Kevin Maddison, Artist & Illustrator

I am an Artist & Illustrator, working mainly with Etchings, pastel & watercolour mediums, living in Lincolnshire. I originally trained as a typographically based Graphic Designer at the London College of Printing but have spent most of my working life as an Artist & Illustrator, having developed my illustration ability whilst working for the then influential publisher, Mitchell Beazley.

Publishers

Interspersed with my Illustration I spent a very enjoyable two years as a full time College Lecturer and several more as a part timer. As well as the childrens’ books, as an Artist & Illustrator, I have produced a large body of artworks for many Publishers. I have also run a successful Greeting Card Publishers called Madkobie producing humourous cards. I am currently producing Etchings which have a considerable Illustrative bias. I was initially drawn to Drypoint and then to Etching. I had contact with Intaglio printing several years ago and always had a desire to get involved with this medium. I find it absolutely fascinating and absorbing.

It is just great to watch the image developing and changing sometimes boldly, sometimes subtly, almost like chemical Photography. I see it as an extension of the drawing process giving me another means of conveying humour and narrative, the prints becoming pictures without books.

Children’s Books

I have illustrated several childrens’ books. Notable amongst these are three Edward Lear poems published as three separate books, initially launched by the publisher Ash & Grant at the Fine Art Society gallery. As the Artist & Illustrator for these publications, several of the watercolours were subsequently exhibited at Nash House. The first of the series, ‘The Pobble who has no Toes’, was included in the annual Fifty Best Books awards organised by the National Book League. This subsequently formed part of a touring exhibition of British Illustration. I also had a  solo exhibition at the Illustrators Art gallery of my work for Shakespeare’s  ‘A Midsummers Night’s Dream’.