ABOUT

The four beer labels were commissioned by Allendale brewery. They gave me a lot of creative freedom regarding the illustrations, asking only to keep the theme similar to their existing packaging, which mostly featured monochrome Victorian-style collages against a colourful background. The commission also included a complete redesign of the pump clip shapes and bottle and can label layouts.

The four illustrations were initially drawn in pen and ink on paper and once approved by the client they were redrawn in Photoshop using Wacom Cintiq tablet for a clean and crisp line. The elements of the background patterns were also hand-drawn using the tablet and then arranged and coloured in Photoshop. The layout of the labels and pump clips was executed using Adobe Illustrator.

Allendale is based in Northumberland, a region often described as England's Last Wilderness. When creating the illustrations I focused my research on Celtic mythology and British mythical creatures, but also existing wildlife. The illustrations are executed in black and white to resemble old Victorian prints and drawings. The colourful busy backgrounds, featuring natural elements, strengthen the central monochromatic illustrations and provide the modern feel. The contrast also helps the packaging to stand out on the shop shelves.