London Illustration Fair

Set inside a cavernous converted railway arch in east London, the event aims to bridge the gap between contemporary illustration aficionados and Christmas shoppers, showing work from 20 emerging illustration talents.

The Fair is the brainchild of Alastair Eland, Sam Bennett and Holly Simpson, whose backgrounds are as an artwork technician and creative space manager; in illustrated book publishing and in fine art gallery management respectively.

The trio is running the show with partners Jealous, the contemporary print studio, gallery and publisher and Puck, an illustration collective former of Bath Spa University graduates who were behind the brilliant Puckleduster tattoo parlous at this year’s Pick Me Up.

Among the illustrators showing their work is Mark Powell, who also helped curate the show. As the fair’s ‘artist in focus’, he has created a new work for the fair using his signature Biro-drawn style.

Other exhibitors include Ursula Hitz and Yann Brien, who created this gorgeous monochrome, geometric print:

Margate-based Linocut Boy (Nick Morley to the authorities) has worked on covers for publishers including Penguin, Folio Society and Faber & Faber; and will be on hand running an ‘anti-Christmas card’ printing workshop using lino designs and an Adana print press.

Other must-sees are Puck’s ‘live revolving drawing’ installation and Jealous’ live printing sessions, run with artists showing at the fair.

The London Illustration Fair runs from 29 November – 1 December at Arch 402, Cremer Street, London E2. For more information visit http://www.thelondonillustrationfair.co.uk