Behind the Scenes - Craig Shuttlewood
Yellow House Art Licensing15th March 2013: Our Artist of the Month is Brighton Illustrator Craig Shuttlewood - paintings, print-making, editorial, and illustration all combine together to form a varied and intelligent portfolio of images. Craig is busy developing his children's books and leading greeting-cards publisher The Art File have recently launched a range of x 7 designs by Craig under the name of 'Scribble'. Read more about Craig in our behind-the-scenes interview...
What's your favourite design/piece of work & why? Difficult questions and it's only the first! Pass for now.
What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date? Screen prints are still quite a new thing for me and the ability to sell lots of one design means 'Six lost owls' is probably the best selling piece. I have sold more original work though, especially my canvas sketch book series which have been great sellers in galleries and at art fairs.
Which part of the process do you like most? Probably the ideas stage, sketching out new and old characters. Having what seems like a great idea then soon after dismissing it as ridiculous.
Which part do you like the least?! Not having enough time to work up ideas or spilling drinks on a sketch and then not being able to do it again as well.
What would your dream project be? Working on a huge ad campaign for a major brand so everyone sees it and knows about it.
Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? Everything around me, my partner, daughter, birds in a tree or something silly I see in the street.
Which is your favourite Art House Licensing artist & why? After having a browse I like the simplicity of Heather Flynn's work and the work of Luke James because he likes owls.
Which is your favourite Yellow House Art artist & why? (www.yellowhouseart.com – our associated site selling original artworks) – Jane Muir because she's the jedi master of ceramics and her pieces have a a quality you can't not love.
Do you have your own work at home? I have number 1 editions of 'Six lost owls' and 'Angels & other flying things' and various pieces in the studio. There is always so much DIY to do or we are getting ready for the next Artists' Open House so it's difficult creating a permanent display.
When designing your studio, what was the most important factor? As usual I spent far too long researching my studio which is a modest cabin at the end of our small garden. Because Im messy I needed a space outside the house where paint is allowed!
What's been your biggest mistake/cock-up?! Looking at some of my early published illustration work I do wonder what I was thinking but what's done is done!
What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now? Ideas for various picture books Im working on.
What is the last book you read? Marks out of 10? Horse's Arse - a book about a Manchester police station in the 70's. It's amusing with lots of unsavoury characters. 8/10
What is the last exhibition you went to? Marks out of 10? Blimey it has been too long. Probably the Affordable Art Fair, London which I find very up and down.
If you could own a masterpiece, what would it be? Ummm something by Robert Rauschenberg or a huge Rothko. Or Sunflower Seeds by Ai Weiwei although they might get stuck in the hoover.
What’s been your biggest challenge? Finding enough time to create wonderful work and bring new ideas to life.
See more of Craig Shuttlewood's portfolio here
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