Andrew Warwick is an award winning, multi-disciplined freelance art director based in Derby, England specialising in multi-media, animation and illustration. His impressive and distinct style has brought him commissions from major advertising agencies, record companies, the fashion industry and publishing houses worldwide. Andrew has produced work for clients such as Sony Playstation, MTV, Channel 4, Land Rover, and Warner Brothers.

His objectives are to produce quality products for interesting clients in a creative environment, while developing and pushing the boundaries of design mediums. Andrew has also won several awards for his work and been featured in numerous design magazines, namely Creative Review, Design Week, Toca Me, Vorn and Create Online.

In his free time, Andrew is a music producer, vinyl junkie, and even finds time to publish the occasional review for design, music and fashion magazines.

I came across Andrew Warwick’s work when searching the internet for freelance artists based in Derby and was very impressed by how much experience he had with some very impressive companies, his work was mainly computer animation based, but after talking with Andrew I learnt that he is also a keen painter and draws in his free time. I was interested in his web site also and wanted to learn how he came to gain so much knowledge, what sort of education he had and how his professional life is going so far. I contacted Andrew and asked him whether I could create this case study on him and interview him. As Andrew is very busy it was easier for us to email and I asked the questions few at a time. I have learnt a lot from Andrews’s answers and it was good to get the view of someone taking s different approach to an art career.

Interview

Firstly hello and thank you for your time
 
1) When did u first realise you was an artist and wanted an art career?
 
Probably when I was at infant school - about 8 - I remember all my class
mates standing round my table watching me draw in art class. Actually,
that's the first time I realized I was any good which isn't really the first
time I realized I was an Artist is it? I guess that was when I exhibited my
A-level artwork at college and people bought half my coursework.
 
I think I realized I wanted a career in Art a few years after college. Until
then I'd naively presumed the only routes of employment within Art & Design
we're either as an Art teacher or an artist in the purest sense i.e. no
money!?1
 
 
2) What is your work mainly about? Can you tell me more about what you
represent?
 
I mainly work for design and advertising agencies working on corporate
identities and branding throughout print and online mediums. This includes
photo shoots and graphic design. I also paint but more in my spare time than
professionally, although I have been commissioned to produce pieces for
restaurants and bars etc
 
3)What artists have influenced you and how?
 
I like populist stuff such as Banksy and Damien Hirst. But historically my
favorite is probably David Hockney, particulary pieces such as the
photography of 'Pearblossom Highway #2', and the simplicity of ' A Bigger
Splash', in terms of graphic design influences Peter Saville would be top of
that list, who I was privileged enough to work with/for a few years ago.
 
4) How did u come to work for so many big name companies, were you approached
or did u respond to an advertisement?
 
I had an online portfolio of my work back in 1999 called 'the wonderful
world of warwicka' which received over a million and a half hits in its
first year. Through that I was approached to work on the launch of the
Playstation 2 and after that my career went from strength to strength.
 
5) What inspires you to make art? How do u keep yourself motivates when
things get tough in the studio/in the office?
 
I am always buying new art & design books and magazines and regularly view
websites of artists and designers and design studios work I admire and
enjoy.
 
6) How have u handled the business side of being an artist?
 
Very badly! Creative's are renowned for their lack of administrational
skills and add to that the peaks and troughs of self-employment it can be
very stressful. The one thing that I've learnt now though - and it's taken
about 8 years - is that although it costs you, it's usually better to
delegate. It saves you a lot of time and bother.

7) Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
 
Ideally in a creative director role at a great design consultants.
 
8) What advice would you give to somebody just starting out on their own in
the creative sector?
 
Always try to work with and around people who are better than you so you can
constantly keep learning.
 
9) Have you got any advice for artists wanting to create their own web
sites?
 
Yep, find a talented web site designer that wants or needs sites in their
portfolio and get them to do it for you.
 
10) Where do you feel you get your artistic side from?
 
Probably from my granddad, who was a talented potter.
 
11) How did you come to get your contacts? Was it just from work you did for
certain companies?
 
Initially it came from a portfolio site I had back in 1999, and then stemmed
from relationships with people I've worked with since then.
 
12) What do you feel makes an artist stand out?
 
Good ideas, well executed.
 
13) Do you think your personality and the way you look matters as much as your
art in the art today?
 
I think your attitude matters a great deal and the way your carry yourself,
but not necessarily the way you look. It can take awhile to develop the
confidence needed to communicate your ideas to the people that are going to
be paying for them, especially when they can often be difficult.
 
14) Do you feel that your education helped a lot, or is most of your knowledge
self taught?
 
I am self-taught but I wouldn't want to discourage education as there have
been times when I have been lacking in areas that I know they develop in
university.
 
Thank you for your time Andrew. This interview was really interesting and has helped me a lot with thinking of different careers within the art and design sector and was also very informative.

As a student, this was very helpful to me, its really good that I am able to see other career paths within the Art and Design sector, when I noticed Andrew Warwick I was first grabbed by his many companies that he has created work for, Andrew has a lot of experience behind him and although I would love to see his actual practical art work, prints and paintings, his creations are so eye catching and vibrant and they are great proof to what he is really made of.

I was obviously very naive before meeting Andrew, thinking within art and design there is only so many careers to think of and after meeting one practical artist in her studio it was great to get the comparison of how two artists, completely different, work and manage themselves. This meeting has made me think so broadly about what my future career path could actually involve.

It has been a great opportunity for me to meet and question Andrew about his work and what he is about, and also to get a different art perspective, it was interesting for me to be able to compare different career paths , and realise how broad  Art and Design can be. I would like too research more into this.

I would like to thank Mr Andrew Warwick for his time and effort with my case study, I appreciate all he has done and all he has put into making this work for me, Thank you.