The Infanta

 

... And the Infanta frowned, and her dainty rose-leaf lips curled in pretty disdain. 'For the future let those who come to play with me have no hearts,' she cried, and she ran out into the garden.

Nor was he alone

'...It was a monster, the most grotesque monster he had ever beheld. Not properly shaped, as all other people were, but hunchbacked, and crooked-limbed...'

Character Design

'...The little Dwarf looked in wonder all round him, and was half- afraid to go on. The strange silent horsemen that galloped so swiftly through the long glades without making any noise, seemed to him like those terrible phantoms of whom he had heard the charcoal- burners speaking--the Comprachos, who hunt only at night, and if they meet a man, turn him into a hind, and chase him...'

Both characters are based on those found in Oscar Wilde's 'The Birthday of The Infanta'. With my interpretation of the story, I have been playing around with the idea of the 'Comprachicos' or 'child-snatchers'. According to Spanish folklore (and wikipedia), these were woodland dwellers who bought unwanted babies from whores and then physically mutilated them in order to sell them as entertainment to the popular freakshows...

Hence, playing with this idea of 'made' freakism - the first character, the little Dwarf of Wilde's story. He is found running wild through the woods and brought to dance before the Infanta, who leads him on by throwing her white rose at him and fluttering her eyelashes, so that by the end of the dance the little dwarf is madly in love with her. But he doesn't realize the tragic truth about his own hideous appearance until the end of the story....

The unnaturally conjoined monkeys are based on the gipsy monkeys who make a brief appearance in the story, also performing for the Infanta.

In progress...

Currently working on a self-directed project for my final few months of university, based on Oscar Wilde's short story 'The Birthday of The Infanta'. I love this story and have wanted to illustrate it since i first read it.  The dark undertones running through Wilde's stories make for a perfect twisted fairy tale....

Grand Guignol

Commission for an upcoming 'wrong rockabilly' event from Devil Kicks Dancehall, inspired by fin de siecle back-street Parisian horror theatre.

Sissies Stay Home!

Blue Aeroplanes gig poster

Quick flyer I put together for an upcoming Blue Aeroplanes gig feat. Daddy Long Bones & Archimedes.

Dead Bees

Graham Coxon - Dead Bees
(click for full screen)

Last year in July I had my first taste of animation experience working with director Chris Hopewell and Ben Foley at Collision Films, who produce really exciting and memorable music videos and animated films - their animation for Radiohead's 'There There' being one of my all-time favourites! This video is the product of camping out in the woods for four days, drinking beer and getting creative with nature ..... "an ominous stomp across a forest floor..."

Clockwork Dog

...And with the serendipitous finding of a lost lorry ratchet, Steam Dog was complete! And forget chihuahuas in handbags or pampered pugs, Steam Dog wears the handbag! Two of them actually...

The Listener

A screen narratives/animation project created in collaboration with media students at university, The Listener is a short film about an estranged and slightly mad inventor who lives in a ramshackle old 'listenarium' on a hill far above the industrialized city he despises. Music has been outlawed and has since seemingly slipped from existence in the city, but the inventor is determined to find its last remaining hiding place. One day, he finds himself moved to venture down the mountain in search of song...

Directed by Rob Hayward
Compositing/Post-production by Luke Fleming and Simon Ennals
Art Direction, Model-making and Casting by Ashley Clarke

The Curious Incident Of the Dog in the Night Time

Working out some spreads for Mark Haddon's 'A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time', created for a second year illustration brief at uni.

Stokes Croft Prints

I made a series of litho/mono prints combining textures and observational drawings of shop fronts in Stokes Croft for a project at uni...

The big grey one is called Westmoreland House and together with the old carriage works next door, it's become somewhat of a Bristol landmark. To some it's an eyesore waiting to be ripped down, but I think it's intriguing and pretty tragic - given its sketchy recent history as the last resting place of at least a few graffiti artists and outcasts....as well as imposing a giant question mark over the future of these abandoned buildings and others like it.

Read more about the fate of Westmoreland House and the ongoing creative regeneration of Stokes Croft at the PRSC Blog.

Carnyville Foolery

photos courtesy of the Invisible PhotoBooth

Last weekend I had the awesome pleasure of performing with my fellow fools and circus freaks in the amazing Invisible Circus show Carnyville. The show spans three nights and takes place at the abandoned but now reclaimed Bridewell Island, the former police and fire station serving as an ironically apt location for a show so riotous and anarchic in nature. It was a great success, with the costumed crowds lining the street outside each night buzzing with excited anticipation for the opening of the gates, ready to become completely immersed in the pandemonium. There is so much beautiful, dazzling chaos once you step inside, it really is hard to believe your eyes. The astounding number of performances and interactive sensory delights on offer ensures that no person leaves with the same experience as another, if you can find your way out that is...

Carnyville brings together so many shining individuals and the sheer volume of hard work, determination and creativity that brings the show to life is a true inspiration.

www.invisiblecircus.co.uk
www.artspacelifespace.com
www.invisiblephotobooth.co.uk

You can also read some nice reviews here:
http://bristolculture.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/highlights-of-2009-iii-carny-ville/
http://www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk/performance-review-carny-ville/