience more than once.

Title: SUPERSENSES
Published Size: 59mm X 39mm

Its seems that there’s an Artificial Intelligence revolution taking place thats promising us eyes with laser precision, ears that can distinguish every sound in a mile radius and noses that can sniff out early signs of a forest fire before a flame is present. This is all very interesting, but I suspect that we will still need to have a regular eye test, just to see how good those laser eyes are.

Title: SUPERSENSES

Because of the printed size of this illustration [ 59mm X 39mm ] it meant that my image needed to be punchy on the page. I decided to ‘focus’ on the AI aspect of laser vision and the thought that this might mean we would no longer need to take an eye test. On that basis, I devised my illustration around the eye test chart which meant that I could make a graphically strong illustration and ensure that it was on-messaage with the article. Which is obviously an essential thing to do.

Title: A SHOW OF HANDS
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

What would you add to your hands, if like Tanya Jackson in 2018, you had a double hand transplant ? Obviously I’d include a pencil, a folk to eat my favorite Italian meal and a toothbrush to clean my teeth at the end of the day.

Title: A SHOW OF HANDS - [Sketch]

My initial concept drawing, outlining my creative direction of travel before producing the final illustration.

Title: THE STATIONERY CUPBOARD
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

I’ve always loved pens and pencils, so being asked to produce an illustration on that topic was an absolute joy to do. You’ll notice that I signified that point of view in the illustration itself.

Title: THE STATIONERY CUPBOARD - [Sketch]

My initial concept drawing, outlining my creative direction of travel before producing my final illustration. Mixed media, naturally.

Title: HERB
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

Societies attitude towards Cannabis has always been in a state of flux. Venture capitalism, music industry, pharmaceuticals and faiths, all have their own perspective on the Herb. Its fair to say that opinion is polarised. This Radio 3 program explored this topic in a non-partisan fashion.

Title: HERB - [Publication]

The transition from concept to the finish image can sometimes be quite close. Occasionally, a fresh option presents itself that improves the work. This time I flipped a poor idea around to find my solution.

Title: MY DEAF WORLD
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

Understanding and navigating the world as a deaf person is not easy. Having taught several deaf students in the past I know how challenging it is to navigate the world when your not privileged to have complete hearing.

Title: MY DEAF WORLD - [Sketch/ Publication]

My initial concept drawing, outlining my creative direction of travel before producing the final illustration. Including the printed illustration shows just how much my idea, rough and final pieces evolves.

Title: FIRST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

Producing an image for the ‘First Night of The Proms’ is definitely something special. Consequently, I feel that its something to sing about...Falsetto.

Title: FIRST NIGHT OF THE PROMS - [Sketch]

My initial concept drawing, outlines my creative direction of travel before producing the final illustration. Striping away elements and unnecessary components are key. The goal is to always try and…’Say a lot with a little’

Title: LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
Published Size: 59m/m X 39m/m

I was delighted to have had the opportunity to bookend the ‘Prom Season’ with this illustration. From the start of the Radio Times in 1923 it was intended not only to set out details of specific programs but to also comment on them. I also try to follow that philosophy in my work.

Title: LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS - [Sketch]

My initial concept drawing, outlining my creative direction of travel before producing the final illustration. The last night of the Proms is all about the waving of the Union Jack flag, wonderful music and lots of singing. Consequently these elements had to be the prime ingredients for the image.

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: 400mm X 400mm
Theme: Its difficult to not be inspired by the film ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and Ridley Scott’s original movie of 1982. I was greatly taken by the reoccurring references to light and eyes, both literally and metaphorically, in each of these masterpieces. Remember the monologue delivered by replicant Roy Batty…“ I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe…” perhaps this is the most moving death soliloquy in cinematic history.

Medium: Location
Scale: N/A
Theme: Its difficult to not be inspired by the film ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and Ridley Scott’s original movie of 1982. I was greatly taken by the reoccurring references to light and eyes, both literally and metaphorically, in each of these masterpieces. Remember the monologue delivered by replicant Roy Batty…“ I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe…” perhaps this is the most moving death soliloquy in cinematic history.

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: N/A
Theme: Invigorated version - For several decades its been my pleasure to have worked with 1,000’s of students. For the majority of that time I’ve been encouraging young creatives to ‘Look Sideways’. As the new academic year starts once again, the urge to finally execute an image that has sat with me for far too long, simply had to be done.

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: N/A
Theme: For several decades its been my pleasure to have worked with 1,000’s of students. For the majority of that time I’ve been encouraging young creatives to ‘Look Sideways’. As the new academic year starts once again, the urge to finally execute an image that has sat with me for far too long, simply had to be done.

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: 420mm X 420mm
Theme: Even typographers go on holiday, perhaps to sunny Ampersand-on-Sea or the windswept coastline of Great Garamond. One can only imagine what might get washed upon the shore, at the ‘C-Side’.

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: 420mm X 420mm
Theme: Book jacket - Applied image in context

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: N/A
Theme: ‘Wuthering Heights’ was Emily Bronte’s only published novel under the pseudonym of Ellis Bell in 1847. But there was another work that never came to light that follows on from that classic story. Not sure why Cathy smokes a pipe however, perhaps it helps her to think !

Medium: Adobe suite
Scale: 420mm X 420mm
Theme: The new TV series of Peaky Blinders starts on August 25, so in anticipation of that, this image transpired…By order of the Peaky Blinders.