Illustrator Andrew Joyce is perhaps best known for his maps and building illustrations. As such, we thought it would be fun to take the Handsome Frank podcast to the streets and check out some London architecture on the move. Grabbing some newly acquired roving recording equipment, we wired ourselves up, clipped some microphones to our lapels and went for a little walk and talk around one of our favourite neighbourhoods.
Lamb's Conduit Street is a recent discovery for Team Frank. Neatly tucked away between Russell Square and Holborn, the street is home to an eclectic mix of independent traders, design led brands, galleries, restaurants and bars. Not to mention The Perseverance, a classic Victorian pub and an excellent spot for an after work drink. All of which make this the perfect location to inspire a series of illustrations and neighbourhood map.
Starting at Redemption Roasters (coffee first, of course) we made our way down the street, taking in the rich history and variety of architecture on show. As we strolled along we talked about Andrew's approach to drawing buildings, what attracts him to a particular structure and how he breaks down a complex building by thinking of it more as a series of simple shapes. As you'll hear on the podcast, it's a fascinating insight into his process and how he tackles a complex and potentially intimidating illustration.
Along the way we stopped at menswear stores Oliver Spencer and Folk, restaurant Noble Rot and across the street its wine shop counterpart, Shrine to the Vine. We popped our heads into furnishing shop Penreath & Hall, admired the splendor of an undertaker's window, before finishing up umbrella specialists London Undercover, where the temptation of a minature toy hotdog van emblazened with the name 'Frank's Dogs' proved too tempting a purchase to resist.
I always kind of break down things and think how would I draw this? ... there are always little shapes in there that I can see
Naturally our final stop was a return to the previously mentioned pub, just in time to toast the news that a certain Boris Johnson had taken leave of his role at 10 Downing Street ... any excuse for a lunchtime drink.
Finally, it was back to the studio to sit down and record the rest of our conversation in the more traditional podcast format. You can listen to the full episode here, culminating in the audio from the walk around. And below, behold Andrew's final map of Lamb's Conduit Street. Truly a hidden gem in this wonderful city we call home.
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