Amelia’s Magazine | Pick Me Up Graphic Arts Festival 2013: A Review of Illustration Collectives

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- day job victoria willmott
Bird by Victoria Willmott.

In the upstairs section of the Embankment Galleries at Pick Me Up are housed a plethora of hand-picked collectives, some of which have had a presence in previous years, some of which are new for 2013. The section begins with a superb display by Day Job, a collaboration between ten recent Camberwell graduates who share a studio in Peckham, South London, some of whom I recognised.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- Charlotte Mei
Charlotte Mei‘s idiosyncratic pottery was a stand out feature at her graduate show: for Pick Me Up she has created a whole fleet of cars, characterful naked ladies in contorted positions, a pizza with strange toppings and a host of other animals. Brilliant stuff!

Pick Me Up London 2013 review-Charlene Man
I loved all of the prints by Charlene Man, and I was also tempted by her pastel painted wooden blocks for Snarfle, but feared he might chew the patterns off.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review - human after all tshirt
Pick Me Up London 2013 review - Human After All
Human After All is the latest brainwave from Danny Miller and friends. As promotion for their newly launched creative agency they are hosting a space where you can construct your own #facestamp, to be applied to a t-shirt, with eye-catching results.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review-zombie collective maggie li
Pick Me Up London 2013 review- frann preston gannon

Zombie Collective is five illustrators: their interactive cog machine is a splendid addition to the gallery, spitting out gifts for lucky punters. Maggie Li‘s beautiful house print really caught my eye, as did this politely sleeping fox by Frann Preston-Gannon. Also for sale, some sweet acrylic treats.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- print club london
Print Club London are hosting the main room with a chance to help create a ‘living wallpaper’ drawn by the likes of Fred Butler and Margot Bowman. It looks like the just the place to hang out with the kids: give Snarfle a few years and we’ll be there!

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- nelly duff dan hillier
Pick Me Up London 2013 review- nelly duff sweet toof
Pick Me Up London 2013 review- various and gould nellyduff
Columbia Road‘s Nelly Duff gallery have created perhaps the most spectacular room, where artworks and specially commissioned wall decals on a ‘flower show’ theme combine to stunning effect. Of particular note: Dan Hillier‘s foil blocked lady, curlicued skulls courtesy of Sweet Toof, and a skull print by Various and Gould (seen above in situ on a doorway just off Brick Lane).

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- soma gallery peskimo
Back for a second year running Soma Gallery are showcasing a wide selection of prints by long running collaborators such as Peskimo and Tom Frost, as well as newbies such as Telegramme Studio and Hazel Nicholls. I particularly loved these 3D wooden gum ball artworks by Peskimo.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review-el famoso
Unlimited Collective is a print company based in Brighton. Taking pride of place in their busy space is a huge yellow tattooed man, complete with hipster moustache. All over tattoos continue to be the badge of the uber cool, but if you’re too chicken to go the whole hog yourself then artwork by El Famoso might be just the ticket instead.

Jessie Ford black bear on bike
I was so taken by a black bear on a tiny tricycle by Jessie Ford that I bought one on a whim – it will go up in Snarfle‘s room: something more to growl at.

Pick Me Up London 2013 review- helen musselwhite
Pick Me Up London 2013 review-Emily Robertson
Pick Me Up London 2013 review-matt saunders
Pick Me Up London 2013 review- lesley barnes
Handsome Frank is an illustration agency that has done a great job of snapping up brilliant up and coming illustrators, including many that have featured in these pages (Lesley Barnes, Tim McDonagh, Sarah Maycock). Some of my favourite works on display at their interactive stand include a stunning paper gatehouse by Helen Musselwhite, a curious character by Emily Robertson, sleeping log gremlins by Matt Saunders and a wonderful knight on a horse by Lesley Barnes.

Read my review of Pick Me Up Selects here, and if you are unable to check out Pick Me Up in person make sure you check out all the talent above online. Full listing information here.

Categories ,#facestamp, ,2013, ,Camberwell College of Arts, ,Charlene Man, ,Charlotte Mei, ,Collectives, ,Columbia Road, ,Dan Hillier, ,Danny Miller, ,Day Job, ,El Famoso, ,Embankment Galleries, ,Emily Robertson, ,Frann Preston-Gannon, ,Fred Butler, ,Handsome Frank, ,Hazel Nicholls, ,Helen Musselwhite, ,Human After All, ,illustration, ,Jessie Ford, ,Lesley Barnes, ,Maggie Li, ,Margot Bowman, ,Matt Saunders, ,Nelly Duff, ,Peskimo, ,Pick Me Up, ,Pick Me Up Selects, ,Print Club London, ,Sarah Maycock, ,Snarfle, ,Soma Gallery, ,Somerset House, ,Sweet Toof, ,Telegramme, ,Telegramme Studio, ,Tim McDonagh, ,Tom Frost, ,Unlimited Collective, ,Various and Gould, ,Victoria Willmott, ,Zombie Collective

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Amelia’s Magazine | Review: Renegade Craft Fair in London, 2013

Adorable frog king silver ring by La parra jewels

This weekend I hot footed it down Brick Lane to the Truman Brewery for the 2013 London edition of the Renegade Craft Fair. It was a great chance to catch up with familiar faces as well an opportunity to discover new talent. Here’s my pick of the show: first up, this adorable frog king silver ring by La Parra Jewels, who works from her studio in Bedford.

Ceramics by laura lane design

These decorated ceramics are by Laura Lane, featuring geometric shapes and photos taken by her great grandfather.

Ceramic jewels by Made by Me Me Me

It’s not the first time that I’ve been attracted to pastel ceramic jewels by Made by Me Me Me, a lovely alternative to real gems.

Hand screen printed geometric design cushions by Rhian Mclaren at renegade craft fair

Rhian Mclaren has just started her business, producing hand screen printed geometric design cushions that are bang on trend.

Squirrel melamine coaster by Ketchup on Everything

This squirrel melamine coaster by Ketchup on Everything is part of a range that was inspired by illustrations in old children’s books: a lady after my own heart.

Boat in a bottle risograph print by scout editions

I was really bowled over by lovely designs from Scout Editions, a brother and sister design team. They have some really cool risograph prints including a range of bottle themed Christmas cards. Might have bought a tea towel…

Stunning beaded swan flower statement necklace by Clara Francis

I have been meaning to catch up with beaded jewellery designer Clara Francis for a few years now, and was so excited to see her stall brimming over with intricate work, all created from a workshop in her garden. Imagine the compliments you would get wearing this stunning beaded swan flower statement necklace: so unusual and special.

ceramic pot by Amy Worrall

There seems to be a bit of a trend towards illustrators working with ceramic at the moment – I think I can see the appeal of daubing curious characters on top of tactile clay. This bulbous succulent plant pot is by Amy Worrall.

Badger DJ plate by Jim Bob Art

It’s always nice to run into James Ward, working under the name Jim Bob Art. He is constantly adding to his hand painted plate designs and I was especially taken by this new Badger DJ edition.

Helen Lang - plump fox cushions

Helen Lang (Wetpaint) specialises in beautiful hand drawn ink designs and gorgeous bespoke typography. I think her designs look magnificent on big plump cushions.

Lost wax cast silver eyeball necklace Datter Industries

Once upon a time illustrator Kaye Blegvad contributed to Amelia’s Magazine. Now she creates a delicate narrative jewellery range under the name Datter Industries, working between London and New York. I like her lost wax cast silver eyeball necklace: an unusual technique to see in the UK, and one which makes the most of her illustration skills (she’s another one who is producing illustrated ceramics as a bit of a sideline).

paper sculptures by Pappet of Hungary

Such fun: these paper sculptures to make with the kids are by Pappet of Hungary.

textured suede bags in jewel colours by ShopJill

These lovely textured suede bags in jewel colours are screen printed by hand on Brick Lane by ShopJill.

Telegramme christmas cards

Telegramme Studio have just produced a beautiful new Christmas stationery range which I think will do very well. I must also confess that I bought their last Bat For Lashes gig poster, a print which I have adored for a long time

Wooden wall birds by anna wiscombe

Lastly: pretty pretty wooden wall birds by Anna Wiscombe.

With any luck you’ll be able to buy products from some of these wonderful designer makers on the new look Amelia’s Magazine Marketplace very soon. Can’t wait!

Categories ,2013, ,Amy Worrall, ,Anna Wiscombe, ,Bat for Lashes, ,Bedford, ,Brick Lane, ,Clara Francis, ,Datter Industries, ,Helen Lang, ,Hungary, ,James Ward, ,Jim Bob Art, ,Kaye Blegvad, ,Ketchup on Everything, ,La Parra Jewels, ,Laura Lane, ,london, ,Made by Me Me Me, ,Marketplace, ,Pappet, ,Renegade Craft Fair, ,review, ,Rhian Mclaren, ,Scout Editions, ,ShopJill, ,Telegramme, ,Telegramme Studio, ,wetpaint

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