Vicky: What drew you to illustration/design? Robert: I’ve always had a talent and interest for the visual arts, even as a young child it was clearly evident. I love colour and texture and expression. It’s almost as if I had no other choice but to become an illustrator. Vicky: Do you have any formal design training? Robert: I graduated from Sheridan College of Art and Design’s Illustration program in 2002. Vicky: Where are you originally from? Robert: I was born in St. Alban’s, England but moved to Ontario, Canada when I was 2 years old. Vicky: Where do you live now & what drew you there? Robert: I live in a small town called Baden in Ontario Canada. It’s very near where I grew up and many of my childhood friends and close family still live here. Although I have a great itch to move and experience living in another part of the world. An itch, which I think will be getting scratched rather soon. Vicky: Where is your studio and can you describe it for me? Robert: My studio is the basement of my house. One half is my office and the other half is my painting studio. Vicky: Who or What is your biggest inspiration? Robert: Norman Rockwell definitely was the biggest influence on me in regards to illustration growing up. His paintings still impact my work today. Vicky: How do you get your ideas? Robert: They can come from anything; movies, music, literature, nature, personal experiences, dreams etc. You never know what a piece of art will be born of. Vicky: What is the first record you bought? Robert: The very first record I ever bought was the soundtrack to the movie Breakin’, a film about break dancing from the mid ‘80’s. I used to be a quite into break dancing as a kid, but don’t tell anyone I said so.

Vicky: Tell us about a favourite project you’ve recently completed. Robert: I’ve been working on a huge ongoing project for Harvard University Press. I’m illustrating portrait covers for the John Harvard Library series; a collection of important documents and writings in American history. Vicky: What would be your dream job/commission? Robert: I would love to illustrate for Rolling Stone magazine. Vicky: Who is/are your art hero/es? Robert: Norman Rockwell, Egon Shiele, John Singer Sargent, Frederic Remington, Andrew Wyeth, Steve Huston, Jenny Saville. Vicky: Who is/are your musical hero/es? Robert: Puncture Vine (my brothers band!) Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, Built to Spill, David Gray, Crystal Method, DJ Shadow, Orbital, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Radiohead. Vicky: If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? Robert: I would love to be a professional Chef! Or a movie special effects guy, either digital work or set design and a make up artist. Vicky: If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Robert: I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt! To feel the heat, wind and grit of a truly awe inspiring and frightening desert landscape. To see and touch mind boggling architecture, art and history first hand. And to experience a culture vastly different than my own, would be incredible. Vicky: If you could travel back in time which period would you visit & why? Robert: I’d only go back a few years and remedy some incidents from my past. Vicky: What is your favourite game, computer or not? Robert: Right now I have a blast playing Thumb Wars with my little nephew. Thumb Wars is where you lock fingers with the other in a fist and try to wrestle your opponent’s thumb down first. He loves it. Other than that I dig video games like; Oblivion, Fallout, Uncharted, Motorstorm etc.