Advocate Art would like to present freelance illustrator Carl Morris. Graduated from the University of Gloucestershire, he enjoys illustrating using ink and also works digitally. His work can be seen in our picture book folio on the illustration agency website his vibrant characters and atmospheric scenes are perfect for children’s pictures books.

As of 27th September 1989, I was born and raised in a town called Brierley Hill which is about 10 very long roads from Birmingham. The town itself doesn’t make the list of 1000 places you should visit before you die, in fact I predict that people who drive through suddenly become homesick and quickly wind up their windows for fear of what’s out there. Admittedly, the place is full of fruit-loops and crazies but this was fantastic when I was growing up because scenarios for drawing could practically be purchased there, not with money but with conversation. I talked…well they talked and then I just spent a few minutes after trying to decipher what they we’re actually talking about and perhaps create a drawing from it. However, I now live in Bournemouth with my girlfriend where inspiration pretty much just oozes because in comparison to the midlands, it’s perfect place to be in every way.

As of recently, I am a postgraduate student of the University of Gloucestershire after studying three years on an Illustration BA(Hons) course. It was really this course that gave me my realization that I should draw for a living and not just as a hobby. After a lot of media exploration, I found that I proffered to work in Ink or Digital. With ink, I have quite a complex style which makes the eye stay on the image to explore. I do like working this way; it has a hand-made raw feel to it.  The pieces that are made in digital are completely different in style and complexity. With this media I try to create pieces that are lush with colour. This way of working is my favourite because of the atmosphere you can create, although you do forget to blink and after a few hours you start to look a bit like ‘Hypno-toad’ from ‘Futurama’.

The important thing that I need you to know is that I enjoy what I do and I will put every effort into any work I produce for you. I’m a night owl and live in a cave (it’s really a room) where all I like to do is draw and listen to films on the TV. If I’m not listening to the films on TV, I’m probably listening to a soundtrack of a film on my laptop; The Dark knight, Inception (anything from Hans Zimmer) or something just as motivational like The Matrix or Scooby Doo.