ABOUT
Russell Cobb is an Artist, Photographer and Multi Award winning Illustrator.
Having studied Illustration and Photography at Central Saint Martins School of Art London, both disciplines have always fed each other. He strongly believes in the the broader artistic approach, regarding the brush, pen and lens as merely different tools.
His Illustration works have won many awards, amongst others 5 Best of British Gold Awards, D&AD Silvers and the UK's Creative Review's Best in Book Award. He served as Chairman of the Association Of Illustrators for 4 years and was named as one of the UK's Top Ten Illustrators by the Independent newspaper in 2003.
Russell's long term photo essays have been primarily focused on portraiture, fascinated by the concept of actors and stage. His long term eight year photo essay has been focussed on historical re-enactment, in the belief there is an actor in everyone.
The photo essays depict a transformation in people from all walks of life, in response to their costume, uniform and location. The photographs depict this diverse field, where many re-enactors freely roam and time travel through the centuries.
In a large exhibition in 2016, consisting of 200 prints the show concentrated on the WW2 re-enactment world in the UK. The exhibition reflected a generational response to growing up on a diet of war films, toys and publications, packed full of heroism and nostalgia . Over time the concept mirrored this cultural romanticism as opposed to the horrors of the real war.
Russell has guest lectured at many leading design and educational establishments throughout Europe and is an Associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London.