When In Newcastle, Look Up Ben Holland
Tell us about your work and how you got started in
working on night time pieces so that’s where the name comes
illustration.
from. Social media wise, I’m on the usual Facebook (www.
I’ve always drawn, ever since I was a kid. I used to draw pictures
facebook.com/lowmoonoverhightown) and Twitter (@LMOHT)
of footballers or try to recreate album cover artwork. I’ve just
sites. I also try to always have an exhibition up in Newcastle
always carried on really, finding things to sketch as the inspiration
in one of the venues from the collection. Finally, I’ve a stall on
comes. There hasn’t been a point where I thought, “great, I’m
Tynemouth market and can be found there most weekends.
an illustrator now.” I guess I’ve just hit upon a style and current collection that people can engage with.
What aspects of illustration do you enjoy most?
I just love capturing the atmosphere of a building or place. What is it about Newcastle that you find so inspirational?
It’s pretty satisfying to do that, especially as each piece in this
The buildings are some of the most beautiful of any city in the
collection takes around 25- 30 hours to complete - they’re a bit
country. The old adage is “look up” and that’s particularly true in
of a labour of love. Obviously, when someone wants to buy a
Newcastle. Walk down Northumberland Street and have a look
piece of work after you’ve finished, that’s pretty good too. There
above the Carphone Warehouse. Exactly.
are already pieces from the collection found in homes in Australia and New Zealand, so it’s pretty cool to think a bit of a drawing from Chilli Road in Heaton is hung on a wall on the other side of
What materials do you use to create your work?
the world.
A pen and a piece of paper. The materials are dead simple. It’s the joy of drawing that you can do it anywhere and for no money. I use 0.1 fine liners all the time and just build layers and layers of
What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?
Draw. Just draw anything you see and build up books and books
ink, rather than cheating and filling the sky in with a marker pen...
of work, you’ll soon see evidence of progression. Use other illustrators as inspiration but don’t just copy them, try developing
Where is your ideal working space?
a unique style, something which is distinctly ‘you’.
Home. I work from mine and my girlfriends flat in Heaton. There’s a kettle, a radio and a cat. Ideal. There’s no real need for a studio unless I start painting (which is the next project...)
Please name three of your favourite illustrators.
Children’s book illustration is what I always go back to. I’ve been What is your process when creating a piece?
reading Tales From Arabian Nights recently and the illustrations
I draw the less celebrated architecture. I’ve no real interest
by H J Ford are incredible, just beautiful black and white line
in drawing the Angel or the bridges as they’ve been done to
drawings with so much life. In the modern era I’ll give a mention
death. I like places where there’s a sense of atmosphere and
to another Northerner, my friend Simon Bartram. He works out
anticipation. I take lots of preparatory photographs to get the
of his shed in Gateshead. His illustrations in the Bob: Man on
detail correct and try to visit the location at day and night. All my
the Moon series (for which he’s won the Blue Peter Book of the
work is set at night, as again, I like the atmosphere it creates,
Year award before) are amazing. Finally, away from children’s
and the interesting shadows and light that is thrown up on to the
books I’m a massive fan of Saul Bass. I got into his work through
buildings. So I photograph the subject, draw the basic structure
Hitchcock film posters and just love his unique style - he was an
out in light pencil and then get into applying pen as early as
absolute genius.
possible to start bringing the piece to life. I try and cover big areas like sky and road surfaces first to tie the work together and
Ben Holland is a pen & ink artist currently specialising
then start into the intricacies of the detail.
in atmospheric drawings of Newcastle’s less revered architecture. His next project, an illustrated novel, is
How do you promote your work?
developing a combination of modern fairy tale and noir art.
Online through my website www.lowmoonoverhightown.com.
Away from the drawing board, Ben is the songwriter and
High Town is the original name of Heaton where I live and I like
singer/rhythm guitarist for The Winter Hill Transmission.
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