Happy New Year, everyone! We hope you had a nice bash, didn’t you? Now, to the second wonder of our Holiday Series – and first guest in 2008: London-based Peepshow started their career as illustrator collective. However, since their range keeps getting wider and wider, they deal now with almost everything from animation to art direction. Today PingMag has a chat with Peepshow’s member Elliot Thoburn who came all way down from England to visit our beloved PingMag headquarters.
Written by Chiemi
Introduce yourself, please?
We are Peepshow. The name Peepshow comes from the idea that the original site gives you a little glimpse of everyones work. We started out as an illustration collective but have since evolved into much more.
Peepshow at present has twelve members: Spencer Wilson, Lucy Vigrass, Luke Best, Jenny Bowers, Miles Donovan, Chrissie Macdonald, Pete Mellor, Marie O’Conner, Andrew Rae, Kate Rogers, Alex Bec and Elliot Thoburn, and myself. The diversity of talents that makes up Peepshow has led to a rich and varied folio across a range of disciplines. This folio is no longer just advertorial or editorial illustration but art direction, design consultancy, moving image, fashion, set design and mixed media installation.
The Peepshow studio is not far from Shoreditch High Street, London. We have been an influential part of the UK creative scene for over seven years now, working for clients such as British Airways, Evisu, Levis, MTV, Nike, Orange, or Toyota.
When you get commissioned for a project, how do you chose who will be the person in charge?
Peepshow is a very democratic affair, and who is taking what project depends on availability and expertise. On the other hand, illustration commissions are pretty straight forward the client dealing with the illustrator they want, though even within this we have been known to collaborate blending two or more styles together. It’s this fusion of different ways of working and thinking that drives Peepshow’s creativity, everyone is constantly evolving and influencing each other.
What is your motto for work?
Peepshow is the strength of twelve brains, twenty-four eyes and 120 fingers.
How was 2007 for you?
It was a very exciting year: a new studio, new members, plenty of shows… lots of work coming in and the opening of a Peepshow shop. Peepshow has recently illustrated the Creative Review handbook and is, at present, working on animations for Chesapeake. We have just finished the DDB animated Christmas Card as well as setting up a mixed media installation in their office. At the moment, we have a show running at the Concrete Hermit Gallery in the East end of London too.
Lastly, what is your New Year’s resolution?
To expand the shop and our client base. We would love to have more international clients, and with twelve brains, twenty-four eyes 120 fingers we feel we have a lot to offer to clients from any part of the world. Also, to keep our close working relationship with our broad base of clients and to continue doing work that excites and challenges us would make us more than happy.
Elliot of Peepshow, thank you so much for your work and the best fudge you brought us!