Born in Swindon, England in 1986, I became a fanatic of art at the age of eight when I was first introduced to art through the medium of cartoon television shows and comic books. My first ever comic book was from the Batman series. Ever since then I’ve been obsessed with art, drawing odd fantasy drawings and Anime characters.

As I grew older, I diverted from Anime drawings to more realistic figures and faces, always striving to make them more detailed and photorealistic. I am always carrying around a sketchbook on my travels; drawing on the bus or in a coffee shop. When I am continually sketching and drawing, it helps me to improve my skills and become even more motivated to expand my art.

I am influenced by many artists and illustrators – all with differing styles and mediums – and have turned to their work for artistic stimulation over the years. Among them are Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, Lucian Freud, Jenny Saville, James Jean, David Choong Lee, Sergio Toppi and Ashley Wood. I’ve also gained much inspiration through cartoons art and lighting; people’s facial expressions, eyes and different forms of organic patterns and shapes.

In 2008 I graduated from Swindon College with a degree in HND Illustration and hope to progress to a B.A. in Illustration sometime in the future. I’ve done a few exhibitions such as the Swindon College exhibition for Illustration and Graphic Design students, D/AD New Blood Exhibition at Earl’s Court London, and a solo Internet exhibition on Phone Booth Gallery.

My work can be described as surreal and unique in its own way. Using mostly pencil, watercolours and pigment pens, I create portraits of ordinary people but create them in a unusual way by, embellishing patterns and watercolour effects into the portrait to give a vivid explosion effect—transforming their faces from something plain to something entirely bizarre and wonderful at the same time.

I specialize in shirt designs, tattoo designs, print designs, posters, album art, logos, branding, editorial illustration and private commissions.

For commercial and information rates, please contact me: D

Clients:
Nike
Ride Snowboards
55DSL
Tank Theory
Be Street Magazine
Don't Panic
Concrete Hermit
Rote Raupe
Dynamic Style Clothing
MTV Playground
Paper Root Clothing
Arden Tees
Designer Violence
Charlie Bath
Wealstarr
ASOS

Events:
2009 Jan: Phone Booth Gallery | solo show
2010 April: Phone Booth Gallery | group show “Off The Hook 3”
2010 June: Bright Tradeshow | Berlin
2010: Phone Booth Gallery | solo show
2010: ABV Gallery

Press:
Computer Arts Magazine
Big Up Magazine
Be Street Magazine
BOOOOOOOM!
Life Lounge
40fakes
Dangerous Ink Magazine
www.iainmacarthur.blogspot.com
www.behance.net/iainmac