Journeys, Sketchbooks, and a World of Colour

Henry Rivers grew up on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. His childhood in a countryside farmhouse was full of animals. Drawing was part of life from an early age, too: he accompanied his grandmother to her local watercolour group and spent time at home sketching birds and whales.

From architecture to illustration

As a child, Henry did not imagine that art could become a career. Few people around him worked in creative fields, and his strengths at school were maths and science. An inspiring art teacher encouraged him to take drawing more seriously, and he chose architecture as a way to bring together his interests in maths and art.

While studying architecture at the University of Cambridge, he also designed posters for theatre productions and events and took event photographs. These projects helped him see other possibilities for a creative career. By graduation, he had decided to pursue art and design instead.

After several years working as a book cover designer, he began a travel poster series in 2015. Having become familiar with the precision of architectural drawing, he wanted to explore buildings and urban spaces more freely. The series brought together his architectural training, design experience and love of travel.

Expansive landscapes, small figures

Swimmers cross stretches of open water, skiers descend snowy mountains, and cyclists follow coastal roads. In Henry’s illustrations, small figures often sit within broad landscapes. Elsewhere, a bird fills the composition, or a tiny person dives into a coffee cup or cocktail glass.

Clearly defined shapes bring the scenes together, with blues of sea and sky set alongside sandy tones, cream, green, red and orange.

Vintage advertising and posters have been longstanding influences. Henry has drawn inspiration from A. M. Cassandre’s use of geometric shapes and lines, as well as Alain Carrier’s ability to create many subtle shades from a limited palette. His approach has centred on choosing the shapes and lines that convey the character of a scene and arranging them into a carefully considered composition.

Developing an idea through sketches

Henry works in his sketchbook in the studio, in cafés and while travelling. A scene encountered in person can provide a starting point, but a photograph can also prompt the urge to draw.

He has developed his illustrations through repeated sketches, allowing ideas time to take shape. An initial scribble might take only a few minutes. He then returns to it every few weeks, redrawing, adjusting the composition and colours, and gradually adding detail. It often takes around a year for a piece to reach completion.

His finishing process has included redrawing sketches digitally and layering in scanned, hand-painted textures. He continues to combine work made by hand with digital techniques.

Illustration across different fields

After growing up on the Isle of Wight, Henry lived and worked in London and the French countryside. Now based in Cheltenham, he develops his own artwork alongside commissioned illustration.

His images have also found their way beyond paper, appearing on wine bottles and airline trolleys. Alongside illustration commissions, he licenses his artwork for use on a range of products.