Adrian Johnson has been illustrating for the last 10 years since graduating from Kingston University. During that time he has worked prolifically for a plethora of clients in the UK and abroad across editorial, advertising, children’s books and animation fields.

Clients

Adrian's clients include Orange, Nissan, The Design Council, The Guardian, and Sky+, working with HHCL Red Cell and Studio AKA.

Adrian was chosen to take part in our 'Watch This Space' exhibition by The AOI (Association of Illustrators).

In November 2003 Adrian had his first major exhibition, ‘A Lovely Pair’, with fellow illustrator McFaul at the Coningsby Gallery, London. Since ‘A Lovely Pair’ he became one of the founding members of the art and illustration collective, Black Convoy, exhibiting at the ‘Full English’ show at The Apartment (New York) in February 2005. In the same year, he was presented with an Images Gold award for an ad campaign for Sky+ on the theme of odd couples.

Adrian’s is sometimes described as ‘retro’ referring to his limited colour palette and form elements he uses in his compositions. He is indeed very fond of 50s design and illustration and sees his influences there without referring to specific personalities or outlets. His works can be described as collages based on drawings he cuts out from his sketchbooks, potato prints and sometimes photographs he has found. Typography is very much part of the composition and not an element to add on to the image to create meaning. The result is graphic art at its best where the artist acknowledges the medium itself: the shape of the surface within which the image is created, the forms and textures of the elements used to create a composition and the fact that the images is a two-dimensional representation of reality. Adrian’s illustrations are sometimes funny, sometimes surreal but always well-crafted interpretations of the world we live in but never attempt to give us everything.

Adrian works from his East London studio and lectures at numerous illustration courses in the UK and abroad."

– Silvia Baumgart, Manager, The Association of Illustrators

The AOI was established in 1973 to advance and protect illustrator’s rights and encourage professional standards. It is a non-profit making trade association and members consist primarily of freelance illustrators as well as agents, clients, students and lecturers. As the only body to represent illustrators and campaign for their rights in the UK, the AOI has successfully increased the standing of illustration as a profession and improved the commercial and ethical conditions of employment for illustrators. In addition, it is a member of the Creators Rights Alliance (CRA) and a founder member of the European Illustrators Forum (EIF)
AOI website