Introducing the dark and comic work of illustrator Alex Jenkins

London-based illustrator Alex Jenkins describes his work as “exploring satirical and critical subject matter through a distinctive and vivid style. I try to avoid the pretense but wallow in humour, whilst touching on the absurd and surreal.”  It was the energy and bright colour palette that first caught our eye, on closer inspection the more complex, often more unsettling, themes in his work become readily apparent. Alex studied illustration at Camberwell College of Arts, graduating with a BA in illustration last year.

Alex’s commercial work has appeared in Society magazine, Timeout London, Vice, Hustler magazine and Mixmag, but his personal work reveals a far less compromising approach – something Alex describes as “fun with slight strands of comic grotesque.” Having studied the likes of Bruegel and Bosch at college, Alex is keen to explore narrative and drawing in a similar way. “I have recently really enjoyed creating almost landscape like scenes whilst experimenting with colour palettes and print,” he says. “It’s often challenging, trying to get used to the idea of perspective but I really like the idea that you can have so much going on.”