Beyond the Wire

The book

Beyond the Wire was produced as part of my Masters in Illustration: Authorial Practice, which I studied at University College Falmouth.
My research began as an attempt to collect information which could help to put into a tangible form my personal responses to the art and poetry of World War One, rather than a desire to create an educational or information based piece of work. This took place alongside an exploration of meta-fictional narratives. It became an attempt to depict the fractured and shifting nature of memory and trauma, as well an investigation into the complex relationship between authors, their characters, and the reading audience. Each book has over 100 hand cut holes, which alter the images as the pages are turned. Shifting time, place and playing with the reader's viewpoint.
Some of the most significant influences on this project have included: In Parenthesis by David Jones, the work of Paul Nash, Otto Dix and C.R.W Nevinson, The Charley’s War comic-book series and research from The Imperial War Museum.

I’m really pleased to announce that my project was jointly awarded the 2011 Graphic Literature Prize by Atlantic Press. We had a brilliant launch party at Daunt Books in Chelsea last May, and the book is now available to buy from the shop.

Here is an interview about Beyond the Wire for Broken Frontier, and their review of the book! And here is another lovely review, this time courtesy of Forbidden Planet International. Here is another!