I like to have a pet project on the go that challenges me to create something new that makes a statement about the lives we lead. I aim to create something that is 'better' than that which goes before it.

The current project is the 'Eco sensitive' plastic and metal free Artist Pencil.

…I enjoy drawing with the larger 5.6mm graphite lead as you have a great range of mark making available with it. However, the average clutch pencil is invariably heavy, usually made from plastic and with a 'nose heavy' metal clutch mechanism. There are alternatives made from brass for the body which is even heavier, or from wood and metal. The wooden handle being crude at best and still using that metal clutch mechanism.

The challenge I set myself was to design and make an all wood pencil holder. It had to be practical in terms of holding and adjusting the lead. It had to be light and evenly balanced. It also had to be a beautiful tool in its own right. In fact, musical instruments influenced some of the thought process. From the craftsmanship of the Luthier, to the beautiful timber used, a well crafted instrument allows the musician to express their creativity to the full. I felt an Artist could benefit from a similarly considered and crafted 'mark maker'. So, that was the goal, a beautiful mark making instrument crafted from timber only. A simple device that allows for maximum feel and user satisfaction, not to mention being eco friendly.

This proved harder than I initially thought to crack all elements. Numerous designs were created and prototyped with varying degrees of success. Hitting all requirements proved tough.

It is at this point I feel we need to put this project in context. Why bother to create this in the first place? What relevance does it have to us in the digital age?

Recent years have been globally challenging for reasons we are all familiar with. One positive reaction to emerge is a seemingly endless outpouring of creativity. Our connectedness allows us to share our own personal creativity in ways previous generations simply wouldn't recognise. We are all (mostly) able to access this explosion of creative thought, giving us the chance to participate in something new and be part of a community that enriches our lives.

As a person with a career built on being creative, I naturally feel the need to contribute in some way. The one positive thing to come from the pandemic, was the gift of time. A period maybe of introspection, a re evaluation of what is important to us, a quest to find what makes us happy. I went back to my roots in art, in particular to drawing and not with my pen and tablet, but with a real pencil, making a real mark on beautiful paper. You forget how satisfying the process is. From doodling to graphite masterpiece, the pleasure of making your own mark cannot be underplayed. AI will be increasingly dominant in our lives, but the pure joy of a mark well made, by one's own hand, that's never going to go away.

It is at this point that the idea of the Artist Pencil becomes relevant. As an Industrial Designer, you are naturally looking for ways to make something better by understanding what better means. For me, having used hundreds of 'mark making' tools over the years, from time to time, I've found a favourite. Not only does it just work, it goes from being part of my creative workflow, to something more important. Capturing the why and then the how became my goal. A mark maker that would be easier to use, lovely to hold, beautiful to look at, a quality instrument that makes the user feel special. And, something I could make myself. Designed and made from the ground up. That was the ambition and the Artist Pencil range was the result.