Today I'm pleased to bring you an interview from a great artist and member, here is the 19th installment of the CTU's interview series...

Presenting the CTU's Dirty Dozen featuring: Hugh Rose



1. What name do you go by and why?

I used to use the name DRED RWC (which stands for Readers’ Wives Collective, a collective of artists I belong to). It’s a typical four-letter graffiti tag, and it came from a comic character called Judge Dredd from 2000AD, a popular sci-fi comic in the UK.

Recently I have been using my given name, Hugh Rose, mainly because I don’t really want to be associated primarily with graffiti or street art.

2. Why did you get into custom toy making?

It’s difficult to say exactly. I ordered a DIY Mini Munny for reasons I can’t remember and something immediately clicked when I started to draw on it. I found that my style of illustration and art lent itself well to a 3D surface, and that I really enjoyed the process and the results. I immediately ordered more blanks and before I knew it I was hooked.

I also found the online community associated with toy customization extremely welcoming and friendly. I have spent a huge amount of time recently browsing forums and blogs and getting to know all of the artists who work in this medium, and it has been incredibly stimulating and rewarding. Since I live on a small island and not in a big city with lots of galleries and artists, it helps me to be part of such a strong online community.

3. What influences / motivates your work the most?



Unsurprisingly, my childhood is a huge influence on my work, both my art and custom toy work. Growing up on an island means that I could not get hold of a lot of the toys, films and comics I wanted (this was before the internet), so I got used to making my own versions by drawing and sculpting.

Being part of the online community like the CTU forum and the October Toys/Toy Break forum is great as well, I’m very motivated to make customs and upload images to the forums, it just feels like a great place to share ideas at the moment, and I get a real kick out of hearing what the community thinks of my work.

4. What is your favorite platform to work with?

I really like the KidRobot Munny and Mini Munny, but I’m still experimenting with other platforms. Someone recently asked me to do a wooden Kokeshi doll, which should be fun.

5. What tools of the trade do you use?

Games Workshop model paints (the ones you use for the Warhammer miniatures) and Uni POSCA markers.

6. Do you have any formal arts training?

I did actually go to the Institute of the Arts in London, and studied Sculpture, but this was some time before I found my style as an illustrator and LONG before I started to customize toys.




7.What other artistic mediums do you dabble in?

I love to draw and paint, and when the weather is good I love to go outside and paint graffiti. I am a carpenter as well as an artist, and I like to make furniture and sometimes carvings either with chisels or chainsaws.

8. Who are your favorite artists?

It’s very hard to narrow it down… the first artist whose work I really connected with in a big way was Tom Friedman, and I still love his work to this day. Before that I liked various comic artists, like Shirow Masamune, Kevin O’Neill, Herge, and I looked at a lot of graffiti and street art as well. My favourite graffiti artists would have to be Espo, Dream, Seen and Dondi, and my favourite artists associated with street art are Dalek, Phil Frost and Buff Monster, and I love the artists working in Bristol at the moment, like Mr. Jago, China Mike, WHAT Collective (45rpm, Richt, Gumbo), and WSSK (Mudwig, Paris and Eko).

In terms of customizers, Lunabee, Rsin, Betso, Alebrije, Zam-Art, F+ and Chauskoskis spring to mind, amongst others.

9.Who or what pieces do you collect?

I didn’t collect toys until I started to customize them, but I’m getting pretty interested in them now!

I came second in Kid Robot’s Munny Munth Contest, and one of my prizes is a full set of Dunny 2010, so that’s a great way to start my collection. I really want Jeff Soto’s ‘Seeker’ toy as well.

I have also arranged to do a trade with Betso for one of his customs, and I’ve got my eyes on the CTU Assassins series blind boxes. I’d love to have a good collection of customs by forum members.

10. What piece are you most proud of?

I was very proud of ‘Wooden Sky Monkey’, the piece I did for the Munny Munth Contest.



11.Do you have any shows or exhibitions in the works?

Yes, Steve Talkowski has asked me to do a custom for Sketchbot Vol II, I can’t wait to get the blank in the mail! I’m also in preparation for a solo show in my home island of Guernsey.

12. Do you take commissions?

Yes, I’m available for commissions, but haven’t been asked yet…

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The Custom Toy Union would like to thank Hugh Rose for his time and for sharing his work with us.

You can see more of Hugh Rose's work here:

http://www.hughrose.co.uk
http://dredrwc.bigcartel.com

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions

No problem, it was a pleasure!

Amazing work Hugh! I'm blown away by your mastery of walls, canvases and toys.

The attention to detail on your customs is amazing. Your Wooden Sky Monkey blew me away! Nice interview.