Joseph Yates

Over the course of my three years at university I have learned many valuable things that have helped me progress further in my ambitions to be an illustrator. The opportunity to work independently and organise my time has increased my ability to work to deadlines and use time effectively. The process of research, initial ideas, development, roughs – all leading to the final artwork, is a sequence that has underpinned my illustration work, and will continue to do so after I graduate.

I would say my style is quite varied as I like to
be able to adapt to a range of briefs. However, the things I am constantly drawn to are things like nature, British traditions, poetry (e.g. Gerard Manley Hopkins and John Donne), and the Bible. Exploring narrative through these themes is what interests me most; illustrating existing stories or ones that I have created myself, taking the form of poetry and songs. My practice as an artist and illustrator is quite multi-disciplinary. Music always plays a role in the work I produce, even in editorial or publishing briefs, where the output is purely visual. Maurice Sendak, the well known illustrator of ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ said this: “I find something uncanny about the way a musical phrase, sensuous vocal line, or a patch of Wagnerian colour will clarify an entire approach or style for a new work.” I aim for my work to have a visual melody and harmony, that both fulfils the practical function of communication and portrays the emotive message of an idea or narrative.