A black and white illustration of a figure in a Scottish kilt and bearskin hat blowing a raspberry at a knight on horseback. The knight wears armour with a cross and holds an axe. Text at the bottom reads “BRONX CHEER OR A REAL SCOTTISH RASPBERRY”.

Alright guvnor! John Broadley's illustrations speak of a very British time gone by...

Words: Liv Siddall
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Date: 20 November 2012; Work
Illustration

Pies, factories, ale, top hats and football matches all speak of an era in Great Britain that we are used to seeing glimpses of in the art of L.S.Lowry. This cold, smokey era is completely reborn in John Broadley’s old fashioned illustrations full of strange twists and turns. His funny-looking characters that range from Dickensian men to Bash Street Kids go about their daily business in reams of pretty hilarious comic strips.

It’s no surprise then that this rather unique pastiche technique has drawn the attention of many clients who want to use his artisan style to better their companies, most fittingly the quintessentially British Fine Cheese Company in Bath. Read a nice interview with John on Book by it’s Cover.

A black and white illustration of a large, striped industrial building with a sign that reads “Chocolate Factory”. Several people stand on the pavement in front of the gates, with swirling clouds of scent drifting around them. A caption at the bottom reads “A sweet aroma permeates the air...”. — Above
John Broadley: Main menu Autumn – Chocolate

A black and white illustration for “Old Samson’s Rime” divided into four narrative panels. Figures on horseback and a person in a long dress appear across a patterned landscape of rolling hills and trees. Text banners between the panels read “If you hear the death rack cry & wicked squire go riding by”, “If you hear black huntsmen’s horn sound betwixt the dusk and dawn”, “Don’t you ever turn your head” and “Unless you want to drop down dead”. — Above
John Broadley: Old Samson’s Rime

A black and white illustration of a bearded giant reclining across a jagged, mountainous landscape. Below them, a banner reads “Isle of the Lost Truffle” with a small pig standing in the centre. — Above
John Broadley: QV Main Menu Autumn – TRUFFLES

An illustration of a large, woven figure made of wood and straw. The text at the top reads “THE WYCKER MAN · MCMLXXIII”. Figures dance in circles around the base of the structure, while a line of people hold hands across the bottom of the frame. Stylised text at the base reads “SUMER IS ICUMEN IN LHUDE SING CUCCU! GROWEP SED & BLOWEP MED”. — Above
John Broadley: Wykerman test

A black and white illustration of a group of people marching down a street. A large figure leads the way, holding a pie labelled “COW PIE” while a cat plays a drum beside them. A sign above the scene reads “MARCHING TO DEAN ST.” — Above
John Broadley: Main menu summer – alternate pie

A black and white illustration of a person lying in bed, their head resting on a pillow. They are surrounded by numerous birds perched on the bed, the window frame and the curtains. — Above
John Broadley: Untitled

Two blue and white ceramic jars with lids, one open to reveal blue cheese inside. The jars feature detailed illustrations of farm scenes and the words “Hand-ladled Artisan”. A small piece of cheese sits on a silver spoon in the foreground. — Above
John Broadley: Stilton Jar

A black and white illustration of two chefs in a kitchen. In the foreground, a person in a double-breasted jacket and apron slices a roast on a counter. — Above
John Broadley: Bar Menu

Further Info

www.johnbroadley.co.uk

About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

Alright guvnor! John Broadley's illustrations speak of a very British time gone by...

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