Newtasty is: Illustration and design by Stevie Copter who shares a studio with Fused Magazine in Birmingham City UK and is a proud member of the Outcrowd Collective.
Award winning: Contributed to various award winning projects including the 2003 CIPD Design Awards for Codemasters and the 2009 Roses Design and Leipzig Awards with Fluid Design for Sega.
Clients include: Virgin, BBC, Capcom, X-Box, Levi’s, Spinach Japan, Dazed & Confused, Esquire, Sega, Nokia, Lascivious, Channel 4 and many others (including, of course, these fine tees for graniph)
At the weekend? Stevie runs weekly underground music event and record label ColdRice, is one quarter of rock n’ soul band Copter, is rumoured to be related to messed up punk blues duo Black Mekon, is a frequent flyer, and is one helluva plate spinner.related to messed up punk blues duo Black Mekon, is a frequent flyer, and is one helluva plate spinner…..Check out an interview with him from Area Magazine after the lovely images…..
Describe your artistic style
Jekyl n’ Hyde, hit n’ run, bangers n’ mash.
Who would be your ideal client/commission?
The one who pays in advance and just says “Brilliant! Perfect!!” to every draft.
What tools/materials do you use to create your work?
Pencil, Japanese brush pen, paper, Wacom graphic tablet, Photoshop and Illustrator.
Who is you favourite Birmingham artist?
Ben Javens is doing some really great stuff lately, Lee Basford, Log Roper… all the Outcrowders, really. I still have a lot of respect for Chu, I used to look at his print work in awe when I was first starting out. I like the Zoot posters that are all around Digbeth too.
Do you think your work be any different if you were based in another city?
Just like Lenny Kravitz I am always on the run, a lot of my work is done on the road so I don’t think it would be any different. I actually wonder if my work would be any different if stayed in Birmingham for a long period of time.
Do you think there is a good art scene in the city?
I think it’s great because, like the music scene, it is small, eclectic and not elitist. Or maybe it is and I am just naive. They are probably all talking about me right now aren’t they?
What is the best part about what you do?
Being freelance allows me the freedom to roam the world getting into adventures and act like an overgrown teenager with all of my fruitless musical projects. Plus, I have done enough mindless, laborious jobs in the past to always appreciate getting paid to illustrate, no matter how frustrating the client or how corporate the project. Look Ma, I am drawing for a living!
What in Birmingham inspires you?
Eastside veggie breakfast and the outdoor market traders. ggggeeettyrrloovelyAAPLLEESS!!!!
Which piece of work has given you the most satisfaction in producing?
Off the top of my head, last year did a full 32 page comic book with Fluid Design for Sega’s House Of The Dead: Overkill. It was great to have a legitimate excuse to let all that comic-y goodness out.
What soundtrack do you work to?
Sometimes my own Bobby McFerrin-like accappella, I’ve come up with such hits as “fuck you Photoshop” and ” shiiiittt, apple s, apple s”. Or Velvet Underground, The Complete Stax Singles Collection and Leadbelly.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Africa.
Any exciting projects on the horizon?
Nothing I can talk about, know what I mean?
