Ben Tallon — Hand-Drawn Illustrator, London

Loud, lively, frenetic and expressive, Ben Tallon’s artwork captures the many moods of modern life. His instinctive drawing style and ample splashes of ink, brush marks, and scribbles bring both bravery to balance. Ben’s ability to organise chaotic creativity and turn it into a cohesive, captivating image brings a rare flexibility.

Growing up in Keighley, West Yorkshire, the gritty energy of the former mill town informs his work. Ben loved Leeds United, wrestling, and Japanese video games as a child. They still give him inspiration today. Now located in Salisbury, south of London, Ben is passionate about creativity and is the author of both Champagne and Wax Crayons and The Creative Condition, as well as the host of the podcast The Creative Condition. He has a BTEC in Graphic Design from Keighley College, and a BA in Illustration from the University of Central Lancashire.

Approach

Pens, inks, brushes, acrylics, spray paint, and pencils all come together in his layered Photoshop files for optimum flexibility across all media – Tallon is very much a mixed-media creative. His perfect balance of control and considered chaos is at play in all his work, from simple line drawing and doodles, through to collage, set design, photographic treatments, and motion designer collaborations for animation. Ben also works on location for film and TV, live and large scale. Thanks to his editorial roots and organic into digital method, Ben is able to work at speed to meet urgent deadlines without compromising quality.

Key Software

Photoshop

Style

Ben's style is loose and organic, full of marks and gaps because he likes to engage viewers by leaving something to the imagination.

Awards

2015 – Dot London Small Business Awards – Creative Agency of the Year

Client list

Ben Tallon has been commissioned by clients including The Guardian, Sephora, Adidas, World Wrestling Entertainment, Comic Relief, Channel 4, The Premier League, UNICEF and more.