Research

Paul Thurlby

Paul Thurlby is an example of an artist who has worked with illustrated lettering.  The image below is an example of his work, which is an illustrated alphabet, each letter representing a word beginning with that particular letter. 

"My alphabet needed to be different from the many versions around, so I decided to pursue the challenge of fusing the object of the word with the shape of the letter."

Paul Thurlby is originally from Nottingham and is now based in London. Thurlby has been a full time illustrator since September 2006. His work has been featured in editorials, advertising, publishing and T-shirt designs. The inspiration for his work comes from mid-century design design and illustration. His style has been described as being retro-modern. Backgrounds of his illustrations  are sometimes made up of old books, postcards and pieces of paper.

Illuminated Manuscript

An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript that has been decorated with illustrations or borders. Illuminated manuscript is also a form of illustrated initials. Usually the term Illuminated manuscript only refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, but in both common usage and modern scholarship, the term is now used to refer to any decorated or illustrated manuscript from the Western traditions. Where as Far Eastern and Mesoamerican works are always described as painted. Islamic manuscripts are usually referred to as illuminated but can also be classified as painted.

The book of Kells is the most famous artifact in Celtic art which produced around 800 AD. It contains colourful lettering, decorations, ornamental borders, illuminations and illustrations.