The Handsome Frank Illustration Podcast
Join us as we catch up with the illustrators we work with on a daily basis. Handsome Frank is a London-based illustration agency, and this podcast features conversations with the talented artists they represent.
Episodes
Guillaume Kurkdjian
The latest episode of the Handsome Frank podcast took us to a kitchen table in the 20th arr. of Paris. With the sun streaming in, and surrounded by freshly baked pastry and homemade coffee, we got into it with illustrator and animator, Guillaume Kurkdjian. Talking everything from how he builds his 3D worlds, his love of Richar Scarry's work and a trip of discovery into his Armenian roots. Pull up
Advertising
Ever wondered how the advertising world actually works? On our latest podcast, we sit down with senior agency producer Phoebe Hazzan and top art director Ali Augur to dig into the details. We asked all the questions illustrators have been dying to ask—and hit record so you don't miss a thing. www.handsomefrank.com
Yo Hosoyamada
A lovely conversation with one of our newer signings, Yo Hosoyamada. We discuss her background in architecture, working with Transport for London and why she wanted to make as many bad drawings as she could. Check out Yo's portfolio at https://www.handsomefrank.com/illustrators/yo-hosoyamada
Molly McCammon
Join us as we catch up with one of our 2024 Handsome Future winners, Molly McCammon. We talk about what she's learned over the past year, how she's tweaked her work to gain more commercial success, and what it's like to be an illustrator picking colours when you have Synesthesia. Check out Molly's portfolio over on our website!
Tim McDonagh
In this episode Tim talks us through his 15 years in illustration. From an initial love of collage, before pivoting to pen and ink and disagreeing with his tutors on the way to winning a D&AD New Blood Award. Today he is established as one of the most sought after in the business and has become a go to artist, for The New York Times and Star Wars. Join us as we hear how growing up on a Virginian
24 - Charlie Davis
If you've travelled on the London Underground recently, you'll have seen the work of Charlie Davis. A Handsome Frank superstar since 2019, Charlie's profile has grown to new heights in the past few years and is now on show all over London. He joins us to share his journey—from starting out as a junior designer to making the leap into full-time illustration. Offering a fascinating insight into his
23 - Marylou Faure
Parisian-born Londoner Marylou Faure joined us at HFHQ to talk about the personal and professional journey, which has shaped her bold, bouncy, art style. In our final podcast of the year, Marylou discusses female empowerment, which is a central theme in her work and how she learned to love colour. We also cover how her 3D 'babes' come to life, her dream projects and whether Die Hard is a Chri
22 - Paul Blow
On a brisk November day, we travelled by train to Dorset and sat down to talk with award winning illustrator Paul Blow. In a conversation that spans the full length of his career, we discuss the highs and lows of being an illustrator for over three decades. Paul talks to us about everything from awards, to losing his life's work, to why he avoided drawing smiley faces for so long. His bold conc
21 - Luis Mendo
In a Paris hotel room, beneath the Eiffel Tower, we finally tracked down the wonderful Luis Mendo. Join us for a ranging conversation, taking in a career designing magazines in 90's Amsterdam, a life changing decision to relocate to Tokyo and how his work as an illustrator was born from a language barrier. Trigger warning, contains mentions of AI that artists may find refreshing. Ch
20 - Helen Musselwhite
Part illustrator, part model maker, part engineer and full time Handsome Frank royalty, paper artist Helen Musselwhite visited our studio for our 20th episode.
We catch up with perhaps our most analogue artist to discuss her childhood fascination with model villages, thinking in 3D, and how she uses her photography skills to bring her paper worlds to life. If you haven't seen it yet, you can wat
19 - Matt Murphy
Matt Murphy brought his customary warmth and good conversation as he called in to see us and record podcast EP19. We discussed colour theory, great music and dream commissions past and (hopefully) future.
18 - Niege Borges
Brooklyn's finest, Niege Borges, flew over to London to fill our studio with colour and recount stories of her art journey, her cat Shakira, and her inflatable sidekick Elizabeth.
17 - Dakarai Akil
From driving taxis, sleeping in a gallery, to working in a homeless centre on Skid Row, Dakarai's journey to becoming a freelance artist is one of the most fascinating and eventful we've ever heard. Warning this podcast contains rattle snake references.
14 - Leonie Bos
For latest episode we jumped on the Eurostar and headed to Amsterdam to meet with artist and illustrator Leonie Bos. From her studio, tucked away on the ground floor of an old Victorian school, we talk about everything from squatting in abandoned buildings to punch needle and the difficulties of growing vegetables.
16 - Luke McConkey
In our latest podcast we embark on a magical mystery tour into the world of Liverpool based artist Luke McConkey. Luke spills the beans on how he first grabbed our attention, the fact that he "draws like he's a nice guy", and his side project as an independent record label owner.
15 - Joël Penkman
Once again we took the Handsome Frank podcast on the road, this time to a snow covered Liverpool to meet up with the wonderful Joël Penkman. Based in Maghull, on the northern outskirts of the city we turned up at the beautiful mid-century family house that Joël and her partner James call home. The smell of fresh coffee and freshly baked bread greeted us, offering a very welcome sanctuary from t
13 - Andrew Joyce
Illustrator Andrew Joyce is perhaps best known for his maps and building illustrations. As such, we thought it would be fun to take the Handsome Frank podcast to the streets and check out some London architecture on the move. Grabbing some newly acquired roving recording equipment, we wired ourselves up, clipped some microphones to our lapels and went for a little walk and talk around one of our
12 - Zoë Barker
If you love beautifully rendered buildings and hate the price of train tickets, this is the episode for you! This week we're off to Norwich to chat to the equal parts talented and lovely Zoë Barker. (Leave your Alan Partridge impressions at the door please!) A small content warning - we discuss themes around mental health, including OCD and anxiety. Many many thanks to Zoë for her candour and open
11 - Agathe Singer
We took a trip to Paris to meet with the wonderful Agathe Singer and discuss all things gouache, juggling childcare and tiny lifts.
10 - David Sparshott
We headed to rural Norfolk to speak to David Sparshott, an illustrator who creates all of his work using pencils. David lives off-grid and we were chased by his geese during a tour of his home.
09 - Michelle Thompson
We headed to the Essex countryside to meet up with collage expert Michelle Thompson to find out about what she'd been working on and why she chose illustration as a career.
08 - Tobias Hall
We had a lovely chat with typographer and illustrator Tobias Hall. He treated us to pizza and we got to stroke his giant cat.
07 - Paul Thurlby
We headed to glorious Brighton to chat to the lovely Paul Thurlby.
06 - Emily Robertson
With the sun shining we met up with Emily Robertson for a good chat, a giggle and some custard tarts.
05 - Sebastian Curi
It's lockdown right now so we jumped on a Zoom call with LA based illustrator Sebastian Curi to talk about how he made it into the industry and how he's coping in these bizarre times.
04 - Tom Haugomat & Bruno Mangyoku
We sat down and chatted to illustrators Tom Haugomat and Bruno Mangyoku who share a top-floor studio in Paris, accessible only by the worlds smallest lift.
03 - Sarah Maycock
Sarah Maycock took the train up from Hastings to come have a chat with us about her career to date as an illustrator and painter.
02 - Matt Saunders
This week we speak to Matt Saunders, illustration supremo and all round nice guy.
01 - Jean Jullien
We travelled to Paris and caught up with renowned illustrator and artist Jean Jullien who we've had the pleasure of working with for over eight years.
