interview with an illustrator
Philip Bannister
the traditional
illustrator on drawing
and painting in his
gard en shed studio in
rural Worcester shire . .
u SB What drew you to illustration? Philip: As a boy at junior
school I used to draw intricate battle scenes; pike, musket and
smoke. Mr. Watmough said I could be a commercial artist. I didn’t
know such things could be. u SB Do you have any formal design
training? Philip: A three year graphics course at Batley College of
Art & Design. u SB Where do you live now and what drew you
there? Philip: In Worcestershire between Pershore and Evesham
by Bredon Hill. We have no street lights and on a clear night those
constellations can give you a real fright. u SB Describe your studio.
Philip: At the bottom of the garden, a lovely ‘shed’ 12ft square the
last time I measured it. Radio 3 is on. u SB How do you get your
ideas? Philip: Depends on the job of course but I have a deep well
of magic and romance to draw on. u SB Do you collect anything?
Philip: Books mainly, history, arts, esoteric things. I have an
almost complete collection of Thorne Smith novels. Also vintage
packaging and LPs. Italian masks but nothing too fancy. u SB Do
you keep a scrapbook? Philip: I used to tear pages out of nonexpensive magazines for picture referencewhich full of desperately
174