How did you get into what you’re doing?

There's a very long version of this story, but the shorter, more interesting version is that since the age of around eight there were only two things I wanted to do: be a graphic designer or play basketball in the NBA. But at a generous 5'10" fate made up my mind for me. I didn't even know what a graphic designer was, it was just something I wanted to do. Eventually someone told me what it was and I still liked the sound of that, so I've basically been trying to be one ever since.

Walk us through your day-to-day.

I'll usually start my day with a coffee from Unitom while I try not to add more books to the already bowing shelves in the studio. I've recently taken the plunge back into full-time self employment and started my own design & illustration studio called Happy Go Lucky. At the minute we're just a small team but I'm looking to grow. My day is split between client work and running the studio and learning how to run a business. As well as always looking for new clients we are what I like to refer to as the official art department of The Liars Group and Bigger Boat Leisure, so we spend a lot of time taking care of them.

When I get to the studio I'll usually check over feedback from the day before from whichever clients it is on that day. Now whenever I get a chance, no matter how small, I'll try and make some headway on some painting for Hello Old Friend. I've really enjoyed learning to paint over the last year and a half. I can't wait to see where it goes. We also have a dart board now, so we're getting pretty good at that. Maybe one day we'll give all of this art stuff up and go pro.

What are some of the obstacles of working for restaurants and bars?

I think the hardest part is the same as any design brief in any market - you've got to try and stand out. Especially in a place like Manchester where there are so many places putting out great food and drink. It's about getting people's attention to give the bartenders, chefs and servers a chance to show off what goes on inside these bars and restaurants.

… and what do you enjoy about it?

Because I work for so many different places, I enjoy trying to bring a different style for each one. I think it forces me to be a bit more adaptable with what I'm doing. I still get a buzz seeing my work around town, I don't think that will ever change.

Top 3 projects you’ve worked on?

This is a tough one. I think my favourite project I got to work on I'm not actually allowed to show any one. It is hard seltzer packaging for one of the big companies. This is when there was only White Claw and a few others in America. I had a lot of fun working on it but they put it on the shelf while they waited to see where the market went and unfortunately haven't picked it back up yet.

I'm not usually one for awards but being shortlisted for my Crazy Pedro's Godzilla Pizza box in the World Illustration Awards was pretty special as well. And I think this new exhibition will be up there too (when it's all finished). I've had to learn a lot and try to expand my practice, not only as a designer but as an artist as well. I'm really looking forward to much more of this sort of thing.

Your exhibition, Hello Old Friend, is coming up on 17th September. Tell us where the idea for it came from and what to expect on the day.

Around March 2020 I suddenly found myself with a lot of spare time, and for someone who works professionally as an illustrator I really don't draw all that much by hand. So I opened an old and untouched sketchbook and the first words on the page were "Hello Old Friend". Since then I've been working towards something. I didn't really know what until I started talking to my friend about the lack of accessible contemporary galleries in Manchester, so we set about looking for a space to show the things I'd been working on. How that turned into a two-day party with DJs from Left Right & Centre as well as Community, a Neon Tiger pop up BBQ, cocktails from The Jane Eyre and Heverlee bringing down a ton of beer and really helping us make this thing happen I will never know. 

The works on display are ‘new works drawing inspiration from traditional mediums’ - what/who inspires you? How do you start a project?

I think I've always loved drawing words. If I had had an ounce of rebellion growing up, I would like to think that graffiti is something I would have loved to do. But I had an early bedtime so I took a lot of inspiration from sign painters and different lettering artists. I like to take a lot of inspiration from the people and things around me. A lot of the paintings have a specific connection to certain people or places. When it’s time to start something new I'll take a look in one of the five sketch books I've filled with notes and sketches since that first one I opened a couple of years ago. It's 99% trash but I flip through those pages looking for that 1% that still speaks to me, that could still be something.

After 10 years working for Manchester’s hospitality scene, how do you keep things fresh and interesting, both for yourself and in terms of the work you’re putting out?

It's probably the hardest part of the job, especially for some of the places that are pretty established. I think because I work across so many different areas of design and illustration my frame of reference is constantly shifting. I'm always taking skills from different jobs and applying them where I can. I also started working for a lot of these bars when I was quite young so my own skills have developed over that time.

The intersection of hospitality and the creative industries is one we see a lot - do you think creatives love eating & drinking, or is the industry crowd full of creatives?!

I think that creatives love to see what other creatives are doing. Whether you work on a canvas or in a kitchen, the creativity gets recognised and appreciated from across the spectrum. The ones that stand out are the ones creative in their own field and we love to see that.

Any advice to people looking to get into illustration/graphic design?

My main advice is that you have to do it for yourself first of all. I'm very fortunate that I get to do it full time for myself, but I do it because I love it. I'm obsessed with it. If I'm not doing it for a client then I'm doing it for myself. I'm still looking for new approaches, new tools, even new keyboard shortcuts.

Current favourite spots to eat and drink in Manchester?

Since leaving the city centre after 8 years there, I've been spending more and more time hanging out in Levenshulme, so at the minute my favourite places are Isca and Nordie. Also at home with my partner who happens to be a great cook. Of course Neon Tiger and Jane Eyre too 😉😉 

Harrison Edwards is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Manchester.