Interview | Steve Simpson | Illustrator |
I recently got to interview to amazing illustrator Steve Simpson about his work and upcoming projects, here’s what he had to say:
Hi Steve! So for starters could you give us a little background about yourself? I’ve read that you started out as an animator so what made you take the step towards Illustration full time?
Yes, in another life I worked in TV animation on shows such as Danger Mouse and Duckula in Manchester. Then when I moved to Dublin in 1990 I worked on Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles. At the age of 28 I had moved up to art director but was doing little if any actual drawing myself. From a young age all I’d ever wanted to do was draw so I gave up animation and embarked on a freelance illustration career. It was tough getting regular work at the beginning but instantly a lot more fulfilling.
#onthedraw is a recent project with the Canary Islands Tourism Board. How did that project come about and what was the experience like?
Myself and 6 other illustrators were invited to Tenerife. At a press conference we were each given an island, a local illustrator guide, a sketchbook and a hash tag, #onthedraw. The mission: to sketch the island over 6 days then return home to create 6 illustrations, each for a group exhibition later in the year.
I flew to La Palma where I was met by my guide, a very talented local illustrator, Victor Jaubert and Kevin who was our translator.
Over the following 6 days I was taken to many wonderful places, some famous, like the day we took a 1 hour drive up the steepest roads to visit the The Gran Telescopio Canarias ‘Canaries Great Telescope’, sited on a volcanic peak 2,267 metres (7,438 ft) above sea level. As night fell on a moonless sky we could clearly see the Milky Way and shooting stars. Around midnight we were given a tour of the massive 10m telescope, truly a once in a life time experience. Other trips were more secret and hidden like the old fishing village at Poris de Candelaria, situated under an enormous overhanging cliff and used by locals as a weekend get away. Berto, our host for the day, prepared the best Paella ever over a BBQ, which we washed down with some incredible home made red wine – an amazing day.
Other days we had trips to a prehistoric rain forest, underground thermal springs, a salt farm, a cigar museum, a winery and many more, not to mention the fantastic food and wine every where we went and of course the very friendly and ever helpful people of the island.
Sounds amazing! Over the last couple of years I’ve noticed in your work a sort-of Spanish/Mexican theme coming through, the Day of the Dead work, the Aztec figures and now this work for On The Draw. Are you conscious of that or is it really just a coincidence that your projects have had similarities?
I think it’s important to create projects that are close to heart. I’m a huge fan of folk art, particularly that of South and Central America. The more of this type of work I did through personal projects the more it’s been picked up by clients. I’m very lucky to be in a position to be working on some incredible projects for brands right across the world.
What has been your favourite project to work on, past or present, client or otherwise?
I’m always most excited about the project I’m currently working on and then looking forward to what ever is just around the corner.
If I had to pick one that represents something of a turning point for my current success it would be the packaging I designed for the Mic’s Chilli range of hot sauces. The project gave me complete freedom as it was a start-up and Mic was very open to my ideas and suggestions. It won many awards for both design and illustration which lead to many more packaging projects.
Finally, any upcoming projects you like to mention?
Lots of exciting projects on the desk and a few waiting to be launched including a special edition label for a famous Irish whiskey and the An Post St Patrick’s Day stamp design.
Thanks Steve, looking forward to seeing them! You can see more of Steve’s work at the links below;
Website:
http://stevesimpson.prosite.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/SteveSimpson
