HUNG, DRAWN AND EXECUTED – THE HORROR ART OF GRAHAM HUMPHREYS / AUTHOR: GRAHAM HUMPHREYS / PUBLISHER: KORERO PRESS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Artist Graham Humphreys has come a long way since he burst onto the scene with the Palace Pictures’ release of The Evil Dead in the UK. His style is instantly recognisable; the use of colour and composition perfect for whatever product the design is for. This book, which collects most of his work from the past four years is a valuable insight into his current working practices and how in-demand he is with genre fans and boutique cult film video labels.
While it doesn’t feature much of his famous early work (which has been published previously), the scope and quality of the images that are included more than make up for it. Divided into several chapters (posters, books, DVDs, events, etc.), we get to devour the work of a true artist. Each image is reproduced stunningly and there are captions that fill in details and add little titbits of information, such as when a client has requested changes and the like. There’s even a breakdown of how he goes about his work, pulling the curtain of mystery to one side so we can see step-by-step how the magic is made.
Over the years covered in the book, Humphreys has become synonymous with labels such as Arrow Films, and events like FrightFest; creating and designing stunning covers and posters for the companies that are genuine works of art that any horror fan would be proud to hang on their wall. With this collection, fans can take in images that would cost a fortune to acquire if they purchased each individual item, be it book, album, or Blu-ray. It’s bang up to date, too, as it includes the brilliant poster for A Night of a Thousand Vampires, an event that took place in October and saw punk legends The Damned team up with Hammer Films and Circus of Horrors and perform a special one-off show at the famous London Palladium. Like a cross between a classic thirties horror movie poster and a handbill for a Grand Guignol performance, it’s amazingly effective.
With his distinctive but always innovative style, Humphreys could quite comfortably be termed the British Drew Struzan. This is a beautifully-presented testament to his art and is an essential purchase for any genre fan.
