My name is Dan Mumford and I am a freelance illustrator, I work mainly in screenprints for pop culture based things, be it movies, music or video-games.
How did you get started in illustration? What is a turning point in your professional career?
I started out like most people, enjoying drawing from a young age and following it through into university where i practiced lots of different art based disciplines. The turning point when i realised that i could make a living out of it was when my small drawings for an underground album got much more attention as the band got bigger. When Gallows signed to a major label, I in turn worked on the new packaging for the release of their album. I just kept running with it from there and haven’t stopped since.
What is your ideal work environment? Do you prefer to work in your art studio all day long or prefer to mix a few activities?
I really like working in the studio for quite long hours, i will happily spend 9-10 hours in there, pretty solidly working. I dont work at all when I am at home. I like to separate the two quite distinctly and make sure to take the weekends off, its worked nicely for me over the last few years.
Where does your work inspiration come from? (Do you believe in 'inspiration' at all)?
I think any form of creativity that creates new worlds or visuals, plays with narrative and music and transports you to another place inspires me. I love stories, and the weirder they are the better, whatever form they take, film, comics, video-games, its all fantastic to me, even the worst story might have incredible visuals. I think you have to be careful though, I try to simply admire rather than let something influence me.
Where are your favorite art places in your city or outside?
I don't really have a favourite place to go for that. I try to visit various galleries throughout London regularly when something exciting is on. Whenever I am in a new city as well i will try and visit a few galleries. I think the most exciting work I see tends to be at much smaller openings by younger artists in tiny galleries. Theres a place for both though, i try to take it all in where I can.
Who are the illustrators / designers you admire most?
I have a lot of admiration for many artists and designers, theres far too many to name them all. In no particular order, Drew Millward, Tom Newell, Tom Hovey, Godmachine, Mr Gauky, Daggers for Teeth, Richey Beckett, David Bray, Sin Eater, Tom Gauld, all people i know work super hard and produce insanely good artwork. Then you have people like Jon Dyer Baizely, Jacob Bannon and Aaron Horkey, people i have never met or spoken with, but i really admire the craft they put into their work. Theres too many more artists to name, but theres a lot of great art out there.