Nicholas John Frith is an illustrator & printmaker. Although he believes his spiritual home is somewhere cold, he longs to live somewhere warm, somewhere with bougainvillea trailing the walls and citrus trees in the garden. Nicholas grew up in the Chiltern hills, going to school just around the corner from the home of Roald Dahl. He now lives on the coast of Dorset, England, where he can also be found writing the odd piece of fiction. After years of doing ‘this and that’, seeing the world and harbouring ideas, stories, desires and aspirations, he’s glad to finally be sharing it all with the world. His clients so far include Anorak, Penguin Books, WRAP, ToDryFor, Beast in Show and homewares company Magpie.
What would be your perfect day?
What would be your perfect day?A slow walk alone to get coffee and some supplies to make breakfast early on a summer’s morning. Then the rest of the day spent with my other half, just being together, seeing and learning something new, no matter how small. Lots of great simple food, wine and craft beer. No cars. No TV. No mobile phones. A walk in the woods and along the beach, a swim in the sea or in a river, a film at an outdoor moonlight cinema, a perfectly lit BBQ...
The last thing you bought which you love?
The last thing you bought which you love?I don’t buy much these days that doesn’t end up in my belly...... but a simple pair of well-fitting jeans made me very happy lately.
What is playing on your music player?
What is playing on your music player?Dirty Three. Lots of re-listening to the Low Anthem, especially their LP ‘smart flesh’, something about their music encapsulates the 20th century as a whole for me, if that makes sense. And there’s always plenty of Silver Jews, Elliott Smith and BBC 6 music drifting out of the speakers.
An object you would never part with?
An object you would never part with?Though I have a many choice possessions and mementos, there is no object that I could never part with.
A recent "Find"?
A recent "Find"?The work of Illustrators Roger Duvoisin and Leonard Weisgard. I’m not the most read up on illustrators past, or present for that matter, so I may be a little slow off the bat on this one. And Wilder Quarterly. With many beautiful looking magazines out there that smell really nice, have nice pictures but otherwise leave me cold, it’s such joy to find one where the content is as thoughtful as the styling.
Favourite website?
Favourite website?Hmm. No favourite as such... Caught by the River is a gem and My Vintage Avenue is often inspiring. Also the BBC?
Best gift you have received?
Best gift you have received?My mind’s gone blank... When my girlfriend got me an ipod nano 6 and a half years ago that was such a revelation. How time’s change.
Who is your favourite artist or designer?
Who is your favourite artist or designer?This can be fairly changeable. At the moment I’m admiring the work of Meg Hunt, Blexbolex, Alice Pattullo and Eric Ravilious. But two constants since I was in my late teens have been Egon Schiele and Kathe Kollwitz, beyond the visual there’s something about the era and the feeling of history they conjure within me.
Above works: London Thames Mudlarks by Alice Pattullo and Festival De Bastica by Blexbolex
Favourite city, and why?
Favourite city, and why?My stomach may say one, my head another, but in the end my heart always says Sydney. My fondness for Sydney runs deep. The sights, sounds and smells are etched on my brain. From my first visit over 13 years ago it always felt strangely like home. It doesn’t have the history, art and culture seeping out of the walls that many other city’s do, but god it’s pretty! And with lorikeets and cockatoos perching on lampposts what’s not to love. I’m smiling just thinking of it.
What book are you reading?
What book are you reading?Well, my reading habits are most irregular. At present I’m reading the lovely Wildwood by Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis, Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro (book) and Charles Bukowski’s classic Ham On Rye. Although when I’ll finish any of them is anyone’s guess.
