interview with an illustrator
John Walsom
The arch itect ural artist
shares some of his
creative inspiration in
capt uring quintessential
London . . .
u SB What drew you to illustration? John: After five years as
an architect I realised I wasn’t spending much time drawing, or
designing, which was the bit I loved. I also like the short time
scales in illustration - there’s no time to get bored with a job. At
29 I took a year off to travel, and came back as an illustrator. u
SB Do you have any formal design training? John: Seven whole
years becoming an architect, at Sheffield University. u SB Where
do you live now and what drew you there? John: Thames Ditton,
a village on the Thames with 12 pubs (to answer both questions).
u SB Where is your studio and can you describe it for me?John:
It’s a much too small space in the middle of Kingston, over a shop.
Working alone, it’s nice to be somewhere busy when I emerge.
And I can bike to work through the parks. u SB Do you collect
anything? John: Guitars, and amplifiers, although it’s not a national
collection. u SB What are your interests outside of illustration?
John: Music. I play guitar in an old farts’ blues band. And I like
a bit of astronomy - the numbers, sizes and distances bend my
mind in a way I quite like. u SB Tell us about a favourite project
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