Voice of London

Hosted this year at the Southbank’s Bargehouse, The London Illustration Fair is back with new artists presenting their finest drawings, doodles and designs.

Reporter: Emily Fortune | Sub-Editor: Larissa Gliddon

In what’s been described as an illustration ‘fruit and veg market’, finding fresh and immersive types of illustration wasn’t difficult. With 70 different collectives and artists chosen to exhibit their work, the Bargehouse was alight with the most intriguing colours and creations from cartoons to optical illusions, caricatures to reportage.

Spread across five floors, London’s finest came out in full force with satirical TFL pop-art from London Underdown to Nick Ellwood’s top floor reportage illustration exhibition focusing on the Syrian refugee crisis, the range of work was immense, providing something for everyone. Mainly due to this year’s line-up being packed with your favourite illustrators from every corner of London and beyond.

Just some of the activities through the day included The Doodle Man creating live art with his ‘graffiti spaghetti’ style to Tottenham’s finest export of Letterpress, A Two Pipe Problem, who will be holding workshops on the great tradition of Letterpress and how to make the most out of print. Allowing people to get involved with the illustrators made for a great atmosphere, with people of all ages, illustrator or not.

In the safe hands of book publisher, Sam Bennett and creative space owner and technician, Alastair Eland, the project has only grown since it started two years ago in 2014, after the pair felt that London’s illustration scene was lacking in exposure and opportunities. In order to make the team even stronger, marketing and communications manager, Holly Simpson was appointed after her experience of working in galleries such as the Tate and the Sassoon Gallery.

The team behind the fair have also run other events bringing together illustration and print culture such as the Tropicana Fest and Psych Fest. The London Illustration fair will be back next year, hosting even more of London’s finest!

@voiceofLDNarts