Tales of the City

        Although run by the Cheltenham Illustration Awards, there is nothing to indicate that the Tales of the City brief requires a response relating to Cheltenham. The only specification is to create an illustration that tells a new (either fictional of true) Tale of the City. This could be a single illustration, or a sequence, exploring a places past or future. It did occur to me that this brief provided an ideal opportunity for a storyboard. However, I instead chose to create fewer, more detailed images.

        The city that I know and love best is York, yet it is a city of two halves. While today it is viewed as a place of culture and beauty, it has a dark and violent history, ranging from the Norman conquest to the civil war and beyond. It is this juxtaposition that I wished to convey through the Tales Of The City brief.

        At the centre of York is Clifford’s Tower, one of York’s many iconic historic buildings, which has an illustrious past as a fortress, a prison and now as a tourist attraction. It is also the subject of old wives tales and superstitions regarding  a medieval massacre, which saw more that a hundred Jews commit mass suicide within the burning keep. Blood still reputedly weeps from the solitary keeps walls.

        This is a marked contrast to how the tower appears at present, looking out over the tranquil river,  its motte blanketed in daffodils. I feel that it is for this juxtaposition, and the castle’s iconic appearance, that Clifford’s  Tower is an ideal fit for the message I wish to convey.

        Based upon the somewhat dark tone of one of my illustrations, I am aiming at a more mature audience, who will not be disturbed by some of the more disturbing stories hidden beneath York’s surface. Although I would like to imagine these illustrations alongside stories, they may also be suitable for use in attracting tourists and visitors.

        I created a pair of illustrations, relying upon colour to communicate a contrast in the mood and atmosphere between the two. I was apprehensive, as I have not read deeply into the significance and  effects of colour. There is also the possibility that painting can go drastically wrong, ruining a carefully drawn line image.

        Of all of the competition briefs which I partook in, I found this one to be the most enjoyable. Perhaps it was because the subject is something I am deeply passionate about and have great affection for. I am proud of my Yorkshire roots and welcomed the opportunity to share some of the wonder I feel towards my home city. I would love to further develop this project, perhaps incorporating other sites from around the city, and delve deeper into York’s hidden histories.