Introducing Bryony Clarkson

Bryony Clarkson is one of Bright’s newest talents. Having graduated from Loughborough College of Art with an emphasis in textiles before studying for an MA at the Royal College of Art in London, she has now switched her focus from fabrics to work with a mixture of cut paper collage and digital techniques.

Her signature style features rich textures, palettes that pop and quirky animals with lots of personality. But how does she achieve such gorgeous finished pieces?

We chatted with Bryony about her process and inspirations, as well as some of her biggest artistic achievemnets. Read on to learn just how she weaves magic with her art and to get a glimpse of her dreamy studio.

How do you feel your experience as an embroidery designer has impacted the way you work and create now for your art licensing clients?

I work in exactly the same way with paper, as I used to with fabric. My embroidery designs often involved small pieces of fabric, appliquéd onto a base fabric to create the image. Then the stitches made ‘drawn’ lines, for detail. I’ve simply swapped fabric and thread for paper and pencils! The thought process is no different at all.

I also studied colour a great deal as part of my textile design training, which is now a natural art of my thinking. I have favourite ‘go-to’ colour schemes that I rely on all the time, as well as loving to play with new combinations and looking at colour trends.

What do you find to be your biggest sources of everyday inspiration?

Definitely my children. We chat about ideas for fun things to draw, that would appeal to them, all the time. They are my best inspiration and harshest critics! I also love to see the uninhibited way that they draw, which inspires me to try and have a spontaneous feel in my own work.

What has been your favorite project to date and what made it so special?

I adore drawing animals, and some of my favourite pieces of all time are my series of circus images, which I worked on, on and off, for quite a long while. I really enjoy trying to build expressions and character into the pieces, which I hope makes children really relate to them. When I have got a character just right, it almost feels as if I know them. I definitely feel like that about my Juggler, Ringmaster and their animal friends.

TAKE A PEEK BEHIND THE MAGIC CURTAIN

To view Bryony Clarkson’s entire portfolio, click here. You can also inquire with her agent, Hannah Curtis, about licensing specific pieces.

Laura Hughes wins Oscar’s Book Prize 2018

Laura Hughes wins the highly esteemed children’s book award with author John Dougherty for their laugh-out-loud picture book ‘There’s A Pig Up My Nose!’.

We are delighted and immensely proud that Bright artist Laura Hughes has won the Oscar’s Book Prize 2018 alongside author John Dougherty with their original and witty picture book ‘There’s A Pig Up My Nose!’, published by Egmont.

John’s loveable tale of a little girl, Natalie, and a nose-dwelling pig, Ernest, is full of hilarity and surprise, beautifully married with Laura’s playful artwork. It’s a joy to read as you follow Natalie’s increasingly absurd attempts to get a pig out of her nose — even hanging upside down whilst being walloped with a blow-up rhino doesn’t seem to do the trick. It’s silly, utterly heart-warming, and with plenty of laughs — and OINKS — along the way.

The Oscar’s Book Prize is an annual award celebrating the best books for under-fives from the year. Previous winners have included Bright artist Benji Davies who won in 2014 with ‘The Storm Whale’. You can read more on the award here.

HRH Princess Eugenie awarded the Oscar’s Book Prize at St James’s Palace on Monday 14th May. From left to right: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht (MD, The Bright Agency), author John Dougherty, artist Laura Hughes, Emma Dods (Senior Commissioning Editor, Egmont), Laura Hughes, Rebecca Essilifie (Art Director, Egmont).

Laura Hughes:

“I am absolutely honoured that ‘Theres’ a Pig Up My Nose’ has won the Oscar’s Book Prize! The award was set up in memory of 3-year -old Oscar Ashton who died of an undetected heart condition, and as well as being a wonderful and touching way to pay tribute to a young reader, the prize also aims to highlight the importance of reading together with young children. Low literacy levels among children starting school is an increasing problem, and the organisers of the award are doing great work in bringing awareness to this issue. It’s a privilege to have been involved in this very special award.

“The first time I read John’s story I absolutely loved it and knew right away that I had to illustrate it! ‘There’s a Pig Up My Nose’ is a warm and quirky tale about a girl who gets a pig stuck up her nose, so I knew that I had to keep the illustrations bright and light-hearted. I used a slightly different process in creating the artwork than I usually do, with some parts coloured directly from my roughs (something I generally avoid) to keep the illustrations loose and energetic.

“For the characters in the book I took inspiration from the diversity of the people I see every day in London, so for example, the doctor is based very loosely on one of my own GP’s. I live in Walthamstow and will often sit and draw in local cafés. I think it’s really important to get out of the studio and draw from life whenever possible to keep your work fresh and relevant.”

You can also watch Laura’s interview with the Evening Standard here.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Laura has won the Oscar’s Book Prize and it’s wonderful to see her grow from Kingston University graduate and Bright intern to an award-winning illustrator. Laura brings such exuberance and flair to her artwork — she is a true talent and I’m so proud of all that she has achieved.” Vicki Willden-Lebrecht

Laura Hughes’ past titles include ‘The Birthday Invitation’ (Bloomsbury Children’s Books), ‘The Chocolate Monster’ (Faber & Faber), and ‘We’re Going on an Egg Hunt’ (Bloomsbury Children’s Books). Her next picture book, ‘Quick, Barney, RUN!’ (Faber & Faber) is publishing this summer on the 5th July. You can see more of Laura’s artwork here.

Rachael Saunders’ wonderful new Illustrated book ‘Go Wild on the River’ is out now!

Rachael Saunders' wonderful new book ‘Go Wild on the River’ published by the lovely team at Nosy Crow is out now. ‘Go Wild on the River’ is the second in the series of adventure handbooks for young explorers.

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Laura Barrett’s enchanting new backdrop Illustrations for The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh

Last year, Laura Barrett had the pleasure of working with the lovely design team at Studioarc on the refurbishment of Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood.

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Lipstick is delighted to be exclusively representing new artist Anjelica

With her fun and unique illustration style and colour Anjelcia has gained recognition of her talent from fashion icons such as Pat McGrath, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, Jeremy Scott, Anna Sui, Adam Selman, Marco de Vincenzo, and Ohne Titel.

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Marc Jacobs x Anna Sui Collaboration

New York's coolest fashion BFFs finally team up for a never-seen-before collaboration.

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Nuno DaCosta interprets the Language of Luxury

Condé Nast’s International Luxury Conference landed in Lisbon, Portugal, last month and it led to a breakthrough project for illustrator Nuno DaCosta.

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Double Celebrations for Dorosheva!

Sveta Dorosheva is represented by Illustration Ltd

Tom Haugomat – California Avocados

Tom Haugomat has created a campaign celebrating that millennial favourite foodstuff the avocado, or more specifically Californian Avocados.

Tom's four artworks celebrate all that is great in the Golden State and will be used across billboards and OOH in a US campaign. AD by Mullen Lowe LA.

Tom Haugomat is represented by Handsome Frank

Bruno Mangyoku- New Signing

Educated in the craftsmanship of animated movies at the legendary Gobelins Paris school, Bruno Mangyoku has pursued a career as both an illustrator and an animation director.

Fuelled by his passion of cinema, his illustrative process is also greatly influenced by American graphic novelists such as Daniel Clowes, Charles Burns, and Adrian Tomine.

He often employs a limited colour palette in his work, comprising of bright and strikingly contrasted shades, whilst his primary focus is the character design and silhouettes, staged around simple yet cinematic backgrounds.

Bruno Mangyoku is represented by Handsome Frank