Sketchpad Artist - Hannah Mosley

Hannah Mosley is one of the twenty artists who has produced a cover for our 2016 - 2018 Outhouse collection. Her cover design is for our A4 Layout 60gsm sketchpad. We caught up with Hannah to find out more about her work and the cover she has produced. 

Tell us a bit about the idea behind your sketchbook cover?

My fella and stepkids call me 'tiger'. When I was told I was doing the A3 black paper sketchbook cover, I immediately knew I wanted to have something being created by adding colour to a black background. These three bring a lot of colour into my life, so it didn't take long to arrive at this family portrait.

How did you get involved with Outhouse?

Gosh, I can't remember exactly - I think it started when my partner in crime and top painter Marielle Hehir and I had been involved in the Mill:24 show at Islington Mill, we got chatting to the Outhouse ladies and it just grew from tehre.

How would you describe your work?

Playful and thoughtful. I try not to take myself too seriously.

What inspires you?

When drawing for myself? Relationships, mostly - most of my work is figurative, and it's the little details of interaction and expression between the subjects (and sometimes) the viewer that I really enjoy creating. When drawing for others (mainly in my tattooing practice), inspiration comes mainly from the clients and what they want to achieve with their piece. I like visual problem solving.

Who is your favourite artist or maker?

Just one?! I really love the artwork and illustration of tattooist Oleg Turyanskiy. Tony DiTerlizzi and Dave McKean are my illustration heroes.

What materials do you use?

I use a variety of real media (mechanical pencil, prismacolor and polychromos pencil crayons, brush pens, markers) but usually favour a mix of real media markmaking and Photoshop colour for my full colour work.

What is your favourite piece of work that you have made?

Probably the drawing I did called 'Tattooing Mum'. It was a tribute to the support I've received from the numerous people, family, friends, coworkers and clients, that have made my career possible.

What exhibition or art event have you been to recently that you think is worth shouting about and why?

Not terribly recently, but Manchester Museum did a lates event as part of Lucy Burscough's Look200 project, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Manchester Eye Hospital. It was a really engaging mix of art, science and outreach, that gelled really nicely and communicated a lot of complex ideas about the institution and the people in it.

Do you have any advice for artists starting out?

Keep going. Draw more. I remember working my way through a LOT of rubbish drawings before it started looking how I wanted!

What tip would you give to people about one of our products?

Invest in trying out multiple products when you're starting out. Everybody has their own preferences. But for what it's worth, I think Pentel Fude Brush Pens are an essential for anyone trying to capture nice line weight and fluid inking whilst out and about, I discovered this pen about 8 years ago and would marry it if I could.

Where can people see your work? Do you have a website?

You can see my work on lots of people who live in and around Manchester...but it might be easier to look at http://www.hannahmosley.co.uk