Jonny Hannah – Greetings from Darktown
Just published by Merrell is Jonny Hannah's wonderful 'Greetings from Darktown - An Illustrator's Miscellany', the first book devoted to the work of this popular illustrator, printmaker and painter.
Born and bred in Scotland, Jonny Hannah now lives by the sea in Southampton, but he also resides in Darktown – a mysterious coastal town, not found on any map, peopled by pin-up girls, jazz artists and tattooed sailors. Darktown is home to the Unquiet Grave junk emporium; the Mermaid Café, where folk legend Woody Guthrie still plays each week; McVouty’s vintage clothes shop; and a pier with a condemned helter skelter. Joining Hannah on his trip to downtown Darktown are the writers Philip Hoare and Peter Chrisp, who explore the eclectic influences on Hannah’s work, and Sheena Calvert, who introduces a special typographic catalogue of hand-drawn lettering. As he tours Darktown, Hannah presents his prints and paintings in thematic chapters reflecting his passions, and bids farewell to his alter ego, Rocket Man, who inhabits the darkest corners of pop culture.
Find out more about Greetings from Darktown or view a selection of Jonny Hannah's limited edition prints.
In April 2015 we'll be hosting an exhibition of Jonny's work in Edinburgh which will incorporate prints, paintings, music and spoken word. Sign up for our gallery newsletter for details.
And later in 2014 we'll be launching Jonny's first wallpaper for St Jude's, the follow up to his fabric The Captain's Pattern.
The Making of Nature Table
We’ve just uploaded a new film that looks at the inspiration behind Angie’s Nature Table fabric and wallpaper.
We had worked with the photographer Cristian Barnett before and he offered he making of a short film in return for a donation to the Movember fundraising programme (supporting the work of this global men’s health charity).
We were delighted to take him up on the offer - and here is the result (with special thanks to Ultramarine for the use of 'Within Reach' from their recent This Time Last Year album)
Random Spectacular No. 2
We're delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of the second edition of Random Spectacular - a collaborative exploration of the visual arts, literature, music, travel and much more.
Contributors include Mark Hearld, Angie Lewin, Emily Sutton, Ed Kluz, Ralph Steadman, Jonny Hannah, Christopher Brown and many more.
All profits from this issue will again be donated to Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres who St. Jude's have been pleased to support over the years. We raised over £6,500 with the first issue of Random Spectacular and hope to beat that with issue no. 2.
Find out about how you can express an interest in purchasing a copy.
Ed Kluz at Pentreath & Hall
From 4th-14th July 2014 Ed Kluz is exhibiting a series of new works with our friends at Pentreath & Hall, shown alongside a selection of original works and prints by Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden.
Ed is fascinated by the objects of our cultural heritage. He seeks out the eccentric, the lost and the overlooked. Follies, curiosities, vanished buildings and folklore inspire artworks which explore themes of renewal and reinvention.
To date Ed has designed two fabrics for St Jude's, Painswick and Lionheart, with more in the pipeline. We worked with Alun Callender on this film about Ed's work.
Amongst the new works being exhibited are (from top to bottom below) The Rushton Triangular Lodge (scraperboard - £975), Blickling Hall (linocut - unframed £225 - edition of 18), King Henry's Hunting Lodge, Dogmersfield Park, Hampshire (scraperboard - £875), Kew Palace (scraperboard - £745).
From 4th to 14th July at Pentreath & Hall, 17 Rugby Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3QT. Telephone 020 7430 2526. Open 11am–6pm Mon–Sat.
Makkum Tichelaar Crockery
Our friends at Dick's Edinburgh opened their doors shortly after we'd relocated to Scotland and we've been regulars ever since.
Uli Schade and Andrew Dick stock a carefully edited selection of menswear, accessories and homewares, supporting small, independent manufacturers, old and new.
We've been slowly but surely adding to our collection of these beautiful, functional ceramic vessels, designed by Atelier NL and manufactured by Royal Tichelaar Makkum.
Atelier NL's Lonny van Ryswyck and Nadine Sterk started by digging up, shaping and baking clay from different locations through the Netherlands, creating a series of plates and bowls in different colors and structures, stamped to identify the area where the clay was sourced.
Dick's Edinburgh have a great selection of these pieces - cups, bowls and platters available from their shop at 3 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh EH3 6ST or via their online store.
Tommy Perman
From 9th May until 9th June 2014 artist Tommy Perman will be exhibiting a new collection of drawings at The Skylark in Portobello. The drawings are inspired by visits the glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
"I grew up in the centre of Edinburgh and even though this is a relatively green city I still feel disconnected from nature. I've spent much of my career drawing the chaotic geometry of the city, often going to great lengths to remove any signs of life, so I've surprised myself by developing an interest in plants.
I like to set rules and limitations for my drawings. For this set I have limited myself to black on white and each image is contained within a circle. So that I didn't stray too far from familiar territory I have focused on plants with bold striking markings and structure that's almost architectural."
Born in 1980, Edinburgh, Scotland, Tommy Perman is an artist, designer and musician who works in a variety of media including visual art, performance, sound and music. He has a particular interest in combining new digital technologies with traditional techniques and materials. Between 2002 – 2013 Tommy was a member of the artist collective / band FOUND. As part of FOUND, Tommy has released numerous records and co-created a collection of weird and wonderful interactive sound installations including Cybraphon and #UNRAVEL.
Tommy has recently been working with Rob St. John on the art-science Water of Life project. They have contributed to the forthcoming issue two of our journal Random Spectacular and have created this audio accompaniment.
The exhibition runs from 9th May until 9th June 2014 at The Skylark, 241-243 Portobello High Street, Portobello, EH15 2AW.
Find out more about Tommy's work via www.surfacepressure.net
Bronwen Sleigh at Hidden Door
Until 5th April 2014 artist Bronwen Sleigh is exhibiting a range of new sculptures at this group exhibition in the old vaults on Market Street in Edinburgh. Participating artists each have a vault space to show their work. The graphic, geometric sculptures seem as though drawn with wire, metal and thread and have a close link with her architecturally-inspired prints.
Hidden Door is a not-for-profit arts production organisation set up in 2010 by David Martin, a visual artist and art lecturer based in Edinburgh. As well as a range of artists' work there are also live performances.
Find out more about Bronwen Sleigh's work and the Hidden Door festival.
