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Collaboration With Passion

 
Dimitri Tiomkin album for Nelson Records Dimitri Tiomkin album for Nelson Records

He liked things simple, and had managed many of the biggest names in show business. When I met Vera and her husband Harry, we hit it off straight away. My RAF background and good manners meant that Vera could relax, and allow me full access to her unique photo collection. Vera and I met again at the recording studio to show my visual ideas, and for Derek to hear the progress of the album.

 
 

There was no expense spared on the printing, and a beautiful gatefold, photo laden and glossy album was produced. I enjoyed working on many albums with Derek, including, Tony Bennett, Ted Heath, Mantovani, Camarata, Dimitri Tiomkin and many others!

Camarata album & Mantovani album Camarata album & Mantovani album
 
 
Tony Bennett. 20 Popular Nursery Rhymes. The Lorna Dallas Album. Great Opera Choruses. Tony Bennett. 20 Popular Nursery Rhymes. The Lorna Dallas Album. Great Opera Choruses.
 
 
Derek Cox, 20 Piano Favourites. Mantovani, The Film Themes. Sydney Thompson and his Orchestra. Ronnie Aldrich and His Orchestra. Derek Cox, 20 Piano Favourites. Mantovani, The Film Themes. Sydney Thompson and his Orchestra. Ronnie Aldrich and His Orchestra.
 

MPL - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
The Man - Single visuals

 
xxxx xxxx
 
 
Colin Busby's Big Swing Band. The Magic of Tony Bennett. The Golden Age of Ted Heath. Mantovani, The Love Themes. Colin Busby's Big Swing Band. The Magic of Tony Bennett. The Golden Age of Ted Heath. Mantovani, The Love Themes.
 
 
Ted, From Moira with Love. At The Theatre with Mantovani. The Don Lusher Big Band. Colin Busby's Ten Great TV Themes. Ted, From Moira with Love. At The Theatre with Mantovani. The Don Lusher Big Band. Colin Busby's Ten Great TV Themes.
 
 
The Johnny Mercer Songbook. The Stutz Bearcats. Puccini Favourites, by Camarata. The Johnny Mercer Songbook. The Stutz Bearcats. Puccini Favourites, by Camarata.
 

Chrysalis Records

 
Alvin Stardust poster and 7 Alvin Stardust poster and 7" singles for Chrysalis Records

I visited John Pasche the art director, at Chrysalis Records and straight away started to work with him. I designed for Alvin Stardust, Jaki Graham and Billy Idol.

 
 
Saturday Superstore album and Jaki Graham 12 Saturday Superstore album and Jaki Graham 12" single
 
 

I met the calendar printers for Billy Idol and was then introduced to the Spandau Ballet management. For the next 3 years I enjoyed being asked to design their calendars!

Billy Idol calendar and 7 Billy Idol calendar and 7" single
 
 
Me in my first real office Me in my first real office

15 Little Portland Street, W1, London. This office was self contained and I designed the room arrangements myself. We had 2 complete photographic darkrooms, with running water! I even had a chinning bar made for me and installed by a company from Covent Garden, they specialized in tubular steel furnishings.

 
 
These 2 photos are of Nickie Rhodes, later to become my wife. The funfair was in Leicester Square at Christmas 1986. These 2 photos are of Nickie Rhodes, later to become my wife. The funfair was in Leicester Square at Christmas 1986.
 

Spandau Ballet - The Calendars

 
Spandau Ballet calendar 1985 Spandau Ballet calendar 1985
 
 
Spandau Ballet calendar 1986 Spandau Ballet calendar 1986
 
 
Spandau Ballet calendar 1987 Spandau Ballet calendar 1987
 

THE VIDEO COLLECTION (VCI)

 
These were the visuals for The Video Collection logo to be used on all the sleeves and marketing products.I used rub down lettering that would be made by the photo labs, as it was a messy job using chemicals. The Apple Mac hadn’t been invented back in 1986! These were the visuals for The Video Collection logo to be used on all the sleeves and marketing products.I used rub down lettering that would be made by the photo labs, as it was a messy job using chemicals. The Apple Mac hadn’t been invented back in 1986!
 
 

Sometime in 1985, Jacky Moini, asked me if I would design a logo for a new Video Label. The fee would not be much, as the job entailed producing artwork for no less than 50 titles. I produced a selection of logos and awaited an answer.

The final design - this went on literally everything The Video Collection produced, including the opening sequence of all the programmes! The final design - this went on literally everything The Video Collection produced, including the opening sequence of all the programmes!
 
 
Jacky Moini and I, in Penshurst, when I first moved to Tunbridge Wells, Kent in 1991. Jacky Moini and I, in Penshurst, when I first moved to Tunbridge Wells, Kent in 1991.

A logo was selected and my first job was to design some sample covers. I seem to remember designing a film, a music video, and a sports video, to see how the logo might look etc.

 
 
The Screen International advertorial, showing the video luminaries associated with the launch to Woolworths of The Video Collection. Many of those present would go on to be extra clients of mine later! The Screen International advertorial, showing the video luminaries associated with the launch to Woolworths of The Video Collection. Many of those present would go on to be extra clients of mine later!
 
 

The job was a success and I was taken out to dinner to meet Steve Ayres. Steve was a very experienced executive in the video world, and having started the Video Collection (VCI), was concerned that I could produce 50 artworks quickly!

Steve Ayres Steve Ayres
 
 
My first holiday in ages, Antalya, Turkey,1987. I taught Nickie to waterski, and on our last day, I skied with 4 others, all of us mono, from 1 boat! My first holiday in ages, Antalya, Turkey,1987. I taught Nickie to waterski, and on our last day, I skied with 4 others, all of us mono, from 1 boat!