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A colourful illustration featuring a variety of hand-drawn typographic styles. Bold words include “SERVICE INITIATIVE”, “ORGANIZATION”, “PATIENCE”, “FLEXIBILITY”, “ENTHUSIASM” and “SENSE OF HUMOR”.

Illustration: Check out the frantic creations of illustrator Jess Wilson

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Date
21 October 2013

London-based illustrator Jess Wilson has been on our radar for some time. We’ve seen her work at shows, admired her live art at events and featured some beautiful prints she’s sent us in Things. But we’ve never done a fully-formed song and dance about her and her work. Until now! Jess makes fantastically engaging images with whatever materials she can get her hands on; from coloured pencils, crayons, pastels and pens, to ink, paint, screen print and temporary tattoos.

What’s particularly great about Jess’ work is the amount of energy she manages to pack into each drawing. Every one is loaded with frantic energy, scribbled with what seems like a fiendish urgency. In spite of that her drawings are remarkably cohesive, striking a balance between being rough and ready and considerately composed.

An illustration of a crowded hat stand overflowing with a variety of headwear. The collection includes a pirate hat, a top hat, and several colourful caps, some adorned with text such as “Hello” and “Hold me”.
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Jess Wilson: Labour Behind the Label

A colourful illustration of a cluttered collection of objects. A large hand holds a small gold crown, surrounded by a top hat, a Mickey Mouse drawing, and a skull and crossbones pirate hat.
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Jess Wilson: Labour Behind the Label (detail)

A colourful drawing of a hairy figure wearing a party hat that reads “32 YESTERDAY”. They sit on a blue stand, surrounded by various hats and umbrellas.
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Jess Wilson: Labour Behind the Label (detail)

A dense, colourful collage featuring hand-drawn figures, scribbled text and various symbols. The composition includes a figure resembling Ghostbusters, a large white marshmallow character and a pink building. Red and blue handwriting fills the gaps, with phrases such as “TRY TO IMAGINE” and “EXTRAORDINARILY BAD”.
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Jess Wilson: Ghost Busters

An illustration of a complex, handwritten storyboard for the film Top Gun. Sketches of fighter jets, characters and a black car are surrounded by dense script notes and dialogue in various colours.
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Jess Wilson: Top Gun

An illustration of a brain composed of colourful advertising signs and slogans. Phrases include “Guaranteed life improvement”, “Buy me” and “This will make you happy”.
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Jess Wilson: HSBC Magazine

A colourful illustration featuring a variety of positive values written in bold, stylised typography. Words include “Effort”, “Service”, “Respect”, “Responsibility” and “Flexibility”, each rendered in different colours and patterns.
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Jess Wilson: TMG

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About the Author

James Cartwright

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James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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