ICM - Leeds Design Agency

Instead of growing up with aspirations of becoming a ballet dancer, singer or even a fireman, I wanted to be an artist. Then I decided to become a Graphic Designer. Not the usual decision of a 9 year old but that’s what I wanted to do. I grew up loving art, architecture, design and fashion. I loved painting, drawing sculpting and when I got onto a Mac for the first time I felt at home. Even though my chosen field is Design, I still love fine art. In my final year of my Advanced National diploma (from The Isle College, Wisbech), specialising in two subjects, fine art and graphics. Only one could become my career path. As far away as the two may seem at times they will always be closely linked and the lessons from one disciplines shouldn’t be forgotten for the other.

For my creative insight I have decided to feature the work of Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec. This was not an easy choice as there are many artists I love, but I felt his work reflects a relationship between art and design that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Toulouse-Lautrec was a French post impressionist, that contributed to the development of Art Nouveau in the 1890s. He was a great observer of Parisian life and captured the the feel and spirit of the time. I love his work for the linear and uncluttered appearance of these works that were not afraid to show the sordid elements of late 19th-century Parisian society. He produced many paintings, lithography, and posters and some of his best known works are the series of posters for the Moulin Rouge.

Art, Illustration, Typography, advertising, marketing and design. I think he got it pretty much covered!