As Alma Singer, she initially found a home on Instagram, where the combination of humour and bold statements immediately drew in an audience of collectors. Within the first month, Alma had been invited to exhibit at the London Art Fair. Her work has since been included at prestigious auction houses alongside that of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Tracey Emin.
Next up is Stanley Donwood who joins the acclaimed line-up of artists with his enchanting “Evenfall” design. Stanley Donwood is well-known as the artist of choice for Radiohead. His evocative and haunting imagery has created their distinctive visual identity. He has created the official artwork for Glastonbury Festival since 2002 and he has worked with Robert Macfarlane on the Faber bestseller ‘Holloway’ and art directed the film ‘the bomb’ produced by Eric Schlosser and Smriti Keshari, as well as countless book covers and numerous other projects.
Leading print makers and artists Augustine and Bridgland’s design “Garden Sessions August” is a kaleidoscope of colour and a perfect example of the artists’ unique style of painting and print, blurring the lines of traditional thought between the two artistic mediums. Danny Augustine studied Fine Art at the University of East London and is currently studying for a MA in printmaking at the Royal College of Art. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Adam Bridgland has shown widely both in the UK and Internationally, recently at the London Art Fair, and as part of the Courtauld Institute of Art’s East Wing Project.
David Speed is a multi-disciplinary artist whose current focus is neon painting. The artist is fascinated by light and shadow and creates work that plays with that drama. David enjoys painting huge murals but is equally happy painting canvas. He relishes the challenge of painting on a small scale using spray paint and pushing the limitations of what is achievable in that medium. This Christmas, take your gift presentation to the next level and wrap your gifts up in Speed’s arresting “Apple” design. Take your pick of a singular image of the fruit, or multiple juicy apples if you’re feeling fruity.
Victoria Topping is an artist and illustrator who draws influences from everything from high camp disco sleeves to 1950s technical drawing manuals, from exotic flora and fauna to traditional folk art. Her signature fusion of digital and traditional techniques can be seen in her two designs for the collection. “Utopia” will envelope your presents in a vibrant floral display, including orchids, sunflowers and even some magical mushrooms. Whilst “Metamorphis” takes on Topping’s motif of a floral skull.
Aida Wilde’s “Love is Contagious” is available in two designs of colourful and bold statements. Aida is the founder of Print is Power and Sisters In Print projects and her screen-printed installations and social commentary posters have graced city streets around the world, serving as responsive commentary on displacement, education, and equality. Her fine art studio-based serigraphs are well collected and exhibited internationally in museums and institutions, also with the acquisition of her artworks for the permanent collections of The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge.
Last, but by no means least, is Andrew Millar’s “Forever Be”. Andrew Millar is fascinated by the constant fluctuations found in the natural world. Contrasting states of stillness and rhythm are a recurring theme that the artist has observed in nature and sought to reflect in his work.
Millar has likened his artistic approach to the act of weaving a tapestry. He deftly brings together the different strands of nature which inspire him, and which, in turn, inspire the viewer to connect with the natural world. Andrew has had solo exhibitions in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and New York. He was recently featured in a solo exhibition, Hidden Visions at Saatchi Gallery.
Russell Blackman, MD of Big Issue Group, said: “When it comes to the detail, these bold and arresting designs will frame gifts for family and friends perfectly, as well as creating a social echo at the same time.
“All of us are so pleased to be marking eight years of our trailblazing Christmas wrapping paper collections. We’ve had a host of awe-inspiring artists work with us, raising thousands of pounds to support our mission of giving those who are experiencing poverty and social exclusion a hand up.
“By wrapping your gifts up in our Art Wrap, you will be directly helping to better the lives of people who, now more than ever before, need our support.”
The limited-edition single image sheets of each artist’s design is priced at £39 each. You can also buy a pack of five sheets of regular wrapping paper for £7.99. The wrap is printed on recycled paper and packed in recyclable plastic.
Big Issue Shop offers people the opportunity to use their spending power to make a positive difference to the world we live in. Socially- conscious shoppers can browse and buy the designs now at bigissueshop.com.
