What’s you’re first memory of drawing?
I remember as a child drawing strange characters in crazy lands but I haven’t looked at them for many many years. Maybe they are in a cupboard somewhere, hmmm I wonder what they look like….

When did you decide to take it seriously and go full-time? Was it a natural progression, was it after college or did you feel it was more like a calling to a vocation, maybe it was neither?
I studied graphic design at college and then worked as a graphic designer for a few years. This was good but I knew many of the things I wanted to try wouldn’t get approved and so I left to explore my mind.

A typical day in the life of Ian Stevenson looks pretty much like this…
I open my eyes and become aware of my breathing. Make and a cup of tea and look at the list and realise there’s too much to do. Then I try to get on and do this stuff but often get distracted with other stuff.

Do you have to be a good mood to work or does your best work when you have some bad vibes or frustrations itching to get out?
Any mood is good and the drawings generally reflect my thoughts at that point.

Your favourite project or collaboration so far? Why was it so good?
I enjoyed drawing on rubbish as it felt like I was doing something that hadn’t been done before. I’m working on some animations now with another writer and an animator and that has always been a dream.

The most frustrating type of project is one where…
People ask you to pitch ideas for free. Hmmm interesting.

The ultimate collaboration you’ve yet to do? Again, what would make it so good?
There many many things that need to be done. More of everything please.

3 non work related highlights of your life so far?
Being good at the monkey race on Sports Day at primary school. The is a race where you have to move on all fours, oh yes just like a monkey. I had a good time playing frisbee with the wind once, I threw it and the wind threw it back. I had to run a little but not enough to ruin the game - good work the wind. I went snorkling once and that was good but breathing under water is a bit odd.

Rather than just work on clean white pages in the comfort of your own studio you seem to enjoy going out into the real world and injecting some of your trademark observational humour into even the most neglected familiar items like coffee cups, rubbish bags, cardboard boxes and just about anything else. What do you hope to achieve through this, do you think us humans take ourselves and the life around us a little too seriously?
It’s good to get outside and walk about. Hopefully the drawings I do on my way make people think and smile.

Got any good jokes? I’ve got a dinner party in a week or two and it’d be good to have some ice breakers before the finger buffet goes awry…
Here is a joke made up by a four-year-old. Why is the gorilla eating an orange?... because it doesn’t like bananas.

What other creative people do you like the work of, they can be dead or alive?
Flight of the Conchords, Jim Henson, The Mighty Boosh and Hanna Barbera are some of them.

I see you did some work for Paul Smith, what was this for and how’d it come about? Did you get to meet the man himself, did he pay for your coffee? Seemingly there’s someone employed with them whose job is to travel the world finding pieces to furnish his many shops and offices, now there’s a job to like…
I didn’t meet the great man himself but I hear he selected the artists to be involved and he went to the show launch in Japan. Maybe one day we could drink that coffee.

From the work you do you seem to like music too, a lot even… What’s on rotation on your stereo at the moment, what music’s good for working, what’s good for not working?
Generally all music has it’s moments but somehow some crazy mental Jazz got into my collection and when that pops up randomly I wonder why I’m getting annoyed and then I realise what is playing. I think I may delete that nightmare of random musical noise and it will hurt me no more. Also internet radio is throwing out some interesting jingles at the moment.

Jamie Oliver has decided to make you one of his adopted friends for his new show ‘I Like Cooking’ and he’s told you to invite 7 other friends over and choose what you want for dinner (starter, main and dessert), who’s getting asked and why (can be peers or just friends) and what are you all having? (Jaysus, even typing this I’m getting hungry!!)
I think I will invite friends. Jamie can make what he likes but I think that interesting nibbles may work best.

Rumours abound that people, common folk even, can get their sticky little mitts on your amazing work. Where’s best to start on the quest for some wall furniture, casual clothing and trendy bookshelf fodder?
All the handy little links are featured on my website and everything is but a simple click away. Click click my friends, click click.

Some jealous bugger has robbed all your art materials and also torched all the art supply shops in your local area… No-one will send you anyone and there’s no transport infrastructure for the foreseeable future to go to the next town. Yikes. What would you turn to if liking drawing wasn’t enough to guarantee you food on the table, I’d surely take up something in the artisan food game like smoked chewing gum or lamb fondue or something…
I’d have to use my pretend army training and go to the woods, living off wild animals and other edible forest goodness and sheltering in the trees. Waiting until the time was right to hunt this jealous robber down and avenge this crime.

What can we expect from you in the coming year? Any new year resolutions still standing?
More creatures, animations and music.

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