Step inside the compact Nottingham studio of this award-winning illustrator. Words and photos: ANNE-KATRIN PURKISS
You won the professional research category at the 2018 World Illustration Awards. What was the specific project?
The award was for a book and exhibition called Thinking Room, the result of an artists’ residency at Nottingham Lakeside Arts.
The residency studio was a fantastic size, large enough for ballroom dancing, and it transformed my practice. I ended up doing large paintings for the exhibition, and also shrank them right down for a small book.
Was it difficult to scale large work down to book size?
I had to just go for it and resign myself to the loss of detail, but it actually worked well – different, but to good effect.
When did you set up your studio at home?
The day I closed the book on my first career. One day I was head of the Russian department at the University of Exeter, the next it was me and my paintbrush in this studio.
What prompted the career change?
I was always interested in illustration and art and I loved drawing. When the university wanted to reduce staff numbers in my department, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I took voluntary severance and I left.
How did you start your second career?
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