Stockton Giclee Prints Available

Ever passionate about celebrating and championing the area, Stockton Borough Council got in touch. They envisaged six illustrations celebrating Stockton's Townships: Stockton, Billingham, Yarm, Thornaby, Ingleby Barwick and Norton. These illustrations were commissioned for them to gift to connections and business associates, but also to promote the Townships themselves.

The evocative "Family Group" statue, sculpted by Bainbridge Copnall, standing among scattered leaves in Billingham Town Centre.

Even in the process of producing these illustrations, we found ourselves looking at these local destinations of ours with fresh eyes. From the tranquillity of Norton duck pond to the quiet drama of Yarm Viaduct cast against an evening sky, to the evocative "Family Group" statue, in Billingham Town Centre...a testimony to art's ability to turn our gaze to the overlooked beauty in our local communities.

Yarm Viaduct cast against an evening sky.

Thornaby Town Hall.

The Old Mill, Ingelby Barwick

Norton green duck pond, on a tranquil late afternoon.

Signed Giclee prints of the illustrations are available on our shop, on beautiful Hahnemuhle fine art paper.

CVFM Radio Interview

On Saturday the 4th July, we were interviewed on CVFM radio, with host Chloe Tempesto who runs Project Middlesbrough.

A few highlights are included below and you can press click on the player below to listen to the full interview…

Chloe: So, you're both going into business together as a partnership...tell me about that. 

Abby: We've officially registered a partnership together. Previous to this, I was going solo for two and a half years. We met at college, and we've worked together on and off for ten years. It seemed like the perfect step for us. We're a two-person Teesside based creative studio, so we offer illustration and graphic design services. We also sell prints of our artwork on our website, and we've got a new series of Teesside inspired illustrations coming out in the next few weeks.

Chloe: It's a very exciting time to launch - how was launching pre-lockdown? I know it's been hard for a lot of businesses. How was the decision to launch during this time?

Owen: We'd actually planned a launch party just before lockdown started and we'd got the invites sorted, we were going to invite all of Abby's existing clients and we were tremendously excited about it, and then BAM, lockdown hit! But it turned out there were ways we could use our services to support other businesses during this difficult time, such as social distancing signage. People needed different kinds of marketing materials, and some were on the verge of starting a business who were in a similar situation to us. It felt great to be able to actively help.

Chloe: How did your interest in art start? Where does it go back to, and how did we get to Abby+Owen..what's the back story?

Abby: I think we've always both been very creative, even as kids. I have a very distinct memory of my peers in primary school queuing up and wanting me to draw their favourite Pokemon! Going through school I didn't realise how much of a viable career in the arts could be.

When I went to the Northern School of Art in Middlesbrough, that was a big step- and is actually where we met. It's a fantastic establishment that helped us grow as creatives and find our feet with what we wanted to do. We formed this strong friendship and we realised we collaborated well and always gave each other input and taught each other things. We just hit it off.

Owen: There was a real synergy there, we had a very compatible style, but also in how we came up with ideas...a big part of coming up with ideas for us is making it as memorable and funny as possible, and we clicked in that respect, too. 

Chloe: How is having your work out there for everyone to see?

Abby:  Back in 2017 we worked on 12 large format pieces for Hartlepool railway station, and that was the first time we'd seen our work on such a large scale. We still go through the station and it's still something I'm not used to. It was so surreal... it was also the perfect stepping stone into self-employment for me.

Chloe: Did that project give you the confidence to go self-employed?

Abby: It just felt like if there would be a point in time that it would happen, then there was a perfect time. I feel like for Owen and I need the challenge to be able to thrive...some employment can feel a bit stifling, and we wanted to break out of that and do something we love. 

So what's the future for Abby+Owen, what can we expect?

Owen: Abby has already made quite a name for herself in Teesside for the sort of artwork she does, which champions local businesses. The future is where I come in, and that's what this partnership represents, I'm bringing a commercial voice and more of a graphic design orientated aspect to the business. I've spent 4 years in industry already and got given a directorship role in my first year. I've worked on all sorts, creating brands from the ground up as well as working on things like mascot design and packaging. I have a lot of commercial experience, and when you bring that together with what Abby provides, which is a really meticulous approach, we create amazing things together.

Chloe: What's it like to create artwork themed around Teesside?

Abby: It's something I'm proud of. I was born in Stockton, and Owen and I live there currently. I feel like Teesside is overlooked in a lot of ways but it has a lot to offer and there's so many beautiful spaces and landmarks. I feel proud to champion that and show Teesside is a fantastic place, too.

Pictured Roseberry Topping, a commission by Vintage Chartered Financial Planners

Chloe: What's that like to be looked at like a role model and have people reach out for advice and guidance?

Abby: It's really lovely and we've always done talks in the past such as BBC Bitesize and always really loved them. Sometimes the best way for someone to get a better idea of what they want to do and feel motivated is to talk to someone who's been through that. It's nice to keep that conversation open so they don't feel like they're alone and have to figure it out by themselves.

Chloe: I feel a lot of people don't think of Teesside as a successful place you can have a business in the arts, that's a stereotype I have had people say to me. So showcasing the fact you have been very successful and had pieces of art commissioned. Do you think that's a clear example of as long as you work hard, you can do anything if you put your mind to it?

Abby: To some extent, though I do find that saying hard to get behind. I feel like a lot comes down to the right situation, chance and other factors that are out of your control. If someone needs to work full-time to keep a roof over their head, it's going to be very unwise to drop out of that, and no matter how hard they work, it may not work out. That sounds like a negative slant, but there is an element of truth in that saying, we've really pushed and worked really hard and I think people in the area are recognising that. An example being The Globe who reached out and commissioned me, and I think a lot of local businesses would rather support a local artist.

Chloe: What would be your advice for young artists listening?

Owen: I think concentrate on your craft and the parts you enjoy doing, as that's where your passion is going to shine through. It doesn't matter what form your creativity takes, as long as it's something you want to do, and will keep doing it anyway, and with a bit of luck and preparation hopefully, things can work out for you. 

Abby: We're also very pro-education. If it's something you enjoy doing it's important to learn the craft in as much depth as you can. For the type of work we do, we felt it was important to get some sort of industry experience before going self-employed, as you're more equipped for it. 

Owen: Someone said map out your career but do it in pencil, and I think that's never been truer for creative people.

Abby: Yeah! and plenty of room to doodle in the margins

The Brothers and the Bandstand

While I produce most of my illustrations for businesses, every so often I am contacted by an individual and engaged in a private commission! These are particularly fun to work on, especially if the piece is intended as a gift, such as in the case of this illustration.

My client had the piece in mind as a gift for their brother...they shared fond memories of the bandstand at Ropner Park and played there together as kids, which would be the subject of the illustration. The emphasis would be on the architectural structure of the bandstand itself, which is, I might add, absolutely stunning.

The client and I were cautious not to let the impressive foliage of Ropner Park overpower the central image of the bandstand, so we decided to set the illustration in late Autumn, as it would provide complementary colour variation, without the background ever overwhelming the bandstand.

As the illustration was commissioned in early December, as an intended Christmas present for the client's brother, creating the desired Autumnal scene required some artistic license (and a little bit of photo manipulation!).I began by taking a suitable reference photograph of the bandstand on a rather overcast winter's day. To do this, I enlisted the help of my partner, Owen, who let me sit on his shoulders so that I could shoot the Bandstand from the angle I wanted!

Next, I loaded my photograph into Photoshop and edited it roughly, to make it appear as if it was taken in late Autumn. With a little digital trickery, I now had a suitable reference image and could begin the illustration in earnest.

It was important to me that I did the justice to the ornate details of the bandstand, many of which were unique and asymmetrical.
I for one am really happy with how this illustration came out. The client was delighted with the illustration and couldn't wait to give it to his brother for Christmas.

I offer the very best in bespoke landmark and building illustrations. If there is a location that you or a loved one have fond memories of, it could be the perfect gift to have a one-of-a-kind illustration commissioned.

“I became aware of Abby’s work after reading about her restoration of the the Green Dragon Yard Mural in Stockton-on-Tees. After seeing further images displayed on her website, we discussed her carrying out a commission for me.

Abby is an exceptionally talented artist and a consummate professional. We spoke several times throughout the commission, and she captured exactly what I envisaged in terms of season, tones and colours, to create a beautiful image of Ropner Park Bandstand.

I would highly recommend working with her.”

If you have a commission in mind, perhaps of a special location or your home, just get in touch to discuss!

Green Dragon Yard Mural Restoration

The Green Dragon Yard is a beautiful courtyard of repurposed historic warehouses and Georgian alleyways in Stockton High Street. Considered the cultural quarter of Stockton, it houses the Green Dragon Studios, Green Dragon Pub and the newly renovated Georgian Theatre, see my illustration of The Georgian Theatre here.

One of the many features of the Green Dragon Yard that I have always enjoyed is the mural of Saint George the Dragon Slayer, by artist Zac Newton. Sadly, over the years this beautiful mural has fallen into disrepair, and in recent years the original artist passed away. The frame was coming away from the wall and sections of the mural were flaking away altogether.

The Original Mural

I was delighted when local initiative Stockton BID enlisted me as the official 'restoration artist' for the mural. Stockton BID is a partnership between local businesses and organisations with the ultimate aim to make a difference to the town centre, and the Green Dragon mural is a perfect example of a corner of Stockton that urgently needed some TLC!

The restoration was quite a challenge, as many areas of the mural had faded completely, but I had loads of fun playing 'forensic art analyst' and reconstructing the face of Saint George the Dragon Slayer and putting a bit of my soul into the restored mural. This was also an opportunity to better signpost the yard by including the text, Green Dragon Yard.

There was something strangely beautiful about the way the old mural had aged in places, and this gave me the idea of adding some new and interesting textures to the mural.

Working away on the restoration in my studio

Close-Up of the textured illustration

Jason Maxwell, manager at Stockton BID, had this to say about working with me on the project…

““We have worked with Abby on a project to update an old piece of art for our town centre. She is super talented and very creative. I would not hesitate to recommend her to others and cannot wait to work with her again….I absolutely love it, she has done an amazing job and I am really proud of what she has produced for us.””

— Jason Maxwell, Manager at Stockton BID

Here's a short time lapse of the piece as it came together...

Trendsetters installing the new artwork

Do you know of any old murals that could do with being restored? Or perhaps there's a perfect spot in your town for a new mural to brighten up the place. If so, feel free to get in touch using the contact form.