B and B blog

Artist open call June 23, 2020 12:00 1 Comment

Hi everyone

We are doing an open call for an exciting art book celebrating local artists/creatives showcasing their work. We’d love to hear from mid-career artists who want more exposure to established artists who have lots to shout about.

Are you a modern artist/creative in the areas of urban art, pop art, graffiti, screen printing and illustration?

You could be one of the 40+ artists selected to be represented in the book by 4 full colour pages of your work, a headshot of your choice, and an interview about you and your glorious work.

Submissions are open to artists across London/Essex, with a particular focus on Havering. We especially want to hear from artists with links to Harold Hill, Romford, Orchard Village or Rainham.

Submissions will be considered against a judging matrix and reviewed by an independent panel of local partners. We will notify you within one month of application to let you know the outcome of the selection process.

Applications are accepted from now onwards and will be considered on a first come, first served basis. The final closing date for applications is Monday 27 July 2020.

Email shop@brennan-and-burch.co.uk with the subject ‘Your Name/Art book’ with some images of your work or links to your website/social media.

This book will give a platform to emerging artists and a chance to be seen and appreciated. The digital version of the book is made possible by generous support from Havering Changing (www.haveringchanging.org) and Arts Council England.

Artist open call bunny


How to know when the job is done March 30, 2020 12:00

One of the most difficult parts of being an artist/illustrator is to know when to stop. When is your job finished, when can you sit back and be satisfied that you have done enough. My answer to this is you don't, I always think I can do a bit more here and a bit more there. I treat my work as a story, there's a beginning, middle and end and that's when I must say goodbye.

I recently started sketching an new illustration, I have an urge to introduce more people into my work that look human and not animalistic. The pencil work was done (all my artwork is handrawn first) and then I went on to using fine tipped black pens. While doing the fineline pen work i did a small film of the process which I shared on social media.

Adding colour

When this was finished the artwork was scanned to Photoshop where I started to work on building up the color. This work is not finished yet but am enjoying adding the colour to this one but am stuck on the many coloured jewels on the girls dress!

 Rain drops coloured

What makes art good?

We had the honour recently of being asked for the second year running to judge the Mothers' Day portrait competition for the Mercury Mall in Romford. Many schools got involved and there were hundreds of entries. There were different age group categories.We had a ball spending half a day going through all the fabulous artworks. The winners and close runners came to a prize winners ceremony at the Mercury Mall, and all the childrens' work was also displayed in their art gallery. 

Overall winner of Mercury Mall Mother's Day competition

Mercury Mall Mother's Day competition prize giving

Display of competition entries and B&B artwork

Lis & Maj in front of children's artwork


Hippo Screenprinters live printing B&B artwork at Roy's Art Fair September 25, 2019 00:00

Romford artists Brennan & Burch return to their roots with limited edition screenprints at Roy's Art Fair. Fine art printmaking studio Hippo Screenprinters will be live demonstrating the art of screen printing with exclusive artwork releases by special guests. We will be signing live printed art 'Dark Nights' during the private view on Thursday 3 October at Truman Brewery, London.

Prints will be for sale for the duration of the fair, along with other fine art on the Hippo Screenprinters Stand 79 in Room 2.

Dark Nights print

The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
Thursday 3rd October 2019 17:00-21:30 (Private view)
Friday 4th October 2019 12:00-20:00
Saturday 5th October 2019 11:00-19:00
Sunday 6th October 2019 11:00-18:00

Book free tickets 

 


Judging Mother's Day art competition March 26, 2019 12:00

We were asked to be on the judging panel for the Mothers' Day art portrait competition 'Image of My Mum' at the Mercury Mall shopping centre in Romford. We were astounded when we got there at the number of artwork submissions, over 700 entries. Our favourites combined technique, cuteness and detail. After deliberating all morning, phew it was hard going as there were many lovely portraits, we finally came to a decision. Afterwards we had a well earned croissant and tea plus a chocolate flake yum yum.

We were invited to the private view and really enjoyed seeing the pride and accomplishment on the faces of the winners and highly commended. The portraits will be displayed in the Mercury Mall until 31 March 2019.

Image of my Mum 5-7 winner

 Image of My Mum invite

 Image of my Mum 8-11 winner

Image of my Mum audience

Image of my Mum Mercury Mall staff pick

 


Ice cream you scream wallpaper February 26, 2019 12:00

This is my favorite of the new wallpapers. I was so pleased that I could draw a rabbit that looks like a rabbit! Everything about it gives me joy as it all seems to marry so well. Mad, fun, bright and surreal. 

Ice scream you scream wallpaper


Boom wallpaper February 19, 2019 12:00

Sometimes I put aside a chunk of time to do some sketching of any old thing that I fancy. Some of this work ends up in the bin and some of it sits on my computer under new ideas for months, even years, until I am ready to look at it again. I may not like a sketch but something about it makes me keep it. Some of my best work has come out of a drawing that I have done and forgotten, and then I revisit and realise its potential. This is when I produce my best work I feel. 

boom wallpaper


Lola Crest Bedroom update January 1, 2019 12:00

We love this beautiful bedroom update using Lola Crest wallpaper. It's such a great feeling when someone takes the time to send in pictures of the finished room where they have used your wallpaper. The Lola Crest wallpaper was used by a long term customer Charlotte, who became a friend. We call her our number one fan because she has loved and supported our brand for many years, from when we started in fashion until today doing interiors .

This design means a lot to Charlotte and her husband, as she purchased a top from us with the Lola Crest on it and met her husband wearing it. They now have this wallpaper in their first home bought together.

Lola Crest headboard

Lola Crest lamp

Lola Crest stereo

Lola Crest corner


B&B join The Retailery December 29, 2017 12:00

Brennan and Burch are now based in The Retailery, an eclectic co-working space and bar/restaurant/cafe in the heart of Romford, Essex near the historic Romford market. Superb premium spirit selection from Booze Made Public,  coffee and retro style snacks at Tad's Diner, fresh Indian food Jas' Punjabi Kitchen and handmade pasta from Italian Kitchen, trendy staff... oh and meeting room and hot desks upstairs. What's not to love?

The Retailery Dining Area

The Retailery bar


Brennan and Burch Pop-Up in The Retailery December 7, 2016 12:00

The Brennan & Burch pop-up at exciting new business venue the Retailery is showcasing our supa-dupa vintage upcycled footstools along with a selection of mens' and womens' streetwear samples from previous collections. The Retailery has been launched with the support of Made Public and Havering Council and aims to nurture creative businesses in Romford.

Brennan & Burch pop-up footstools

The Retailery porthole with Brennan & Burch prints

The Retailery frame from Brennan & Burch

The Retailery table including Brennan and Burch prints

Brennan & Burch pop-up streetwear

The Retailery, 82-84 Market Square, Romford, Essex RM1 3ER

http://www.retailery.co.uk/

 


The Retailery Xmas Window Display November 23, 2016 12:00

Brennan & Burch were commissioned to create a Twisted Nutcracker window display scene to echo the weird and wonderful vibe of new creative hub The Retailery in Romford.

The window display was launched at the official Romford Market Xmas lights switch-on 17 November 2016 and featured a live nutcracker character dancing in the window. The mayoress of Havering came down to launch the new business venue on 19 November 2016.

The Retailery before window display

Cut-outs waiting for placement

Hand drawn stars

Skull rose wrapping paper

Owls ready to fly in window

Deer in window 

Hand drawn website text

Boombox in window

Rhiannon Faith as nutcracker figurine

Rhiannon Faith dancing in window

The Mayoress of Havering at launch of The Retailery


Havering Resident August 2016 article August 3, 2016 12:00

Thanks to Sara Odeen-Isbister, editor of Havering Resident, for this fabulous piece on Brennan & Burch and our New Forest wall painted as part of Colour in Romford project.

Havering Resident August 2016 cover

Havering Resident August 2016 Article


Colour in Romford - street art installed March 30, 2016 12:00 1 Comment

Colour in Romford aims to support Creatives and engage the local community in the arts by bringing a splash of colour to South Street. The open competition gave the public the opportunity to submit their artwork for large scale commissions with a chance to see their creations brought to life throughout our streets. Focusing on four main sites, entries were encouraged to design a piece that drew inspiration from local history and culture, giving the proposed urban sites an audacious, artistic makeover. Colour in Romford is curated by Made Public .

'New Forest', Brennan & Burch, South Street (station)

We made a few site visits as the work was going up and got behind the scenes shots.

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan & Burch street art

Lis and Maj

'Monkey', Grant Pearce, South Street (Fiction)

'Monkey' by Grant Pierce

'The Reader', Anika Manuel, The Quadrant

'The Reader' by Anika Manuel

'Loughros Point Revisited', Chris Stevens, King's Arm Yard

'Loughros Paint Revisited' by Chris Stevens


Colour in Romford - New Forest shortlisted January 20, 2016 12:00

Got some good news this week - our New Forest work has been shortlisted in the Colour in Romford competition. If we are successful then we might be seeing our work up on the walls of Romford very soon! Fingers crossed for us.


Colour in Romford - competition entry November 18, 2015 12:00

Now we are Romford girls, we like to try to get involved with stuff that is happening in our local area. We were excited to get the chance to enter Colour in Romford competition being run by Made Public. They are commissioning a number of public art and design pieces in and around South Street, Romford, A nightclub building, town clock, station wall, lamp posts and pavements are just some of the proposed urban sites in need of an audacious artistic makeover. Watch this space...


B&B interview illustrator Stephen Timms March 4, 2015 12:00 1 Comment

We came across this great illustrator, Stephen Timms, recently. Although the style is not similar to my own, it is the darkness of his work that is attractive to me. Also he works by hand and loves a pen just like me. Had a little chat to see what being Stephen Timms is all about.

Stephen Timms self portrait

Where are you based?
Romford, Essex.

How would you describe your style?
I was heavily inspired when I was younger by comic books, this was the main source of artistic information available to me as a kid, and my style grew upon this. I remember one Christmas as a kid, I got a Spirograph, and I would sit for hours creating patterns. Then one day I thought "I wonder if I could do this without the help of the graph", and then from that day I drew everything, houses, trees, tinned food labels, if I stood still long enough I would draw something. My style has become quite distinctive, and those who know me and have worked with me, can pick my work out from anywhere. I have perfected my style as a graphic novel, whimsical style with a dark undertone.

Stephen Timms artwork

What or who inspires you?
Everything, literally everything, every blade of grass I feel, the sound of the wind, other peoples work, my mind is like a rolodex and just keeps spinning all day with ideas. There are only a few artists I look up to as inspirational heroes to me. One of them is Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragonball Z my lifelong inspirational manga program, even to this day, Paul Kidby the Discworld Illustrator, and a very good friend of mine, Eleanor Darling, who creates some beautiful realistic work. 

What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am working with a client of mine called Skremz, he's an English based hip hop artist. I create his logos and flyers and anything that needs designing. I am also working with RCAP at Romford, in the Workshop located in the quadrant arcade. This is a store which sells locally based artists works, and graduate students works.

Pencil or computer?
Pencil, always a pencil, I got ink for blood and pencil lead for veins. I'm a traditional man through and through, but obviously have to use computer software.

Stephen Timms artwork

What three words describe you?
Machine, Passionate, Dedicated.

What's playing in the background while you draw at the moment?
Andre Bocelli

Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I am aiming to open my own studio, dealing with a range of design work. I wish to get the local talented designers and artists, and work together, as a collective. That’s the dream.

Stephen Timms artwork

Stephen Timms, Illustrator
Email: machineheart23@yahoo.co.uk
Deviant Art: http://machineheart23.deviantart.com
Linkedin: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-timms/a5/920/99a/en