Andy Warhol
Sandra Blow
Tabitha Soren
Patrick Hughes
Day Bowman
Nelson Makamo
Takashi Murakami
Daisy Cook
Fred Ingrams
Barbara Rae
Bruce Mclean
Tracey Emin
In association with Gas Gallery, we introduce Central Saint Martins' alumni and eclectic printmaker, Anna Marrow. Anna has produced limited edition prints and paintings, commissioned and bought by a wealth of commercial retailers including Selfridges, Alias Hotels and the BBC. On top of this, Anna has cultivated illustrations for The Guardian, The Big Issue and Don't Panic Graphics.
What got your practice started?
I tried screen printing once at school, it was oil based, very smelly and took ages to clear up. I remember thinking, 'I'm never doing this again it's rubbish!' I tried it again on my BA and thought, this takes ages, and once more, I'm never doing it again! But I think my tutors liked my first prints, then I started noticing how the ink sits on the paper and how specific you can be about colour and line and ooh I was bitten by the bug. The drawing and painting was kick-started again during my MA when I got a bit bored of printing and started looking really closely at things and drawing them in biro like an A-level art student!
How do you find inspiration?
If i'm stuck for ideas, I find a walk around a city usually gives me some inspiration, or old national geographics, or car boot sale reference books, or an old glorious technicolor movie.
You do a lot of commissions, which has been your favourite so far?
My favourite commission so far was for a lovely hotel who sent me on a reference gathering trip to Sagres, in Portugal before commissioning 9 or 10 editions of prints.
What's the funniest thing that has happened to you when showing your work in public?
Somebody once said my work was really like 'that Banksy,' which isn't really funny - just strange.
What artists do you feel have most influenced your practice?
Paula Rego, Peter Blake, Michelle Thompson , Christine Berrie, Emma Stibbon and loads of people who's names I can't remember.
What work of art would you most like to own?
I'd love to own a Paula Rego drawing or a Francis Bacon painting.
Favourite city for culture?
It's got to be London!
What do you think makes an artwork successful?
The obvious things, colour, composition, space, drawing, combinations and contrasting marks and interesting content.
Do you prefer working by commission or on your own personal practice?
It depends on the commission, sometimes it's great to be challenged by a brief, sometimes it's a bit of a pain!
What's in store for the second half of 2013?
I'm not sure if I can reveal that yet, partly as I don't know myself!
Fly Around the Washing Machine
Check out Anna's full profile on Rise Art HERE. And if YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GREAT WORK OF ART, Take the Rise Art Style Quiz to BECOME A MEMBER and access the best art from top Museums, Galleries and Artists worldwide.