The brilliant kernel of the night,
The flaming lightroom circles me :
I sit within a blaze of light
Held high above the dusky sea.
Far off the surf doth break and roar
Along bleak miles of moonlit shore,
Where through the tides the tumbling wave
Falls in an avalanche of foam
And drives its churned waters home
Up many an undercliff and cave.

The clear bell chimes : the clockworks strain :
The turning lenses flash and pass,
Frame turning within glittering frame
With frosty gleam of moving glass :
Unseen by me, each dusky hour
The sea-waves welter up the tower
Or in the ebb subside again ;
And ever and anon all night,
Drawn from afar by charm of light,
A sea-bird beats against the pane.

And lastly when dawn ends the night
And belts the semi-orb of sea,
The tall, pale pharos in the light
Looks white and spectral as may be.

Excerpt from a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called The Light Keeper which inspired this piece.

An illustration series highlighting the geeks and bookworms of history through hand-drawn bookplates.

I often talk about my affinity for books but I don’t just mean I like reading them - they are beautiful objects. Whether it’s a beautiful leather bound and gilded volume or a well-loved, dog eared paperback, there is something irreplaceable about these vessels of information. 

Back in the day people used to declare ownership of their books by sticking a bookplate, or personalised label in the front of their books declaring ‘Ex Libris’, Latin for ‘from the library of’. They are often quite beautiful works of art, sometimes decorative, sometimes funny.

As a personal passion project I’ve decided to highlight some of my favourite boffins (people who are experts of their field and have arcane knowledge or skill, i.e. geeks) by creating bookplates for them. This is the result.

To read more about each image please visit https://boffinbookplates.com/

I had the pleasure of creating illustrations for A Short Philosophy of Birds by French ornithologist Philippe J. Dubois and philosopher, Elise Rousseau.

The charming French book covers twenty-two little lessons of wisdom inspired by how birds live.

Folklore Society Gin is a collaboration that owes its existence to Yorkshire. The project showcases the skills of three different partners; Allied Glass did manufacturing and decoration, Leeds Gin did distillation and the design and concept was done by myself as part of Analogue Creative. The bottle features a 360 degree illustration printed directly to the glass in 6 colours.

The design illustrates a folklore tale about a mysterious witch from Yorkshire's Todmorden moor. Visit http://folkloresocietygin.com/ for the full story.

Photo: Rob Caddy 
Produced at: Analogue

Kiedy my żyjemy! Work for 100 years of Polish Independence.

A series of prints based on Walden by Henri David Thoreau which which was written during the two years, two months, and two days he spent living in a cabin he built in the woods of Massachusetts. The book is in part an experiment of becoming as self-sufficient and immersed in nature as possible, but also a deep and spiritual reflection that explores human relationship with nature, the seasons and the passage of time.

Joanna Lisowiec. ‘Alps I’. Hand-printed linocut on cotton rag paper, York, 2019. SOLD OUT

Joanna Lisowiec. ‘Alps II’. Hand-printed linocut on cotton rag paper, York, 2019. 35 x 35cm. Prints available. £30

A mix of hand lettering projects

Ministry of Donuts is a concept for a premium, gourmet donut shop. I thought the brand name had potential for a fun, quirky brand story, so I took it to the most ridiculous place I could think of and created a set of characters who work for a secretive donut organisation. Along with a sprinkle-faced gum shoe there is a badass, jelly-filled hit woman, a holey orator and an iced, cold, calculating chairman. Sorry, I hope the atrocious puns haven't made your eyes glaze over.

Collaborators: Derek Springston
Produced at Moxie Sozo

Many of the spirits sold in Chinese bars are poor quality, created from subpar ingredients and watered down. Wanting to provide a solution, JiuJiu is New Zealand’s first vodka made specifically for the Chinese market.

The design needed to strike a balance between being approachable to Chinese consumers whilst still maintaining a western, ‘imported’ , top-shelf aesthetic. The ferns (New Zealand’s national symbol)
allude to the country of origin whilst the front label is embellished with a traditional Chinese inspired motif.

Produced at Moxie Sozo
Typography: Charles Bloom
 

Packaging concept for Scottish Kings Gin, a brand of
premium gin, distilled in Scotland and inspired by it's rich culture and history.

This design takes inspiration from knotwork found on Pictish stones - some of which date back to the 6th century when the Pict Kings rules over Scotland. Some of these stones depict mythical ‘Pictish Beasts, creatures wound in knots, often having several limbs
and long twisted tongues. The beasts within the intricate knotwork are locked in battles, symbolising the tumultuous history of
Scotland’s age of kings.

Produced at Moxie Sozo.

Product concept for a snack-able marshmallow product with exciting flavours like toasted coconut, key-lime pie, and birthday cake. The design concept for this product are fun, marshmallow worlds in an isometric style incorporating each flavour. This Marshmallow Malibu Beach House invites you to look closer and
discover fun hidden details.

Produced at Moxie Sozo

Packaging Concept

Produced at Moxie Sozo