Many creative individuals have been involved in our Chatteris in Myth and Memory project. As both the illustrator and publisher of the book Richard (Ric) Savage has been a key member of our team throughout. Ric led a pencil drawing workshops on the subject of Black Shuck and created the gorgeous illustrations that feature throughout the book “Chatteris in Myth and Memory: Art Through Storytelling”. Above all else Ric has been a constant presence and source of support for all our events, creating his marvellous bookshop scenery and acting as bookseller.
RICHARD SAVAGE, ILLUSTRATOR AND PUBLISHER
‘I remember the words of my father “When are you going to get a proper job?” The great thing about working in the arts is that I have no intention of getting one.’
When did you first pick up a pencil or a brush?
There was never a time when I didn’t draw or paint, it just felt a natural thing to do, my mum told me I was scribbling from the first time I picked up a pencil. For subject matter, I remember wanting to draw my comic heroes and love figurative drawing.
When did you decide to pursue a creative career?
Being an artist is something I have always wanted to do, the tricky part is making a living at it. I have always pushed my art career while doing other jobs. For the seven years I spent as a professional DJ I was sending my illustrated children’s stories to publishers. In the early 90’s, I started to sell art over the internet and found a market for my figurative art.
What do you like most about having a creative job and what is the hardest part?
I love what I do. It is an immense privilege to be able to work in the arts. I remember the words of my father “When are you going to get a proper job?” The great thing about working in the arts is that I have no intention of getting one. If there is a down side, it the unpredictable nature of the work. There are times of flood and famine. A time when there is scant work, then more jobs than is comfortable, but it is something you learn to deal with.
What do you most enjoy about teaching?
I started teaching in the early 90’s. I love my studio space and it feels good to have times when there are others artists around me. There really are no rules to art, just different styles. It is fantastic to see artists grow, stretch their artistic wings and fly.
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Ric Savage at Pencil Drawing Workshop, photo by Market Place
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Front Cover of the book
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Chatteris in Myth and Memory, Illustration by Ric Savage
What has your experience of Chatteris in Myth and Memory been ?
“Chatteris in Myth and Memory” has been a great project to work on. I have met a lot of great people, and it has been a pleasure to be involved as publisher and artist. If there was a challenge it was a creative one. It was finding a style for the book, but that too evolved as the project went along.
What is your favourite image you created for the book?
It is always hard to pick a favourite image, you like them all for different reasons. If I had to pick one it would be the mice, it took me back to the kid’s illustration work.
How did you get into the publishing business and what motivated you?
About 7-8 years ago I wanted to publish a book on positive body image called “Beauty in Every Form”. It planted a seed about starting my own publishing house.
What do you find enjoyable about publishing?
Publishing is a joy and a nightmare all wrapped up in a big bundle. The highs are great, to get a book in print is a truly magical thing, I get a buzz out of every book we release. You also get to work with truly talented people, it is a fantastic job in that respect. There are a couple of down sides. We get about a dozen or so scripts submitted to us a week and that means you have to disappoint quite a few people, by rejecting their scripts. It is not a great thing to do, but we try to be as helpful as we can and tell them why the scripts don’t work for us.
What are you working on now?
I have just finished a portrait and now working on an oil painting. Also on the drawing board, I am working on illustrations for a series of children’s stories with an American writer.
Thank you to Ric for your interview. To find out more visit his website here.
You will be able to meet Ric Savage in Chatteris Museum on Saturday 9 September at our Heritage Open Days event. Come along to learn more about our project in our special exhibition, enter our museum trail to be in with a chance to win a copy of our book, and get involved with FREE craft activities throughout the day.
Visit Ric’s website here.
For more information please email kayleigh.boyle@cppmarketplace.co.uk
