M Dillon is an artist and designer who makes mixed media collage and sculpture that might appear superficially decorative or humorous, but there is a narrative beyond the decoration that aims to provoke a specific response of disquiet.
In every work I create, I put all I have inside. Every piece tells a story, and it is the result of a very specific feeling. All of them are unique pieces created in a time of internal burning. I find no sense in creating a piece without having a strong sickening need to do so. My pieces are made of fire.
Being both an artist and art psychotherapist, I am interested in the healing capacity of art as well as its role in conveying meaning and communication with both the internal and external words. I draw inspiration for my paintings from my unconscious as it manifests in dreams and visions. I am inspired by esoteric sciences such as Kabbalah and quantum mechanics. My treatment of photography evokes that of painting and is highly experimental in nature. The shots are created with the use of self-made optical devices, which allow me to beguile the camera into shooting abstract images. In more than one way these instruments replace paint tubes and brushes.
My practice is about boundaries. I believe The rise of the idea of “posthuman” had, in many ways, shaken the fundamentals of dualism. To think that there is an absolute binary relationship between human and machines, nature and culture, object and image, identity, gender ... etc, is simply missing a lot regarding the quintessence of being. And I believe this “missing” is where contemporary art needto engage. Thus I like to work around blurring and challenging these boundaries.I work with image, live art and various forms of media.
I am currently working withbiometric data and computer language, and how the entanglement of the two creating a condition where I am in between physical and non - physical existence, me becoming together with the machine.
Filmmaker.
Writer and Director for TV, film and theatre.
Self shooting artist and photographer in traditional and 360 virtual reality filming.
Passionate about social justice and the environment.
Phone number is my agent's number (Andrew Naylor, United Agents)
linktr.ee/elsonmedia
My family home is in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I moved to Southampton to complete an Art Foundation course followed by a three-year Textile Degree at Farnham Art College, after which I worked as a print designer in London for 2 years, giving me a more rounded understanding of the textile industry.
Wanting an adventure, I spent the summer of 92 working with young children in the Catskill Mountains in New York, as part of the Camp America summer camp program, before travelling the East coast of America. Several years working in retail funded a year-long backpacking trip through Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Returning to London, I started working for Marks and Spencer, where I’d stay for the next 22 years in a variety of roles. I started as a merchandiser but soon returned to my passion as a textile designer progressing to senior textile designer within a few years.
Working for M&S as a textile designer was my dream job. I worked creatively every day with textiles, following the latest lifestyle, product, and colour trends. I travelled the world as part of a team visiting textile fairs, shopping for inspiration, and working closely with factories to deliver beautiful product for the seasonal ranges.
In 2020, the impact of COVID meant I was furloughed for seven weeks and by the end of the year, the M&S design team was reduced by half resulting in my redundancy.
In that time, my younger sister asked if I’d like to illustrate a story that she was writing for her two young sons. Redundancy allowed me to focus on illustrating the book while also giving me the time to learn about the book publishing industry. From hand-painting the watercolour illustrations, to book layout design, to learning about print and production techniques.
I sourced a UK print house as sustainability is very important to us both, and we printed the books in the UK to keep their carbon footprint low, using FCS certified paper and vegetable inks.
In 2021 Frederick the Fox was rolling off the presses! Having learned a lot about production, marketing and distribution, we published our second book, Maximus the Mouse in 2023.
Both books are beautiful rhyming stories of friendship, brought to life with colourful hand painted watercolour illustrations perfect for children up to six years old.
I work at my small kitchen table in Chiswick and enjoy painting and experimenting with my trusty set of watercolours. If I’m not painting, I’m using my MacBook Pro to digitize artwork or to stay in touch with current retail partners and to contact new potential partners, set up book readings, craft sessions, or market stalls.
Illustrating Maximus the Mouse planted the seed for me to explore other products using both my existing and new artwork. This summer I produced a range of animal alphabet prints that I’m selling through select retail partners. Each design is beautifully hand painted with watercolours then Giclee printed onto a high quality art paper using fade resist inks. Perfect for adding a personal touch to any nursery, child's bedroom or playroom . Or if you're looking for something smaller each print has been developed as a greetings card.
Future plans include product personalisation within the Inky Flamingo range.
Stik started painting unofficial, socially conscious murals in his hometown of Hackney, East London in 2001. His simple stick figures wordlessly tell the story of his community and he frequently collaborates with hospitals, charities and homeless organisations. Working from his East London studio, these projects are largely self-funded and he now creates monumental artworks with communities across the world.
Artist /designer with a background in visual & performing arts, architecture and building design with interest in the therapeutic benefits of art in public spaces. He's here to share and discuss all things creative and artistic! David has collaborated on cross disciplinary projects, taught art and worked closely with bodies such as New York’s Groundswell Community Mural Project, the UK Department of Health and NSPCC with an aim to promote the social and therapeutic benefits of art in public spaces.
Ruby Khan is a London based contemporary artist. She has recently graduated with a Fine Arts BA (Hons) degree at the University of East London. She specialises in printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture and installation. Her work intends to trigger ideas around the diversity and history of London from a personal perspective. Her work is celebrating the physical and emotional journey she has undertaken throughout her life. At a young age, Ruby attended art therapy sessions during her childhood; Art supported her throughout her life in speaking and writing. At the age of five, Ruby was diagnosed with a speech-language impairment affecting her self-confidence. Through the
ongoing support of a charity called Contact a Family, Ruby has grown into a strong independent and fearless individual expressed in her prints. Inspired by German expressionist art as she uses shapes, abstract colours and gestural mark-making. She is available for commissions.