I work very hard and it's not like a 9 to 6 job. I spend practically every waking hour doing it.
Describe your work in one sentence.
The ridiculousness and hilarity of the world filtered through my brain and wrung back out for everyone to gawk at.
What's the most important thing you've learnt in your line of work?
To maintain a high level of self-discipline, a strong work ethic and to immerse yourself in what you do.
What attracted you to your chosen field?
I get paid for doing something I love which I would be doing anyway if I wasn't being paid for it. Also the fact that I'm my own boss, I don't mind being treated like crap so long as it's me treating myself like crap!
Tell us about your best project to date.
Best project to date is always the one I'm working on right now that no-one has seen yet! Right now I'm writing a record sleeve for a band called Kid Pang and once again this is going to be the most amazing thing I've done yet!
What sets you apart from your competitors?
I feel that my style is pretty unique and recognisable, partly because I think I am approaching what I do in a way that a lot of other people may not be. I'm self-taught and my background isn't in design. Educationally it's in fine art and aesthetically it's in DIY culture and both these things inform my work greatly.
Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I have sung with Pavarotti on stage at the Royal Opera House aged 13 and that is actually true! I was paid in Royal Opera House canteen food.
If you could work on any project for any company/organisation, what would it be and who would it be for?
Drawing backdrops and props for some kind of theatre production is something I have never done, but would love to. I like new challenges. No specific company or organisation springs to mind, just anyone doing anything interesting. Failing that just about anyone that wants to pay me.
Who inspires you and why?
All sorts of different people for all sorts of different reasons, some because I love what they do and/or admire how they do it, and some because I dislike what they do and am conscious of not wanting to bung up the world with even more of it. So everything and everyone is inspiring in one way or another. Mike Deforge, Seripop, Sam Mcpheeters, Tim Kinsella, Mark E Smith, Savage Pencil, Weasel Walter are some people off the top of my head who inspire me positively. And Goya.
What's your favourite bit of kit?
My mind and my hands are my favorite bits of kit. I think they are the most important things. Alongside them I use pens, pencils, scanners and Photoshop. Sometimes photocopiers. My current pen is a Mitsubishi.
What frustrates you the most about your job?
The fact that some people I know think that because I work for myself and spend all day drawing that I don't work hard. I work very hard and it's not like a 9 to 6 job. I spend practically every waking hour doing it.
What pearl of wisdom can you offer to someone thinking about starting out in your industry?
Not sure if everyone would agree that it's a pearl of wisdom but personally I would say don't expect everyone to love your work. People have different tastes, but if you can divide opinion then you are probably doing something good. Just learn to balance that with showing that you can be versatile and work for other people rather than just yourself.
If you could have ONE super power, what would it be?
Is never needing rest or sleep a super power?
What do you like about Creativepool?
That you like what I do enough to ask me to answer questions!
What's your favourite song of all time?
It's a tie between Band of Gold by Freda Payne and Gates of Heaven by Killdozer.
And finally, what can a prospective customer expect from you?
Hard work, commitment to a project until the customer is more than happy, attention to detail and a flow of input and brilliant original ideas, which, if not required by the client, can be kept to myself. A sunny disposition.
Visit Steve's blog for more of his work
