Five talents to look out for at The London Illustration Fair 2019

The fair returns to London for its sixth year in November, here Design Week talks to curator and co-founder Alastair Eland about the ones to watch at this year’s event.

Founded in 2013, The London Illustration Fair was set up to give illustration fans a chance to meet the creators of some of their favourite works, and find new ones to admire.

In its six years, the fair has showcased illustration talent from the likes of Kristjana S Williams, David Shillinglaw and Nick Morley (chiefly known by his alias Linocut Boy).

Judges are in the process of finalising the list of this year’s exhibitors, who will then take to London’s OXO Tower at the end of November. In the run up to the event, Design Week caught up with curator and co-founder Alastair Eland to find out who are the ones to watch this year.


Rude

Rude - featured at London Illustration Fair
Eye, by Rude

“Design duo, Abi and Rupert Meats have been creating work for 20 years now. Our Featured Studio for LIF2019, Rude will be displaying a range of their iconic, bold and bright posters at their stand during the event.

We love their style and positive attitude to how they create their work. They will also be hosting a workshop and designing an extra-large 10 meter wide mural for the fairs entrance space.”


Charlotte Macmillan-Scott

Charlotte Macmillan-Scott - featured at London Illustration Fair
Gas, 1950, by Charlotte Macmillan-Scott

“Charlotte is a self-taught artist based in East London, and will joining us for the first time at The London Illustration Fair 2019. Her work is bold, full of character and often draws a great deal of influence from pop culture and pop icons.

We love how much energy her work has and the enthusiasm she has for creating such loud work. This year’s event will be her first opportunity to really showcase her new series of women called Inside Out. Expect to see prints, T-shirts and jewellery with her designs on.”


Alice Tams

Alice Tams - featured at London Illustration Fair
WIP Swallow, by Alice Tams. Cover image also by Alice Tams

“We haven’t seen Alice at the fair for a couple of years now mainly due to her adventures in east and south-east Asia, painting murals and exhibiting in Malaysia, Borneo, Vietnam and Taiwan.

She is inspired colourful, the surreal and the anthropomorphic, who is best known for her ongoing series ‘Birds in Hats’. We are looking forward to Alice working on a large mural live at the event. Anyone interested in being immortalised into the mural as a pigeon in a hat can find out how to get involved via our website.”


Michael Keith Chapman

Michael Keith Chapman - featured at London Illustration Fair
Ceramic work, by Michael Keith Chapman

“Michael has a very unique style to his illustrations, they seem to come to life through the simplicity of the lines and his use of colour.

He draws on themes of nostalgia, optimism and finding the beauty in the everyday. We are looking forward to seeing his range of ceramic pots, enamel pins and, of course, his prints.”


Type Tom

Type Tom - featured at London Illustration Fair
Various works, by Type Tom

“After taking part in last year’s fair as a workshop practitioner Type Tom will be back and plans to bring a smaller press that he has built using old parts and waste junk metal, a ‘Franken Press’ or sorts.

He will also be launching his letterpress wood type ornamentation collection. We love letterpress and Tom’s range of artwork and projects is the perfect Christmas gift idea.”


The London Illustration Fair runs from 29 November – 1 December. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12.50 on the door.

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