Monthly Matter #86 – Introducing James Dawe!
It’s a huge pleasure this month to welcome digital artist, James Dawe, to the Grand Matter roster. Read on to find out more about his work, along with the latest work from our roster of artists.
"While I was part of a contemporary collage movement in the 2010's, I wanted to resist being pigeonholed and sought new digital methods to evolve my work."
James Dawe – Digital artist
It’s a huge pleasure to welcome London-based digital artist, James Dawe, to the Grand Matter roster!
James creates sprawling virtual landscapes and dynamic collages that bend perception and breakdown reality. Rich with texture and constructed in layers, his energetic compositions explore both 2D and 3D spaces, embracing glitches and new ways of seeing.
To introduce James properly, we spoke to him about his design influences, dream projects and rollercoaster journey abound the creative industry, from designing Fabric London's iconic nightclub posters in the noughties to his recent explorations into motion and 3D.
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Read our introductory interview with James here and see more of his incredible work here
New Matter
The latest news and updates from our artist roster
Martha Olivia X Maybourne
As part of the iconic Maybourne’s recent rebrand, illustrator Martha Olivia worked with agency Future Brand to create an elegantly detailed tapestry design that encapsulates the personality of each of the groups' hotel offerings; incorporating a series of individually designed motifs that reflect the essence of each location.
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Read more about the project here
Lena Yokoyama X The New York Times
We know that absolutely no one wants to be thinking about Christmas in January, but we couldn't resist including this gorgeous illustration created by Lena Yokoyama for a fun gift-guide article featured at the end of last year in The New York Times.
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See more of Lena's work here
Owen Gildersleeve's Nosferatu Inspired Posters
Paper artist Owen has been working on a beautifully eerie series of film poster designs inspired by Robert Eggers latest cinematic offering; Nosferatu. Taken in by the film’s themes of dark shadows, Owen wanted to highlight a few of his favourite stills from the film in his signature layered papercut style.
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Check out the full set here, and see more of Owen's work here
Rosie Barker X Futura Magazine
Commissioned by Les Claudies for science magazine Futura, Rosie explores the consequences of water shortages and tackles the complex topic through a playful composition in a conceptual and thought provoking way.
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See more from Rosie here
Joanna Blémont X The New Yorker
Currently one of three creatives on our Future Makers programme, illustrator Joanna was asked to create an illustration for one of Yukio Mishima short fiction stories “From the Wilderness” for The New Yorker. Her beautiful watercolours capture the essence of the story in an atmospheric way that fits perfectly with the narrative.
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See more from Joanna here
Monthly Spotlight
Interviews, events and collaborations from our roster & beyond
Charlotte Mei & Landscape Artist of the Year
Sky Arts has embarked on another search for talented landscape artists across Britain and Ireland with a new series of Landscape Artist of the Year. We're particularly excited about this 10th anniversary edition of the series though largely due to the fact that Grand Matter's own Charlotte Mei is one of the featured artists competing for the accolade!
Landscape Artist of the Year will air on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 36, and streaming service NOW from Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
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Find out more about the new series of Landscape Artist of the Year here
Artist Picks
Monthly picks and tips shared by our artists
For our first newsletter of 2025, we caught up with London-based painter and illustrator Dror Cohen for some recommendations of things she's been enjoying recently...
READ/LISTEN TO: 'Lanny' by Max Porter
"I was the luckiest to get to draw an image for a short story by Max Porter that appeared in Inque magazine. It was really different, and after that I listened to three of his novels. I’m not sure what exactly makes his writing so beautiful—maybe the weirdness in the way the stories are told, or in the characters, and in the nature, trees, and animals. But also at the same time, they feel very true and real. It pulled me in so much that more than once I listened to it in one sitting without stopping."
VISIT: Kenwood House
"I live not far from there and often pass by on my morning walks. It’s magical because it’s in Hampstead Heath, with big, old rooms, worn interiors, and beautiful carpets. There’s also a playroom, that feels like a large living room with a mirror and capes for costumes. (maybe that's a typically English thing, but I have yet to find out)."
BAKE: Claudia Roden’s Orange and Almond cake
"It's probably my favourite – might look a little plain but tastes very good!"
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Head to the GM site to see more of Dror's beautiful work here