Surtex 2017 Previews: Part 1!

We’re so excited that Surtex is coming around again! For those of you who are new to the Surtex excitement, it’s the only show in North America solely devoted to selling and licensing original art and design for all types of products.

Each year we bring you a series of Surtex previous / sneak peeks into the collections of those who are exhibiting, and we are extremely proud that many of “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” e-course students have and continue to feature at the show.

As well our our very talented ABSPD students, our very own Rachael Taylor will be exhibiting at the show and has been sharing sneak peeks of her work in progress via Instagram and the Rachael Taylor blog.

We are delighted to share Part 1 in our Surtex Previews on the Make it in Design blog! Today we are previewing the talented designers:

Vicky Yorke of Vicky Yorke Designs
Caleb Gray of Caleb Gray Studio
Emma McGowan, Jocelyn Proust, Beth Schneider, and Pippa Shaw of Four Corners Art Collective

Vicky Yorke (Booth 2917)

Tell us a little bit about you as a designer…

I work from my studio in the Worcestershire countryside. The surrounding area provides much of the inspiration for my work as, among other things, I enjoy drawing animals and creating intricate designs inspired by nature. I’ve been designing patterns and products for stores around the world for many years now and am lucky enough to currently have designs licensed across homeware / giftware and technology cases with more products due to be released later this year. My design style is bold, using striking colour pallets to create work that is highly decorative and often fun in style – I love to create designs that make people smile! As well as licensing I’m available for freelance work and collaborations.

How have you been preparing for the show?

I’ve been really busy recently developing lots of new designs to be shown via my agents, Jewel Branding & Licensing. All of my designs begin as hand drawings, so for months now I have been drawing, drawing, drawing – which has been wonderful! I recently took a working holiday to the coast to do more sketching and to provide some last minute inspiration for new collections. I’m now in the final stage of preparation, pulling all of my patterns together into collections and creating product mock-ups. I’ve added many new designs covering surface pattern design, illustration and typography in my bright and whimsical style. Themes include animals, florals, coastal prints and designs inspired by travel, as well as Christmas and other seasonal designs. I’ve been documenting my Surtex preparation via my Instagram account @vickyyorkedesigns where you can see lots of my drawings, as well as some more of my finished designs.

Are you doing any further shows in 2017?

My work will also be shown via my agents at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas (May 23 -25). Please visit Jewel Branding, booth H94.

Follow Vicky on Instagram!

Caleb Gray (Booth 2748)

About Caleb as a designer…

Artistic since he was a scribbling squirt, Caleb has always enjoyed telling his own tales through pictures. Through his Fine Art degree, he began to recognise that illustration would be the perfect way to unify his love of drawing and playful imagination. Working on the Disney Channel’s “PB&J Otter” animated series provided him with a fantastic foundation in character design and expression. Then, designing and illustrating giftware in-house at C.R. Gibson showed him the vast possibilities for an art career. So in 2008, teaming his tastes for contemporary and nostalgic design, Caleb launched his studio of uniquely modern art with a fun, retro vibe. Not only do pairing these past and present principles produce a timelessness to his work, but combined with Caleb’s clever concepts and healthy heap of humour create a style that’s both instantly recognisable and fantastically fun!

How have you been preparing for the show?

I always describe Surtex as my Super Bowl to people outside the industry! My whole year is working toward it by creating collections and connecting with contacts. Each year it’s always a hoot to reunite with existing clients to show them your newest work as well as meet brand new clients to whom you can introduce your brand. So, all that to say, I’m never not preparing for the show!

Follow Caleb on Instagram!

Four Corners Art Collective (Booth 2723)

About Four Corners Art Collective

Four Corners is an international collective of seven artists and surface pattern designers, four of which are exhibiting at Surtex 2017: Emma McGowan, Jocelyn Proust, Beth Schneider, and Pippa Shaw. We create fresh, modern patterns and illustrations for products and publications. Our work can be applied across many markets – textiles, home décor, giftware, wall art, stationery, quilting, packaging, paper goods, wallpaper and more!

How have you been preparing for the show?

We’ve been busy for over six months planning our booth and the logistics of exhibiting together in NY. It has involved many late night/early morning Skypes between the US, UK, France and Australia, but it’s definitely been worth it! We are all so passionate about the new work we are bringing in our portfolios, and hope to build on the success we had at last year’s show. We’re in the home straight now and the excitement is really starting to build!