Lettering artist and illustrator Ollie Cooper’s work is bold and playful, providing commentary on subjects such as language, social, and environmental issues. Combining his branding background with his love of typography, his signature style fuses together language with bespoke lettering to create tongue-in-cheek, impactful pieces.
His projects range from identity creation, to self-initiated artwork, prints, and commissions. “My style has developed and become a more cohesive voice over the years, and I’ve worked hard to refine my craft by learning new skills like signwriting and hand-painted murals along the way,” comments the artist.
His passion for typography was ignited as a child, when Ollie loved replicating sports badges and brand logos; “I had no idea what typography and hand lettering were back then, all I knew was that it was my favourite thing to do”. He went into college and university having a broad idea of what he could do and where this skill set could take him. After graduating, he specialised in branding, and then went freelance 4 years ago to concentrate more on the illustration side of his work. However, his background in creating identities provided him with a solid foundation in studying letterforms and composition which he now applies organically into hand-lettering and illustration.
Preferring to work away from his desk when generating ideas, Ollie gets the creative flow going by working from coffee shops or outdoors. Once the idea is noted on a sketchbook or a scrap of paper, he then develops it from his home studio using layers of tracing paper or an iPad. “Having a good record playing in the background also always helps!”
“I draw a lot of inspiration from not being able to switch off from the everyday, noticing flaws or quirks in design and typography really gets me thinking about how something could be done or looking at it from another angle to generate fresh ideas,” says Ollie. Passionate about sustainable ways of living and working, he incorporates these messages and social commentaries into his designs. He also always has books about traditional signwriting techniques and hand-lettered branding to hand, acting as his go-to’s for quick doses of inspiration.
Ollie is currently focusing on his first solo exhibition in August, Must Be A Sign, which is themed around sustainability. The show is a collection of custom pieces hand-painted on salvaged wood, glass, and other materials that turn the discarded into the desirable. He will also soon be launching some small batch, larger prints with hand-finished elements soon.
@olliecooperdesign
www.olliecooperdesign.com
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