Radio Times – My Top Ten Commissions (Part 2)
Client: Radio Times ·
Welcome back to my rundown of my ten favourite commissions from Radio Times, a true British institution of the editorial illustration world. These are in their published order. Don’t forget to see part one for the first five and here’s to many more!
6. Wild Bond
Reimagining Bond characters with animals was always going to be a hoot! Mark and the team wanted bond to be a Great Dane, but the other ideas were all up to me. The roughs featured takes on posters and action scenes, and I’d have been equally happy with any of them. I did really enjoy the image we went with, though my mind always goes to Hank Scorpio before Bond!
7. Ghost Stories from Theatreland
This commission came in the middle of a busy week with a larger job that was dragging on due to too many cooks. I loved the concept of the ghost light and I’m glad that was the image Mark chose. It was fun, light hearted piece to make – with a nice atmosphere – and a bit of respite from the other job that still rumbled on after I’d turned in this artwork.
8. The Climate Question
I enjoyed visualising the arguments a couple could have over environmental issues and principals a little too much. My initial idea was tighter on the frying pan with their hands telling the argument, and the pan being clearer as the rolling eyes emoji. I had to stand my ground a little to prevent the concept from getting too convoluted, which became an amusing case of life-imitating-art.
9. A Young Girl’s Guide to Horror
Horror movies are very visual in both what they show and don’t show, so capturing a young Woman’s obsession with these films in her formative years was an exciting challenge. Packing the cinema with classic horror characters and beasts was just a really fun piece to draw.
10. Celebrity Apprentice
I’ve somehow ended up pigeonholed into portrait commissions for Radio Times now (not a bad thing – I just miss the variety), but I was happy to be hired. It was great to work with Jacob again and getting the bigger canvas to play with was a pleasure. It was my fifth time illustrating for the Christmas Double Issue, and I went all-in, especially with drawing the tricky perspective on the background separately, which was most of a day’s work in itself.
Alex Hahn
Illustratoralexhahnillustrator.com
English
I have over ten years experience creating editorial illustrations for many of the UK’s top magazines and newspapers, from spot illustrations through double-page spreads and covers. I use bold lines and strong draughting to deliver visual solutions to a diverse range of subjects and ideas. I’m equally happy creating conceptual or character-based, narrative images.
My practice centres around figurative and ideas-based illustration alongside independent publishing. I enjoy projects and subjects that push my work in new directions. I love working with ideas / concepts, characters and narrative, whether it's a single spot-illustration or multi-page sequential story.
Hire me for: editorial, book covers, book illustration, posters, portraits, comics, storyboards, advertising or any project you feel my work could suit – let's talk!
Inbetween commissions, I publish small press books and zines as BlopShop where I regularly exhibit at conventions and fairs across the country, including: Thought Bubble, The House of Illustration Illustrator's fairs and ELCAF; my books and zines have been bought across the globe. My story, SPACE RACE! Was selected for the World Illustration Awards shortlist.
Outside of illustration, you can find me walking around the Buckinghamshire countryside, enjoying an (unpretentious) coffee, gardening and looking after nature.
Clients: Anglia Ruskin University, The Big Issue, Computer Arts, EYEYAH!, Financial Times, Firewords, The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Guardian, Holyrood Magazine, NCT (National Childbirth Trust), New Internationalist, The Observer, Politico, Popshot, Property Week, Pure App, RBS, Radio Times, Shortlist, Starbucks EMEA, The Sunday Times Magazine, Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, UCL Department of Anthropology
Skills
Software: Adobe After Effects, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop
Awards: Images 36 – Shortlisted (2011), World Illustration Awards – Shortlist (2016)
11 Years Experience
I have over ten years experience creating editorial illustrations for many of the UK’s top...