Its been a fair few weeks since the last Troika as its all got so busy recently, but here we go!
I studied Natural History Illustration at College in Blackpool, but it wasn’t my favourite place in the world to be. I met some great people there, but I never felt at home. However, in my second year I was given the opportunity to have a work placement for the Lake District National Park for a year and I loved it. Not only was it a great job, the Lakes in autumn is a beautiful place to be. The colour is gorgeous and it became one of my favourite places in the world.
Here’s where I worked, Brockhole Visitor Centre on the shores of Lake Windermere (the design studio was in the attic)…
And this me at my swanky hydraulic drawing board…
Me when I was 19, with shoulder length hair, in the Lake District National Park Design studio
I learned the basics of graphic design while I was working here, and painted many illustrations for them. Some of the work I did back then (1992–93) is actually still in use on interpretation boards around Bassenthwaite Lake, which cheers me up no end. All in all, it was a great time!
So I’ve chosen three songs that are intrinsically linked the Lake District for me:
- "The New Physics" by The Lost Dogs
Taken from ‘Scenic Routes’ the debut release by the US band The Lost Dogs, a supergroup made from various Christian alternative artists. - "Virgin and Child" by Iona
Iona’s second album was a concept record, based on the Book of Kells. This track in particular was always in my head as I sat by Windermere in my lunch hour. - "Animal Nitrate" by Suede
Sadly, I had to go back to college for my third year, and this single came out near the end of my time in the Lakes.