These days I'm working on a series of postcards for
Clerkenwell based estate agent firm Hurford Salvi Carr. The first
illustration is based on Florin Court, an icon of British Art Deco. It
dominates Charterhouse Square, in my opinion one of the most interesting
squares in Central London, at the very edge of Islington and bordering the City. It is also known as the Whitehaven Mansions, the fictional residence of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, created by Agatha Christie.
When architects Guy Morgan and Partners built it 1936 they
imbued it with a total Art Deco style so when I was invited to visit the interior I was able to appreciate its fine details; railings that resemble
clouds passing by, curved surfaces, and the distinct type used throughout the
building.
I played around with these design features to produce a portrait caricature of Poirot himself, elegant and stout. I drew on period Art Deco posters to portray Florin Court as a modern efficient building in the thriving London metropolis.
Have a look at the original building here.
