MEET THE ARTIST: TOM JONES

Hey Tom, how are you doing?

Hello – I’m doing good, thank you!

Let’s get all the formalities out of the way; can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

I am an illustrator from Milton Keynes; I like to draw fun and cute characters.

Your illustrations have taken our Once Upon a Time collection to a whole new realm; we're so excited we’ve had this opportunity to work with you. How have you found the whole process?

Thank you! It’s been fun to be able to explore fairytale themes, I tend to draw without much of a plan, so it was a nice change having some ideas to start working from. It’s been so lovely to watch the illustrations come to life in their own little world, through clothing.

How did you go about creating the characters that can be seen throughout the collection?

I began by collating imagery to reference that fit the theme, this consisted of stills from movies such as The Singing Ringing Tree, along with woodland creatures and old toys, to name a few. These created a moodboard for capturing the world that I wanted to create from, then I could get to building the characters. I sketched up various characters and scenarios which I whittled down to the best ones to work on further; the references were most handy for figuring out what type of creatures they were, and informing their outfits.

Who’s your favourite character? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell them)

I like the Jester Dogs best because they’re too cute, but Angry Frog and the Fairies are a close second.

Has your work always had a whimsical element to it?

Yes I would say so! Not consciously, but I‘m drawn to that type of thing. My drawings have always been a bit wonky and wrong so that lends itself to the whimsicality of it.

Where do you find yourself reverting to for inspiration?

I find myself inspired by so many different things; I like things that might be considered bad or ugly but, nonetheless, have a magical charm about them. The first thing coming to mind is old-school Children’s cartoons like Muzzy and Monchhichis, as well as scruffy toys, particularly Trolls and the mastermind behind them, Thomas Dam. Another figure would be Jim Henson, a famous puppeteer and animator who created The Muppets, a notable source of inspiration from his work has to be Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Aside from those more particular references, I generally always look to practical effects and music to get me in a creative headspace.

Alright, we’re gonna complete a quick side quest. Would you rather be a troll or a fairy, and why?

Troll! I love trolls, they feel more true to who I am. I don’t think I have the energy to be a fairy, it seems tiring, I’d much rather just trudge about a bit and live in a cave.

What piece from the collection has caught your eye?

I love the whole collection, but the Spotty Dog Mesh Midi Skirt is my favourite.

If you could be in any fairy tale world, which would you choose?

I’m not sure I’d like to be in any of them, they’re all a bit scary and horrible. If I had to choose though maybe Jack and the Beanstalk? or Rumpelstiltskin? To be honest, I wouldn’t mind one where I just get to live in a castle.

Where do you find yourself feeling most creative? At home? By the sea?

It’s a bit of both really! I have my little base at home and it’s where I like to be most, however, it’s nice to explore new places and find new things to get both inspired and excited by. That said, my favourite thing has to be drawing in my garden, especially on a nice sunny day.

Your unique illustrative style makes your work so easily recognisable as your own, something that can be hard to achieve. What advice would you give someone trying to find their personal style?

Thank you! What worked for me was to draw lots and often, ideally an hour every day; the more you draw the quicker you’ll be at figuring it out. Make sure to experiment with lots of different materials, whatever the quality of them, I feel it’s best to invest in materials when you know what you like best. I feel my personal style evolves through just figuring out what I like over time which is an ongoing process, but that’s also the most enjoyable part. Just have fun with it! About 95% of what I draw doesn’t leave my sketchbooks and that’s fine, don’t put too much pressure on yourself! I just enjoy drawing, so just do what you love :•)

Thanks for having a natter with us Tom; any last words?

Thanks for having me, take care!