BBC Three: "Press 3 for Help" illustrated backgrounds
2022
In March 2022, I was approached by an art director for BBC Three who was working on a new advice helpline style mini-series. He had seen my work before, and thought it could elevate the series to have an illustrated background instead of just plain green-screen colour gradients.
We came up with the idea of a relaxed therapists office, bold colours but also comfortable and relatable. There were two main angles - the celebrity guest and the character asking the questions - that they would switch between, with some close ups. The main angle also had a window leading to another background in which something would change each episode.
As each episode was themed, and featured a different specific guest, the backgrounds had to match the theme. I created a selection of objects, banners and interactive elements that could be added in and swapped out depending on the subject matter.
After this, I gave the files over to an animator to bring them to life.
Bread Source window
display, Norwich
2021
Bread Source, local artisan bakery, asked a selection of Norwich artists and illustrators to create window displays for three of their shop locations, under the theme of "winter, bread + Norwich".
I wanted to create a relatively simple design that managed to incorporate each part of the theme succinctly. After a few days of planning I came up with the concept of this snowy scene; small loaf houses, with hands above it dusting them with "snow" like flour.
"Little Horrors" podcast cover art
2020
I was asked to illustrate three cover images for a scary stories podcast, each episode being a different story. I wanted each one to have a different, striking colour, with the theme of red uniting them all.
This was a really fun project! my favourite of this series is the second one; the abandoned house inhabited by satanists.
Food spot illustrations for editorial
2021
I wanted to show an example of food illustrations, including both greyscale, inked originals and digitally coloured versions for whichever would suit the publication the most.
"Rock Glazes Unearthed" book illustrations
2020
This was a more collaborative project, working with my dad, Matthew Blakely, on his book about glazes.
I created some graphic and striking ink drawn chapter headings, as well as some technical drawings. It was really nice to work on something with my dad, and I feel like it helped push me into creating work that I wouldn't have made otherwise.
Maya Law's "Hitchhiking" EP artwork
2020
For this project, Maya wanted one central image for the EP, that could be cropped down and altered for each of the three preceding singles. We worked together on some initial ideas, which lead to some preliminary sketches and colour palettes. These were then narrowed down to the final image of her from behind, looking over an orangey-pink, dreamlike landscape of rolling hills, sunset and a car slowly encroaching.
The whole project entailed vinyl design (front and back cover, insert and record sticker), single covers, promotional imagery and merchandise design. This was a great project that really pushed me into graphic design, setting up work for physical print and communicating closely with someone to bring such a personal vision to life.
Clothing design for Illustrated Mind
2019
I was approached by Illustrated Mind to create a piece of work for their collection with the theme "people power/power of the people". I played with an array of ideas, and after some back and forth with the brand I decided it was best to stick with my own personal style and interest, and created "Consumed".
I am fascinated with the ideas and imagery of symbiosis between plants and humans, so I decided to create a window into a scene of an embrace between someone being consumed by plants and flowers, and a lover either trying to help or watch in awe. I also liked the ambiguity of the two characters looking identical, and the different situations this could create in the minds of each person who looks at it.
