Member since Thursday 1st Aug, 2013
I'm an illustrator and painter; have been all my life. My career has spanned graphic design and advertising but making marks on paper has always been the core of my existance.
Brief biog...
Illustrator, painter and designer; Ian Heard was born in Cornwall and grew up in his family’s boat yard on the River Fal. A drawer from childhood, he studied illustration and graphics and worked initially in Cornwall before moving to Oxford to pursue a career in design and advertising. He established his own studio in the Cotswolds in the late 1980’s in order to offer his clients a more bespoke service. His work has been commissioned by many important corporate clients and for many of the UK’s leading publishers. Returning to the west country in1993, he continues to work as an illustrator and graphic designer as well as delve deeper into fine art, painting, and writing.
His work has appeared in many books and magazines. He illustrated for Yachting Monthly for many years, in particular the long running series “Practical seamanship” and his work regularly appeared in France Magazine, as well as in many other national and international publications in the USA and France. His clients still include many well-known industry names and he continues to undertake book and graphic projects as well as exhibition material for regional clients. He has appeared on TV, commentating and demonstrating his paintings and, working alongside the Design Council, has been an advisor to small firms about the importance of design in the work process.
He has written four books, one of which; Classic boats of the west county, is in its second edition. Many of the illustrations from the book are published as limited edition prints.
Making use of his many years experience in design and print, Ian is now producing his own prints by the latest digital process in his Devon studio. His pastels and watercolours translate beautifully to the new medium and he offers a dedicated fine art scanning and printing facility to other artists across the region. Indeed he operates one of the few artwork scanning studios in the west.
He has established a successful watercolour workshop where artists of all abilities can work on their own projects, as well as learn from his years of experience. He is currently artist in residence at Whitchurch School where he works with all age groups, encouraging their artistic development and teaching them essential skills. He has also tutored for ‘Stresscare’, the organisation for victims of traumatic stress. His teaching and demonstrating is complimented by on-line support and blogs*. His work has exhibited in many galleries across southern Britain and London and he continues to show his paintings and prints since his first solo exhibition in 2006.
Ian’s other interests include music - writing and performing, as well as simply listening - sailing, walking the high moors and coast, and writing.
He continues to draw, paint and write for pleasure. He is still passionate about the importance of traditional draftsmanship and the development of skills in a world increasingly dominated by technology. He also prefers to work from life, in the outdoors, whenever possible.
* For more information on Ian's teaching, please visit www.heardonart.com
For information regarding his forthcoming painting trip to east Africa in 2015 and other painting trips to Spain and Morocco, visit: www.guidedpaintingholidays.com
