2019 Guests

Graphic Brighton 2019 features a selection of the best British comic book and graphic novel creators talking about their work in FREE panel discussions and individual presentations…

These include:

Hannah Berry – 10.15am Friday 3rd May

Hannah is the current British Comics Laureate and author of graphic novels Adamtine (2012), Britten and Brulightly (2008) and Livestock (2017), all published by Jonathan Cape. She also draws strips for Prospect and New Statesman and has written scripts for 2000AD and Misty in recent years. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a podcaster and Arvon Foundation Tutor.


Warren Pleece – 11.15am Friday 3rd May

Warren has been illustrating comics for over 30 years including a variety of titles for DC Comics including Sandman Mystery Theatre, John Constantine: Hellblazer, The Invisibles and Lucifer. He often works with his brother Gary, creating such titles as Montague Terrace and The Great Unwashed, and has recently illustrated the graphic novels Incognegro: Renaissance (Berger Books) and Freedom Bound (BHP).


Alison Sampson – 12.15pm Friday 3rd May

Alison is the illustrator of Genesis and Winnebago Graveyard for Image Comics, a contributor to Femme Manifique and has been a cover artist for The Wicked + the Divine. She is a fully qualified RIBA Architect and curated the immersive Think of a City tumblr, inviting artists from around the world to create unique aspects of a fictional city. She is currently illustrating Hit Girl: India, the latest Kick-Ass sequel.


Richy K. Chandler – 12.15pm Saturday 4th May

Richy is an artist, musician and webcomic creator, known for his popular strip Lucy the Octopus, recently collected by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. He has written the official comic strips based on Adventure Time and Wallace & Gromit and over the last couple of years been creating children’s books based on coming to terms with difficult life experiences such as You Make Your Parents Super Happy!: A book about parents separating.


Ottilie Hainsworth – 3pm Friday 3rd May

Ottilie is an artist and tutor at The Phoenix, Brighton, where she helps people turn real life stories into comics and graphic novels. She is the author of the graphic novel Talking to Gina, a memoir of a beloved dog, published by Myriad Editions and curator / editor of a collection of comic strips on The Theatre Royal, Brighton, produced with and by her students who will be joining her at Graphic Brighton.


George Hardie – 4pm Saturday 4th May

George is an award winning graphic designer who worked with Hipgnosis on classic album covers such as Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, Futurama: Be-Bop Delux and Led Zeppelin I. He incorporates comics into his work on a regular bases, from the stickers that came with Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here to magazine covers and restaurant menus, and the children’s book Cluedo: Armchair Detective.


No tickets needed for talks / panels, just come along! Book 2pm workshops here…

10am-5pm, 3rd / 4th May 2019, University of Brighton Gallery, City Campus, 58–67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY

Graphic Brighton 2019: Making Comics Work is supported by Creative Futures and Design Star

Creative Futures / Design Star logos

Tickets

Graphic Brighton is generally not ticketed – if you’d like to attend any of the talks or panel discussions on either 3rd or 4th May 2019, just come along!
If a session has already started, please quietly take a seat at the back of the room.

If you would like to come along to one of the 2pm workshops, these are also free, but there are only 30 tickets for each, to keep numbers manageable for Muna and Chris.

So, to book:

Using comics to explore sensitive issues – workshop led by cartoonist Muna Al-Jawad on how to make comic strips that can be used to communicate difficult situations.
Friday, May 3rd, 2-3pm, Grand Parade Gallery, University of Brighton City Campus

Please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-comics-to-explore-sensitive-issues-workshop-with-muna-al-jawad-tickets-60781074831

To book:

Turning ideas into comics – workshop led by graphic novelist Chris Geary on how to turn factual moments and ideas into narratives for comic strips.
Saturday, May 4th, 2-3pm, Grand Parade Gallery, University of Brighton City Campus

Please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/turning-ideas-into-comics-workshop-with-chris-geary-tickets-60781929387

Sponsored by University of Brighton Creative Futures and Design Star.

Creative Futures / Design Star logos

Graphic Brighton 2019 Poster

Graphic Brighton 2019 Poster (Art by Chris Geary)

Here’s the terrific new poster for Graphic Brighton 2019, with art by Chris Geary, adapted from his forthcoming, currently untitled, graphic novel follow-up to Commitment: A Novel about Managing Project Risk (written by Olav Maassen and Chris Matts)

If you work in a comic shop or University, feel free to print out a copy and display it!

Sponsored by University of Brighton Creative Futures and Design Star.

Creative Futures / Design Star logos

Graphic Brighton 2019 schedule

Here’s the line-up (barring accidents and emergencies) of this year’s Graphic Brighton Festival at the University of Brighton…

Friday 3rd May

10.15am Using comics to inspire new creators: Hannah Berry (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

11.15am Using comics to create biography 1: Warren Pleece, Ian Williams, Corinne Pearlman (Chair: Clari Searle, University of Coventry)

12.15pm Using comics to explain architecture: Alison Sampson, Owen Pomery,
Jacquelyn Jubert and Joe Robson (AVR London / Anise Gallery) (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

2pm Using comics to explore sensitive issues: Muna Al-Jawad (workshop)

3pm Using comics to explore history: Ottilie Hainsworth + students from The Phoenix (Chair: Elle Whitcroft, University of Sussex)

4pm Using comics to explore a city: Justin Wadlow (Université de Picardie Jules Verne) / (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

Sat 4th May

10.15am Performing comics for research: Ian Hornsby (University of Chichester), Jodie Hawkes (University of Chichester), Pete Phillips (University of Chichester) / (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

11.15am Using comics as documentation: Paul Fisher Davies (University of Sussex), John Miers (University of the Arts, London)/(Chair: Clari Searle, University of Coventry)

12.15pm Using comics for biography 2: Ben Dickson, Richy K Chandler, Ottilie Hainsworth (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

2pm Using comics to explain ideas 1: Chris Geary (workshop)

3pm Using comics to explain ideas 2: Ian Horton (University of the Arts, London), Louisa Buck (University of Brighton), Daniel Locke (Chair: Barbara Chamberlin, University of Brighton)

4pm “A Designer’s brush with Comics”: talk by George Hardie (Hipgnosis) about his practice / (Chair: Alex Fitch, University of Brighton)

University of Brighton Gallery, City Campus, 58–67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY

Graphic Brighton 2019: Making Comics Work is supported by Creative Futures and Design Star

Creative Futures / Design Star logos

Save the date!

Graphic Brighton 2019: Making Comics Work will be taking place at University of Brighton City Campus on 3rd and 4th May, 2019. This year’s event is looking at educational comics, where comics are used to inform readers about topics they’d like to know more about, covering all sorts of themes including historical biography, science, medicinal practices, architecture, university research and risk management in business.

Guests include cartoonists and comic creators Ian Williams, Chris Geary, Ottilie Hainsworth, Richy K Chandler, Warren Pleece, Alison Sampson, Owen Pomery, Muna Al-Jawad, Ben Dickson, Daniel Locke and comics laureate Hannah Berry. George Hardie (Hipgnosis) and architects Jacquelyn Cohen and Joe Robson (AVR London), will also be coming along to talk about their practice and use of comics to disseminate their work. The two day event, which will take place in the University gallery, is a mixture of talks, panel discussions and workshops.
Check back here for more info about the event, but in the meantime, save the date!

FREE, 10am-5pm, 3rd and 4th May 2019, University of Brighton City Campus, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY

Sponsored by University of Brighton Creative Futures and Design Star.

Creative Futures / Design Star logos

New podcasts

Hannah Eaton, Hannh Berry and Jenni Scott discuss classic Girls Comics at Graphic Brighton presents: Caption

Three new podcasts are available featuring Q and As from Graphic Brighton events…

At Graphic Brighton 2016 – War, Conflict and Resolution:

Kate Evans discusses her graphic biography Red Rosa, which illustrates the life of the Polish Revolutionary, and graphic novel Threads: From the Refugee Crisis

Alex Fitch talks to graphic novelist Dave McKean about his book and multimedia project Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash

At Graphic Brighton presents: Caption (2017)

Jinty website creator Jenni Scott talks to graphic novelists Hannah Eaton and Hannah Berry about how girls comics influence their work

At Graphic Brighton 2018: Music and Comics

Zine creator Holly Casio discusses her various Bruce Springsteen inspired titles including Queers on the edge of town

Line-up shuffle

Zine and comic creator Holly Casio (originally scheduled to talk later in the day) is now going to open the 2018 conference with a discussion of her own practice making pamphlets about Bruce Springsteen, as well as a more general discussion about the music zine scene.
Holly has created a number of titles including Me and Bruce, Taking up space, Cool Schmool, Bite Me: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Zine, My Mad Fat Zine, UK Zine Librarians, BruXcore, I love Food Network and Dancing in the dark. She was also in the band The Potentials – a Buffy the Vampire Slayer themed group – so will also be talking about the crossover between music, comics and Buffy fandom…

Cover of Dancing in the Dark zine by Holly Casio (art by Adrian Tomine)

Full 2018 programme now online with added Julie Hollings

The programme for this year’s Graphic Brighton is below. The two day event is FREE, but it would be great if anyone wanting to come along could book a ticket in advance, so we can get an idea of numbers, or if we run out of tickets can let people know that the venue(s) have reached capacity.

Also, we’re proud to have a classic 80s comic book artist – as featured in Trident, Wimmen’s Comix, Revolver, Escape and Deadline – Julie Hollings joining us as a guest on July 20th, in conversation with Alex Fitch and Hunt Emerson (when she’ll be able to reminisce with Hunt about working on Outrageous Tales from the Old Testament).

Beryl by Julie Hollings, as featured in Deadline

Thursday 19th July 19.00-22.30
The Green Room, The Phoenix Gallery, 10-14 Waterloo Place, Brighton BN2 9NB

Accessibility: the Phoenix Gallery’s Green Room is on the ground floor which is fully accessible. There is a ramp at the main entrance and disabled toilets on the same floor.
19.00 – Doors open
19.15 – 20.00 – Music and comics panel with Mark Buckingham, Danny Noble, and Will Potter
20.10 – 20.30 – Musical performance by Mark Buckingham and Chris Harrison, performing tracks from their album Jigsaw Man
20.40 – 22.30 – Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated – the classic 1968 zombie movie reinterpreted by 100 artists with a new live soundtrack DJ-ed by Robin the Fog

Friday 20th July 9.15-18.00
University of Sussex, Pevensey Building 1, Lecture Theatre 1A6, Falmer BN1 9QH.
The University of Sussex campus is easily accessed by train from Brighton (journey time approx. 7 minutes) or by the number 25 bus (also from Brighton).

Accessibility: Pevensey 1 Lecture Theatre 1A6 is wheelchair accessible: please go through the glass doors at the front of the building, and use the elevator, selecting ‘1A6’ button option. Wheelchair accessible toilets are in Chichester 1 building next door – please do let us know if you need any extra assistance on the day.

9.15 – doors open and registration (note, please bring your own tea or coffee, available from multiple outlets on the University of Sussex campus)

9.45-10.30 – George Hardie (Hipgnosis), will be talking about using comics and sequential art in his design work, and discussing the process of designing covers for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin

10.30-10.50 – tea and coffee (provided)

10.50-12.10 – Panel 1: Visualising sound and musical identities
Chair: Barbara Chamberlin
Peter Hodges (University of South Wales): The Last Temptation: A consideration of the role of sound in comic books
James Sayers (University of Brighton): How sound manifests itself and creates meaning in musical biography, Nick Cave: Mercy on Me
Justin Wadlow (Université de Picardie Jules Verne): Garageland – Punk heroes portrayed in London, New York and Paris: inventing a visual identity for oneself

12.15-13.00 – The Surreal McCoy and David Bramwell discuss the multimedia presentation of comics with musical accompaniment

13.00-13.40 – Lunch (provided, though people with specific dietary requirements are advised to bring their own lunch in case these are not catered for – vegetarian and vegan possibilities will be available)

13.40-15.00 – Panel 2: Counter-cultural musical aesthetics
Chair: Aanchal Vij

Maggie Gray (Kingston University): The Sound of the Underground: Alan Moore, cartooning and music
Ian Hornsby (University of Chichester): Ed Piskor and the Sirens Song
Christopher Vezza (University of Glasgow): Robert Crumb’s Cheap Thrills Album Artwork: Interpretive Questions and Text/Image Interaction

15.00-15.10 – Short break

15.10-16.30 – Panel 3: Performing comics
Chair: Elle Whitcroft
Holly Casio (zine maker, comics artist and punk musician): Me and Bruce Springsteen: is there anybody alive out there?
Russell Parke (Middlesex University): Rock and Roll Superheroes
Mark Hibbett (University of the Arts, London and musician) and Rob Fleay (musician): The Swingin’ Sounds of Sixties Marvel

16.30-16.50 – tea / coffee (provided)

16.50-17.40 – Alex Fitch in conversation with Hunt Emerson and Julie Hollings

Poster! Bucky! CFP Extension!

The programme for Graphic Brighton is coming together with talks by Mark Hibbert (University of the Arts, London) and Alan Moore expert Maggie Grey (Kingston University) to look forward to on July 20th 2018. Also, the legendary artist of Fables, Peter Parker: Spider-Man and Neil Gaiman’s Death, Mark Buckingham is joining the line up on July 19th to talk about his interest in music and comics, plus he will also be performing a short set accompanied by Chris Harrison, showcasing tracks from his album Jigsawman.

The poster for the event by the excellent Knockabout artist Hunt Emerson is available to view and print out now…

…and to aid late running academics who have yet to submit a paper for the academic day at the University of Sussex, the Call for Papers has been extended until Friday July 15th!

Book FREE tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/graphic-brighton-comics-and-music-symposium-tickets-46399005675