interview with an illustrator
Ruth Rowland
The lettering artist
and illustrator speaks
about her collectio n
of hand written
Victorian letters and
printed ephemera . . .
u SB Do you have any formal design training? Ruth: A BA in
illustration from Newcastle Upon Tyne and an MA in hand drawn
lettering, calligraphy and experimental typography from Central St
Martins School of Art, London. u SB How did you start out? Ruth:
I was lucky enough to do some freelance work on my BA for 4AD
Records, when I finished my MA I gradually built up contacts in the
record industry providing title and lyric lettering for such artists
as Elton John, Joan Armatrading, UB40, Duran Duran and the
Rolling Stones. More recently I’ve worked on lettering for James
Blunt and John Lennon. u SB Where are you originally from? Ruth:
Liverpool - a lively city I still love. u SB Where do you live now and
why? Ruth: London - I came here to study my MA and stayed. I
particularly love the galleries and museums. u SB Describe your
studio. Ruth: An East London loft space full of mismatched jars of
pens and brushes, old folders crammed with hand and machinemade papers, boxes full of inks and paints, heaving shelves of
books and magazines on type, calligraphy and illustration. u SB
Do you collect anything? Ruth: Yes, letters! I have ones made out
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