Bongini, Barbara
Barbara Bongini was born in Milan. She knew at an early age that she will be an artist. She went to an artistic high school and later enrolled in the Illustration program at the IED (European Institute of Design). After graduation, she pursued a career in children’s publishing, illustrating several series for different age groups for the largest Italian publishing houses. Barbara has considerable experience in the advertising field as well, designing packaging materials, leaflets, brochures, posters, characters and background for cartoon series. Barbara is also an author of several series of moveable children’s game-books and an album on modern art for children. When not illustrating, Barbara loves spending time with her 2 kids, watching cartoons. She also enjoys going to bookstores and building her own library of illustrated books. Her clients include: La Coccinella, Mondadori, Giunti, Raffaello Editrice, Il Capitello, Piccoli, Signorelli, Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Nicola Milano Editore, La Spiga Languages, Edizioni Piemme,EL editrice, Mondadori, Emme edizioni, Einaudi, Usborne, Ladybird, Penguin Group, Scholastic, Story Time magazine, Highlights High Five magazine, Parmalat.
Below are some of her recent projects, How to Grow a Monster: Gardening by Kiki Thorpe (Kane Press), The Lost and Found Weekend: Sewing by Kiki Thorpe (Kane Pr), Milano. Il gioco dell'arte by Sabrina Carollo (Mandragora), Beauty and the Very Beastly Beast & Cinderella and her Very Bossy Sisters by Mark Sperring (Scholastic), My U.S.A. Road Trip Personalized Storybook by Jennifer Dewing (I See Me), Il meraviglioso mago da Oz di L. Frank Baum by Silvia Roncaglia (Emme Edizioni), Miti del mistero. Miti greci per i piccoli by Sarah Rossi (Emme Edizioni), Usborne's Magic Painting Book series (Usborne), Fairy Ponies series by Zanna Davidson (Usborne), Al lupo, al lupo! by Stefano Bordiglioni (Emme Edizioni), Classicini series (EL), L'Incredibile Signorina Frisby by Tiziana Merani & I tre porcellini si mettono a dieta by Marica Bersan (Einaudi Ragazzi), Cleopatra, regina del deserto by Sabina Colloredo & Pablo Picasso, artista rivoluzionario by Sarah Rossi (EL).
Oliver, Mark
Experienced and versatile, Mark Oliver has a bold, graphical style that is as impactful as it is engaging. His line work, color and compositional skills are second to none, and his background in advertising means he knows exactly how to meet an art director’s brief with innovative new approaches.
Even when he worked at Alliance International, Mark took the opportunity to illustrate his own ads. With over 20 years under his belt as a freelance illustrator, today he creates imagery for some of the biggest brands and top names in publishing. Now based in Worthing on the South Coast, he’s inspired by Raymond Loewy, Hergé and Eduardo Paolozzi. Mark has a degree in Graphic Design from Middlesex University.
APPROACH
Mark has used a wide range of media during his career, from physical painting and collage through to Illustrator and Photoshop. Most projects these days are tackled digitally, but he loves to draw and paint as well if it suits the commission.
STYLES
Mark works in a variety of styles that he adapts to suit the requirements of a job. His favorite at the moment involves an isometric perspective, geometric shapes and a distressed finish with a retro palette.
CLIENT LIST
Mark’s impressive client list includes Macmillan, Visa, Toyota, Volkswagen, The Times, Punch, Faber & Faber, Penguin Books, Macmillan, Bloomsbury, OUP and British Gas.
Even when he worked at Alliance International, Mark took the opportunity to illustrate his own ads. With over 20 years under his belt as a freelance illustrator, today he creates imagery for some of the biggest brands and top names in publishing. Now based in Worthing on the South Coast, he’s inspired by Raymond Loewy, Hergé and Eduardo Paolozzi. Mark has a degree in Graphic Design from Middlesex University.
APPROACH
Mark has used a wide range of media during his career, from physical painting and collage through to Illustrator and Photoshop. Most projects these days are tackled digitally, but he loves to draw and paint as well if it suits the commission.
STYLES
Mark works in a variety of styles that he adapts to suit the requirements of a job. His favorite at the moment involves an isometric perspective, geometric shapes and a distressed finish with a retro palette.
CLIENT LIST
Mark’s impressive client list includes Macmillan, Visa, Toyota, Volkswagen, The Times, Punch, Faber & Faber, Penguin Books, Macmillan, Bloomsbury, OUP and British Gas.
Venables, Bob
Bob Venables is the go-to illustrator for any project that requires illustrations executed in a classic style. Matisse, Hogarth, Wyeth, Rackham, Lowbrow… whatever look you’re after, Bob will deliver. He’s a pastiche illustrator par excellence.
Bob has worked on many high profile advertising campaigns, including the Profit Hunter ads for Artemis, which have run for over a decade. His versatility, eye for detail, and ability to evoke the past while conveying contemporary themes to contemporary audiences are what keep clients coming back again and again. Originally from Birmingham, Bob worked in London and established himself on the advertising scene before moving to the Isle of Wight, where life is a little more relaxed. He studied Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins gaining a BA, and did archaeological illustration for a year before becoming a freelancer.
APPROACH
Bob works in a whole range of media, depending on what’s required by the commission. On the traditional side he uses oil, acrylic, alkyd, watercolor, and pen and ink, but he’s also happy working digitally on his Wacom Cintiq.
STYLES
Primarily a pastiche illustrator, Bob is adept at recreating just about any look – from 1930s propaganda-style posters to old maps, and from neoclassical still lifes to jolly 19th century book illustrations.
CLIENT LIST
Bob works for a range of top-flight clients including Guinness, British Airways, Artemis Asset Management, the BBC, Adidas, Sony, Heinz, Tesco, Waitrose, John Smiths, FIFA, VW, BMW and the Folio Society.
Bob has worked on many high profile advertising campaigns, including the Profit Hunter ads for Artemis, which have run for over a decade. His versatility, eye for detail, and ability to evoke the past while conveying contemporary themes to contemporary audiences are what keep clients coming back again and again. Originally from Birmingham, Bob worked in London and established himself on the advertising scene before moving to the Isle of Wight, where life is a little more relaxed. He studied Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins gaining a BA, and did archaeological illustration for a year before becoming a freelancer.
APPROACH
Bob works in a whole range of media, depending on what’s required by the commission. On the traditional side he uses oil, acrylic, alkyd, watercolor, and pen and ink, but he’s also happy working digitally on his Wacom Cintiq.
STYLES
Primarily a pastiche illustrator, Bob is adept at recreating just about any look – from 1930s propaganda-style posters to old maps, and from neoclassical still lifes to jolly 19th century book illustrations.
CLIENT LIST
Bob works for a range of top-flight clients including Guinness, British Airways, Artemis Asset Management, the BBC, Adidas, Sony, Heinz, Tesco, Waitrose, John Smiths, FIFA, VW, BMW and the Folio Society.
