interview with an illustrator
Barry Patterson
Illustrator Barry
Patterso n tells of his
enjoyment in working
in both pastel and
photorealistic styles.
u SB What drew you to illustration? Barry: I always loved to
draw and paint and I filtered through to illustration via the art
school system I guess. u SB Do you have any formal design
training? Barry: Honours degree in Illustration through Leicester
Polytechnic (now De Montfort University).u SB Where are you
from originally? Barry: Chester. u SB Where do you live now and
what drew you there? Barry: St. Albans. I moved here with my
wife when our firstborn was a baby. It struck me as a very pretty
place, much like a smaller version of Chester where I grew up.
u SB Describe your studio. Barry: It’s in the loft in my house.
Angled walls and ceiling with natural light coming through three
roof windows. Paint on the floorboards and music playing all day.
I love it. u SB Do you collect anything? Barry: Memories. u SB Do
you keep a scrapbook? Barry: Honestly? Not so much lately what
with the web, though I’ve an ongoing collection of images that
I find interesting in terms of shape or colour combination from
magazines. u SB Tell us about a favourite recent project. Barry:
I’ve just finished a series of Illustrations for a book being brought
132