25th October 2012: We're delighted to give you a view behind-the-scenes with the hugely talented illustrator Paul Thurlby. A London based illustrator, Paul has been a regular illustrator for the Guardian newspaper since he started full time illustration work in 2006. Paul has had some very impressive commissions from household names such as: The Times; The Guardian; The Independent; The Bank of England; The Big Issue and Orange UK.
If you don't already know his fantastic Alphabet book published by Templar....you do now! It's deservedly caused a great stir...
We're sure we are not the only ones who enjoy Paul's refreshingly honest style, in both his artwork and his answers in our interview!
What's your favourite design/piece of work & why? That’s a bit like asking what my favourite film or song is. It’s an impossible question!
What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date? A for Awesome. The first print I sold out of.
Which part of the process do you like most? Coming up with new ideas/problem solving. That moment when you come up with a solution is the greatest feeling. I would be a liar if I were to say that I didn’t also enjoy the recognition part at the end.
Which part do you like the least?! Paperwork of course.
What would your dream project be? Anything where the client emails me with the line ‘please say how much money you’d like’.
Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? Seeing great work.
Which is your favourite Art House Licensing artist & why? Steven Lenton because he seems to be a very nice bloke and I quite like the humour in his work.
Which is your favourite Yellow House Art artist & why? (www.yellowhouseart.com – our associated site selling original artworks) Jehane Boden Spiers – because I’ve met her and she’s very lovely.
Do you have your own work at home? I have an A for Awesome on my wall. It’s edition 1 of 200. I kept it for myself because it signifies the very beginning of the alphabet project. So, it has a special meaning to me.
When designing your studio, what was the most important factor? Haha, I don’t think it’s been designed. I work from my room on the 2nd floor of a Georgian house in North London. The photo of my desk was taken after tidying it up.
What's been your biggest mistake/cock-up?! An early commission for The Guardian sport section where I came up with a good idea, but didn’t give the picture enough contrast in tone between colours. Result – colours merging into each other were making a muddy looking illustration lacking definition. Newsprint took a bit of getting used to.
What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now? A commission for The New Yorker, drawing Jake Gyllenhaal.
What is the last book you read? Marks out of 10? I’ve just finished reading Betty Blue. I have watched the film and found the book earlier this year in a good book shop in Balham I often visit. I would give it 9 out of 10.
What is the last exhibition you went to? Marks out of 10? I went to see the photographic exhibition ‘Another London’ at the Tate Britain. I’m always sceptical about photography exhibitions, but this was very good. I’d give it 8 out of 10.
If you could own a masterpiece, what would it be? Something that would make me smile. With Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. In my room it would feel like summer all year round!
What’s your proudest achievement? Seeing all of my alphabet prints hanging up in the Tate Britain shop.
What’s been your biggest challenge? Moving to London when I had very little money or work coming in.
What’s the main advantage/your favourite aspect about working with Art House Licensing? Sue and Jehane are both very lovely and easy to work with. They understand illustration, which also helps.
Thank you for your great feedback Paul!