I first met Amy last year on a random and rather awesome Red Bull trip we were invited on together. She made loads of paper ducks on the train as a means of promotion, and left them wherever we went in London. She’s a University graduate in graphic design who rather than do what everyone else did, forged her own path, away from the computer and towards the printing press and pencil. Amy’s artwork impresses me because it’s never quite what I expect, which I love. She had her first solo show last week at Electrik Sheep in Newcastle, and by all accounts it was a huge success. Myself and her older sister Laura caught up with her over some beers at the after party and we fired a few questions her way.
All photos by Mark Westlake
So Amy, you’ve just had your first solo show
yep
At your sisters shop, Electrik Sheep in Newcastle. How do you think it went?
I think it went well, I’m pleased with the result.
Cool. So first I gotta ask, why dead animals?
Well really it’s more birds. I draw birds because in some cultures people believe that when you die your soul turns into a bird, especially the Egyptians. So I’ve been drawing birds on old pieces of paper and the like. Then the bears thing came around from the idea that people like to have bears as toys, yet they’re really vicious beasts. The whole idea is centred around how we keep animals and how we like to humiliate them.
So, you studied art at Northumbria right?
Actually no, I studied graphic design, but I found it too commercial, and lended itself to too much computer generated stuff and adverts. I prefer to do hand-drawn stuff and use my letter press and old printing machines. I actually got a bit penalized at Uni for doing it, but thats what I prefer.
How was your joint show in London recently? Where was it, who with and how did it go?
It was on little comms just off Regent Street, and yeah it went really well. It was joint, but I actually had the smaller bit, but I actually did better, but shhhh! Ha ha. The guy I did it with is a good mate, and his stuff is really good, and it led to lots of exposure in the press, so yeah. Went well.
That’s awesome.
[I yell for Laura, Amy’s sister to come over]
[At this point, Laura takes over the interview]
At what point did you decide that illustrated folklore, and poetry and songs was the way you were going to take you artwork?
Because I listen to a lot of music, especially folk music like Patrick Wolf and Joanna Newsome, and for my degree show I illustrated the metaphors in Joanna Newsome’s album and from there it led on because I found it a really strong way to focus, and yeah, it kinda developed from there.
Do you think in the future you’ll still illustrate those subjects, or do you think you’ll change focus as time goes on?
It depends about the way it develops to be honest, ha ha.
Is your artwork an organic kind of thing or…
I just keep working towards and developing it and seeing what happens when something inspires me along the way.
And the medium of pencil that you use, are you going to continue with that as well, or do you think you’ll start to use paint or colour?
I like using pencil because I think it’s more personal, you’re doing it yourself. Plus I don’t like how when you design something you get somebody else to produce it, I believe in producing it yourself. Maybe paint could be a good medium to move onto but I’ll see what happens and see what I move on to.
Where would you most like to exhibit?
Oooo, erm, what’s it called? ha ha, too much rum. I cant’ remember the name of the place!
Anywhere outside the UK you’d like to exhibit?
Yeah, obviously the big ones, like New York. But I’d like to go to Berlin, and because I’m part German, it would be quite nice to go over there.
[At this point the interview descends into unusable drunken banter]
You can buy Amy’s art at Electrik Sheep
