'' I love drawing... and I love history. ''
I have been a professional illustrator since leaving art college in 1984. I spent 20 years working in the commercial advertising and graphic design industry and many late nights completing personal illustration commissions.
I love history and I love drawing, and combining the two is a dream come true. Working with Historic and Heritage groups and bringing history alive through my illustration is a great way to show how we lived in times past. I have also been involved in local history through re-enactment and as a co-founder of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Heritage Society. I am as passionate about saving our history as much as my illustration, and there are samples of the publicity work I have done for the society and other groups in the gallery. |
so who am I ?
...a designer, studio manager, palace and castle guide, battlefield walker, a Redcoat, a Saxon and ARP Warden and co-founder of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Heritage Society.... and more!
I had to make a decision at 16, - do I go to art college or take a history and archaeology course? I chose art college because drawing was always a passion of mine and I wanted to be involved in it as a career. 40 years later I still haven't decided which was the right choice, but somehow in the last few years I have managed to combine the two into something of a profession, so I suppose I have the best of both worlds now...
I take on private illustration commissions, from high quality military and historical/heritage work to more straight forward computer image manipulation work and logo or print/graphics work. But, the historical and military illustration is the type of work I get the most satisfaction from doing, I have a great interest in all aspects of military history from all periods, and I have spent a lot of my spare time getting hands down in the reenactment scene, having being a Napoleonic English Redcoat, a Saxon and more recently as I get older, a WW2 Home Guard and ARP Warden. It is all great fun as well as being very educational, it gives people a new perspective to how we lived when you experience the lifestyle, the clothes and weapons of the past...
I have worked for the National Trust for England and Scotland respectively, Historic Scotland, and York Museums Trust, which gave me great insights into tourism and heritage conservation as well as working and guiding with large visitor groups and educational establishments. It all helps to fill out the knowledge, research and the approach to my illustration.
So, whether you are a large association, a local history society a museum or a private individual with planned projects I can help with, please get in touch via the contacts page, and we can work together to complete your requirements.
Chris Rock.
...a designer, studio manager, palace and castle guide, battlefield walker, a Redcoat, a Saxon and ARP Warden and co-founder of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Heritage Society.... and more!
I had to make a decision at 16, - do I go to art college or take a history and archaeology course? I chose art college because drawing was always a passion of mine and I wanted to be involved in it as a career. 40 years later I still haven't decided which was the right choice, but somehow in the last few years I have managed to combine the two into something of a profession, so I suppose I have the best of both worlds now...
I take on private illustration commissions, from high quality military and historical/heritage work to more straight forward computer image manipulation work and logo or print/graphics work. But, the historical and military illustration is the type of work I get the most satisfaction from doing, I have a great interest in all aspects of military history from all periods, and I have spent a lot of my spare time getting hands down in the reenactment scene, having being a Napoleonic English Redcoat, a Saxon and more recently as I get older, a WW2 Home Guard and ARP Warden. It is all great fun as well as being very educational, it gives people a new perspective to how we lived when you experience the lifestyle, the clothes and weapons of the past...
I have worked for the National Trust for England and Scotland respectively, Historic Scotland, and York Museums Trust, which gave me great insights into tourism and heritage conservation as well as working and guiding with large visitor groups and educational establishments. It all helps to fill out the knowledge, research and the approach to my illustration.
So, whether you are a large association, a local history society a museum or a private individual with planned projects I can help with, please get in touch via the contacts page, and we can work together to complete your requirements.
Chris Rock.