The Creative Condition podcast

We all need to use it, many of us struggle to get away from it. The internet has become the core of may of our worlds and in the creative industry of today, we have it at our fingertips at all times. But are we using all this glorious technology effectively? Where do we draw the line between cat video, selfie and portfolio? Heart Internet's Nick Leech has been heavily involved since the advent of...

Did you ever stop to think about how people perceive your brand, shop, artwork or look? For me personally, colour was always a way of conveying a mood, energy or method of instantly drawing a viewer into my artwork. But if I'm honest, I never truly stopped to consider the deeper psychological impact of colour. Whilst reading Malcolm Gladwell's Blink a few years ago, I was intrigued with a case stu...

Rohan Daniel Eason's stark black and white, pen and ink illustrations are rooted in the more traditional style of organic illustration. Often found in beautiful books with a dash of fantasy, they inspire freedom of imagination and transportation to a faraway land. But Rohan's real-life story is far more intriguing and inspiring than that. Taking the long road, his musical exploits, not without suc...

When Liz Atkin gets on the tube, pulls out her pack of charcoal and starts to feverishly draw on the free The Metro and The Evening Standard newspapers, there’s a refreshing break in the monotony of tired commuter journeys, littered with people with heads lodged firmly in their mobile devices, disconnected with the immediacy of right here, right now. For anyone who’s ever felt the self-conscious p...

London based graphic designer, art-director and illustrator Gordon Reid (Middle Boop) joins me to discuss the dual sciences of specialist creative style and versatility. Gordon takes us through his career to date, a journey that has seen him evolve from editor of the magazine he created, via freelance illustration, to a more rounded, versatile role on a range of different projects in advertising,...

I'm joined by Designers block ahead of their events at the 2016 London Design Festival. Rory Dodd and Bud Moore take me through the Designers Block story, bringing European design ideas to east London in the late 1990s and seeing the potential of the Old Truman Brewery long before it was hip! As a three-person core, Designers Block carry out huge design and arts events in many unconventional space...

One year on from her first appearance on Arrest All Mimics, Miss Led returns. In summer 2015, we met in Brooklyn, New York to discuss her creative roots, journey to becoming one of the most recognisable and loved illustrators in the business and plans to expand. (You can listen to that on episode 4 of the show) It’s been one crazy year and I meet her at ‘Miss Led Towers’ in London to hear all abou...

Illustrator and designer Kingsley Nebechi joins me to discuss the release of his debut artist book, the wonderful post-apocalyptic illustrated Tribe Hunters. Kingsley’s fascinating journey involved a move from his native Italy to London at the age of fourteen and he’ll tell us all about the challenges he faced, possessing only a very basic grasp of the English language before thriving and embracin...

Jane Bowyer joins me to talk about celebrating inspiring women through creativity in her recent exhibition, 'Women In Print.'The Manchester based show sees 16 designers and artists each creating a piece of work celebrating 16 women from Manchester and surrounding areas. We discuss Jane's recent shift to freelance design, how she made the exhibition happen and shares some tremendous stories includi...

It’s funny how we begin creating at a young age, simply for pleasure. Wax crayons, felt-tip pens, glitter-glue, pencil-crayons, all tools that we use to depict something that makes us happy or interests us in some way. Liam Gall is a 10 year old who freelances as an artist, illustrator and cartoonist at primary school. The first time I tried to make any money from my creative skills came when I wa...

We live in a world of instant gratification, thanks to a world made smaller by technology. Amazon, Ebay, free postage, cheap and plentiful, on demand, next day delivery, you know the drill. The past 10-15 years has been apocalyptic for many high-street retailers and not just the independents. In fact, in many respects, the independent stores have led the way by cleverly adapting the way they provi...

I could point you to a whole range of post graduation stories. Personally, I found the cut off from seven years in education very tough and in particular, the first six months were a huge struggle. I felt demotivated, directionless and couldn't see how a BA(Hons) degree in illustration would set me up for the real world. After hiring a tired old garage with several guys in the same boat, it all ch...

The creative industry has an increasingly prominent role in social issues. As a child, I would visit Blackpool, Morecambe and other seaside towns for family holidays. Whilst these towns still have many positives, there has undoubtedly been something missing since the advent of low-cost airlines and cheap access to European countries with better weather. Deco Publique, a local Morecambe creative co...

We all have a dream client, don't we? Whether it's Game of Thrones, Vogue Magazine, The Guardian or Grand Designs, there was always that college portfolio project that was a subconscious statement of intent. But how many of us truly believe it? Peter O'Toole is an illustrator and designer based in Huddersfield and he joins Arrest All Mimics at his studio in Bates Mill for the 30th episode of the s...

The word 'legend' is tossed around far too lightly. In the world of visual communication, I have no problem attaching that word to the name of British graphic designer, writer, educator, publisher and creative innovator Adrian Shaughnessy. Adrian co-founded Intro, a design studio, in the late 1980s, steering the company to 40 members of staff and pioneering work in digital media and motion graphic...

In a chaotic post-EU referendum political climate, the deep-rooted division in society is plain to see. Blame, insults and criticism flow freely whilst we all try to make sense of the bedlam and prepare to face what comes next. Shaz from Addatif joins me to discuss her creative workshops at youth centres, Ravensbourne College, National Art & Design Saturday Club and her upcoming workshop, 'Inc...

You wouldn't think that the host of an audio show, a person who interviews a range of interesting characters on a weekly basis would have any self-confidence issues. But I can tell you, each time I pick up the phone to call a prospective client, or head for a meeting in the city, I face a familiar wave of adrenaline, a tiny panic during which I doubt myself heavily. Despite those moments of crisis...

It almost feels wrong to introduce Rod Hunt. With a twenty year career at the top of the illustration game, he shouldn't need one. Former chair of the AOI, currently working with the ICON illustration conference and turning around a frightening array of high-profile commissions on a consistent basis, Rod is not just an industry heavyweight, but a man who loves, works incredibly hard to champion, p...

Human After All represent a creative agency with a strong and forward thinking creative identity. With its origins at university, they have evolved to become an agency commanding respect from peers, industry and students alike. Having launched Little White Lies magazine, they have gone on to create striking campaigns for the BAFTAs, Studio Canal and Everyman Cinemas, earning them a strong reputati...

Author and Illustrator of the fantastic 'The Bear Who Stared' on Templar Books, Duncan Beedie talks us through the story of how a bear character illustration staring back at him in a moment of reflection would go on to become his debut book deal. Pulling back the curtain, Duncan details everything from the crucial importance of nuances to tell and effective story, to how he landed a three-book dea...

One of the big success stories in the makers movement is the Crafty Fox Market. Founder Sinead Koehler joins Arrest All Mimics in the midst of the spring markets in London and Leeds to tell us how she began and established Crafty Fox as one of the world's most celebrated coming together of illustrators, makers, ceramicists, sculptors, fashion designers and more. What sets Crafty Fox apart from hig...

Electronic musician and producer/DJ Dirty Freud underlines the benefits of having taken a different route into music. Dissuaded from studying music at school by a square teacher, he pursued creative writing, returning to making music with fresh approach to his peers. Having recently signed to an exclusive roster of artists supported by Jägermeister, Freud details his journey, the importance of emb...

The Hyena Kill join us to talk about the release of their debut record, 'Atomised.' They take us through what it takes for a DIY band to record, produce, fund, release, promote and package a traditional album in the modern music industry in part one of our two part special on creative identity in new music. I met drummer Lorna Blundell and lead vocalist/guitarist Steven Dobb mid tour in camden, fi...

Caroline Hands takes us through a fascinating career as an artist and painter in China, London, rural England and many other places. Her solo show 'White Bird Flew to Blue' opens at No Format Gallery, Woolwich from 9th June and I insist that you come down. When I first moved to my studio at Second Floor Studios and Arts, Caroline was also moving in and as I helped her arrange a massive load of pai...

On location at the inaugural D&AD festival at the Old Truman Brewery, we bring you a series of chats with Grand Budapest Hotel designer Annie Atkins, iconic fashion and housing designer Wayne Hemingway, Little White Lies Creative Director Timba Smits and Lucienne Roberts. We also chat to guests, D&AD CEO Tim Lindsay and Bruce Duckworth of heavyweight advertising agency Turner and Duckworth...