For our inaugural On Paper story, we visited the studio of British illustrator and COLFORD collaborator, Harry Frost. Here, the subject of our summer artist spotlight talks about his inspirations and processes when putting pen to paper.
WORDS - HARRY FROST
PHOTOGRAPHY - MARIANNE SLATER
When I sit down at my desk to begin drawing, I start by considering the stories that I wish to tell through my illustrations and artwork. Whether this is the vastness of clouds drifting over open skies above hills and fields or the detail of leaves gently falling from the branches of trees, I try to allude to a sense of place and time through my fountain pen ink drawings. Living and growing up in the Derbyshire countryside and The Peak District, the ever-changing natural landscape has been a constant source of inspiration. Walking, hiking and moving through the scenery at my own pace allows me to observe the world around me, taking in the atmosphere, elements and views.
I refer to myself as a ‘visual magpie’. I love to explore, discover and engage with the nuances, intricacies and little details of life and nature that can go unnoticed, translating these occurrences through my process of drawing and creating.
“Sketchbooks and paper play an important role in my artistic practice.
I am incredibly excited by the possibilities of drawing and the opportunities
for learning and discovery that can occur when putting pen to paper.”
My original illustrations are created using fountain pen and blue ink. I use a Lamy
fountain pen and permanent blue ink by Mont Blanc which flows beautifully from the
nib of the pen onto the paper. I find creating in this manner to be a meditative and
harmonious process that allows me to fully engage with the story I wish to tell with
each particular drawing.
Sketchbooks and paper play an important role in my artistic practice. I am incredibly excited by the possibilities of drawing and the opportunities for learning and discovery that can occur when putting pen to paper. Using a sketchbook allows me to have the freedom to both create and experiment with my line quality, mark marking and compositions. My variety of sketchbooks are utilised in a way to observe and connect with the world around me, thereby creating a collection of drawings that speak to a specific moment in time. Alongside my personal sketchbooks and client work, I have had the pleasure of creating bespoke commissioned ink drawings as gifts to mark special occasions such as wedding invitations and presents. Being chosen to create these piece that mark such important occasions in a person's life is very rewarding and the chance for a client to gift something that has such a strong, personal connection to the recipient is very special.
I was fortunate enough to visit Scotland on a recent trip and I’m currently in the middle of creating a collection of my illustrations that aim to connect to the hills, forests and coastline there.
With summer now here, I am enjoying the brighter and sunnier days that the season brings. I am looking forward to being out exploring in the hills of The Peak District and beyond, searching for discoveries and inspiration before creating a new collection of ink drawings, translating the sights and beauty of the landscape through my fountain pen illustrations.
