It’s been almost year since we caught up, what have you been up to in the past 12 months?
Wow a whole year, that’s crazy! I’ve been pretty busy with illustration and design work, it started with creating the identity for The 48 Hour Film Festival and snowballed from there. I illustrated a range of farm animal collectable cards for My Food Bag and created a large second range of children’s stationery for Whitcoulls (to name a few).

I’ve also been getting involved with a few schools, I went into Birkenhead Primary for book week and for a careers day at Northcote College. That one was pretty full on, speaking for 3 one-hour sessions to teenagers with no internet and no projector. I had a sleeper in the first one, totally gone 15 minutes into my talk!

This year’s 48 Hour Film Festival got some Greg Straight pimpin’

Some of Greg’s super cute illos, used as kids’ collectables for My Food Bag

So what’s been happening in the world of Greg Straight?
The big news is going self-employed full time. I was working for a company for 7 years and 4 weeks ago I finally took the plunge to go it alone, so far so good.

Other news is my wife Hannah and I have finally printed our first range of kids tees for our label Mr & Sister, to be released shortly and together we are working on a range of open edition, more trend based art prints called GS Studio. The new ‘Gone Troppo’ prints are a part of this, which explains the more feminine feel to the range …

But I am still making the limited edition fine art prints (that are signed and numbered). The two lines will be quite different, both created by me but sold at different price points.

I’ve also developed some new artworks on wood (a couple can be seen in-store at endemicworld). Last year at my Endless Summer art show I exhibited a work on wood in collaboration with Matua, it was so popular I had to do more, however  I’ve been so busy its taken me almost a year to develop.

Some of Greg’s designs for his (and wife Hannah’s) rad new kids’ tee brand, Mr & Sister!

Greg’s artworks on wood are proving real popular… 

Tell us about some of your fave projects recently?
Earlier this year I was asked to create the cover for Idealog and 3 additional editorial illustrations that was pretty fun. Idealog interviewed me and asked the question ‘Should you work for free?” and the answer in short is – No!

A few months back I made a second artwork for Matua along with NZ Surf Life Saving for their Mad About Our Beaches campaign (launching soon). Matua are helping to clean up our beaches and as a surfer I am pretty passionate about that.

Another cool Matua project was creating a music inspired illustration that was used at three different music events in the UK. The artwork was blown up and made into a backdrop used on stage and on promotional posters.

I also just created a mural (and a bit of brand identity) for Tauranga based design company Family. They produce some great work and it was a real pleasure working with Trent and the team.

So it’s been a pretty busy year so far with my illustration work leaving not much time to produce new art! Fortunately, that’s all about to change now that I no longer have to juggle these freelance projects with another part-time job (and still try to fit in some quality time with my family). The past year has involved a lot of late nights…

Greg’s custom illustration project for Idealog magazine

Greg’s artwork was used as a massive stage backdrop for a UK gig series (in association with Matua wines)

Any traveling?
No.

Been surfing?
No (insert sad face here).

Any big personal achievements?
I illustrated my first children’s book called While You Are Sleeping released at the end of last year, in March 2014 I won a Storylines Notable Book Award for best picture book and its now just been released in China.

My Chelsea golden syrup artist tin has just been selected for The Best Design Awards 2014, which I am chuffed about and the tin has also been featured on The Dieline and Packaging Of The World.

I’ve also had a couple of group exhibitions this year, strangely enough both in Nelson.

Greg’s limited edition Golden Syrup tin for Chelsea was a finalist in the 2014 Best Design Awards

What’ve you got planned for this summer?
A shed load of new art! I’ve got so many ideas that are collecting dust, now I have more time I am amped to get them all going. So, new fine art prints, new open edition prints and developing a larger range of prints on wood.

We plan to launch Mr & Sister in the next month (or two).

I have a few illustration projects lined up with some really big clients which is pretty exciting. I can’t really say too much just yet but watch this space!

I have also been asked to develop a small line of clothing for a German based surf company that I’m really stoked about and I’ve got new designs for reusable coffee cups, greeting cards, tote bags, cushions and tee shirts all being released in the next few months.

And I’m hoping may be even the odd surf between deadlines. Bring on summer!

Three of Greg’s newest art prints, 90% Fat Free, Good Times and Club Tropicana

Shop all Greg Straight art prints here

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