New Work: Mark and Dave go shopping

Just finished of some illustrations for the lovely people at Umbrella Design.  A large part of the project consisted of character design which is always fun to do, my figures were to be based loosely on two real people Mark and Dave.  My illustrations are to feature in their blog a diary of adventures in travel and shopping. The Mark and Dave go shopping blog offers a unique perspective from the duo, tips on what to buy and where and a little culture too.

Dave left and Mark on the right.

These are two trendy guys and designing such happening fellows can always be a stretch when you don't consider yourself to be trendy having a much different definition of the word.  Thankfully however I got a nice run down of their likes and what they wear.

Let me introduce you to Dave…

Name: David, but all his mates call him Dave.

Age: 29 ish. He's kinda geeky, and wants to thought of as really cool... in fact beyond cool. Of course he isn’t, he is in fact a bit of a twat, but nice, really nice in a bloke sort of way. Likes women who have an oriental twist, but always keeps them at arms length. I call them 'mysterious girls', cos they drift in and out of his life and none of us ever actually meet them. We only know about them by the morning smile of his face!

Where he shops: Carnaby Street for trainers, Ted Baker for shirts, Urban Outfitters, and surprisingly, Acne, which is uber cool. Some vintage bits from Brick Lane and Spitalfields, especially sun glasses and picture frames.

Jeans: Cheap Monday 

Watch: Vintage

Boxers or commando: Calvin Klein Boxers

Interests: Cool pubs and restaurants with friends. Sunday league football, gym... only when necessary. Pop-up Art Galleries, street art, photography, gigs headlining up and coming bands, such as: The Black Keys, The Cribs, Twin Atlantic or The Maccabees.

Job: Graphic Designer 

Loves: Geeky gadgets

Favorite Drink: Great beer

Drives: No need, Dave lives in London, but would like a vintage Triumph.

Personal Head Space: Need to make a change and find stuff that inspires him! 

Dave as a finished illustration.

And now on to Mark…

Age: early 30’s, trapped in the wrong era, should have been born mid 1800's then could have been a poet riding an old bike round a village green, a romantic at heart, yeah I know, I am a twat!

Where I shop: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fenwick Men’s, Diesel, Paul Smith. Some

Vintage bits from Notting Hill, especially furniture.

Jeans: Diesel

Watch: Tag

Boxers or commando: Diesel Boxers

Interests: Out door stuff, cycling, cricket. Love great coffee with mates on a Sunday morning. Play occasionally in a band and open mic nights with guitar. Sketching (belong to urban sketchers).

Bands: Keane, Band of Skulls, Muse, Paul Weller, Florence and The Machine, Elvis Costello

Job: Furniture Designer

Favorite Drink: G&T

Drives: BMW Motorbike

Personal Head Space: Looking for direction and want to go and see great stuff! Like Dave, I need some ideas to guide me to my next project in life, what ever that might be.

Mark in all his illustrated glory

As the blog progresses we get to see more how they both develop via the travels and adventures in shopping they have.  

Mark and Dave's adventures in Brighton.

Good luck to Mark and Dave I hope they continue to trek around the country with their wallets ready and shopping bags full.  Visit Mark and Dave go Shopping blog here.

Go to my website for more illustrations.

 

Starting the Day

I don’t have to commute to work, I’m quite lucky in that regard.   I still feel I need to get out and do something before I start work so instead of a lengthy commute I go walking the dog with my wife after breakfast in the rain or shine or like this week in the freezing cold fully wrapped up with layers of clothing that take ages to peel off again. The walk helps wake me up, gets my mind and body functioning again, especially useful on the mornings when it feels like I hardly slept at all.  

I used to be a morning person, a fact that I’d forgot until my wife reminded me of recently.  Somewhere down the line my factory setting seems to have fallen into disrepair, replaced by grouch overdrive mode that seems to be my current default.  Some mornings it can be hard shaking off the sleepy head, If I’m still not awake after my morning regime and my head feels like it’s running some sort of start-up check complete with virus scan I try to reboot by visiting the local deli to get the best coffee in town.  If I haven’t booted up sufficiently I will indulge myself in the delight that is bacon roll with red sauce and a good strong coffee.  This I might remind you would be a second breakfast, a feeding regime that the hobbits of the shire would certainly approve of.

It’s a fine place and one that I often frequent, a  ritual of waking that will get my creative mind going if first breakfast and walkies don’t cut it.  I get that necessary social interaction and people spotting that is sometimes missing from my day.  I enjoy that little bit of small talk, asking about the day ahead, passing the same people walking to work or getting the paper, saying hello and chewing the fat before work calls.

The Scottish Deli is a little place that helps me wake up and serves me my second breakfast when needed.  It offers lots of foodie delights that will brighten up your fridge, store cupboard and eventually your dining table.

The Scottish Deli, Pitlochry. Click for website here