We are delighted to announce two of Début Art’s represented artists have been shortlisted for the 2019 Association of Illustrators’ World Illustration Award. Andrew Archer’s ‘Edo Ball: The Art of Basketball’ (Gingko Press, 2018) and Helen Friel’s ‘Hoakes Island’ (Laurence King, 2018) are both shortlisted in the ‘Books’ category.
Andrew Archer’s ‘Edo Ball: The Art of Basketball’ pays tribute to his twin passions: basketball and Japanese art. What began initially as two self-initiated pieces (‘The Rock’ & ‘The Ghost’) expanded into a stunning series of 45 original artworks. In May 2018, these were collected in a single volume, along with sketches and accompanying text offering the reader a detailed insight into Andrew’s process and inspiration.
’Hoakes Island’, created, designed and illustrated by Helen Friel and co-authored with Ian Friel, is Helen’s début interactive book for older readers. The title engages the reader in an ingenious and immersive narrative puzzle, unfolding inside the magical universe of Hoakes Island Amusement Park. It is the perfect combination of Helen’s intellectual technical approach with her capacity for imagination and storytelling.
Congratulations to both Andrew and Helen, and to all the other illustrators who made the shortlist. The finalists will be announced at the awards ceremony in July 2019.
Début Art is very excited to announce that we are now representing Marcial Rodrigo! Marcial is an illustrator and infographic designer from Seville, in the sunny south of Spain, who explores ways to fuse information with illustration. Detail-oriented and versatile, he combines simplicity and symbolism to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively. With a style defined by precise, dynamic lines, his compositions balance visual and conceptual harmony, prioritizing both aesthetics and clarity—creating pieces that connect and invite visual reflection. His professional background, which spans from architecture to design, brings a unique perspective to his work. Now based in Málaga, he works with national and international clients, developing projects that deliver narrative depth and visual coherence. Clients include: El País-Retina, Santilla Editorial, Arup, Oliver Cabell, Fast Company, Modus Magazine, Golf Magazine, Drapers, Which? Magazine, Wunderman Thompson, Garaje de Ideas,...
We are pleased to share packaging illustrations by artist Webb Creative for Oriente, a premium rice brand out of Portugal. Webb Creative was brought on by Firecactus Creative Director John-Paul Hunter who led the brand’s redesign. Inside the V-shaped illustration, which is actually two grains of rice coming together, are Webb’s illustrations. Each rice variant has a different scene, depicting the fifth-generation owners and moments from the business’s history. As Hunter shared with Design Week: “That illustration needed to work hard, we wanted people to see something different every time.” A further dive into the meaning of each illustration can be found on the back of the pack. You can check out details of the redesign and more of Webb Creative’s work here.
Debut Art is pleased to announce that we are now representing artist Andreea Dumuta! Andreea Dumuta is a Romanian illustrator known for her bold and eclectic visual language that blends dark, moody motifs with playful, vibrant colors. Her work often draws inspiration from nature and the animal world, resulting in a diverse body of illustrations that are both whimsical and striking. With a growing presence in the publishing industry, Andreea has illustrated numerous book covers for international publishers including Macmillan, Hachette, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster . Her commercial portfolio also includes personal and collaborative projects. Beyond her commissioned work, she continues to explore self-initiated projects that push creative boundaries and reflect her interest in the surreal, the satirical, and the symbolic. When she's not illustrating, Andreea enjoys watching films, exploring the outdoors on long walks, and discovering new music. See Andreea’s full portfoli...
Steven Heller, a member of the Art Director Hall of Fame since 1996 and author, co-author and editor of over 200 books on design covered Grundini in his latest article for the Daily Heller. Describing Peter, Steven wrote: " [he is] an exemplar of the commedia dell’arte style of data visualization, a maestro of transforming statistics into pictorial passion plays. Icons are his meat, and they are seasoned with wit and humor, color and conviviality. They brighten up the stage, the page and the screen. They scroll with a certain rock and roll." You can explore the article in full here You can find more brilliant work from Grundini here