Marc Turley, Artist, Illustrator, Musician at The Urban Giant
Marc Turley (also known as The Urban Giant) is an Illustrator from Birmingham UK who hand draws buildings in a way that captures every detail whilst maintaining a calmness within the composition.
His work is a combination of rigorous research, sketchbook studies and highly detailed line drawing.
After spending 10 years at The Birmingham School of Architecture and landscape, he qualified and worked as an architect in the West Midlands before leaving the profession to retrain as an Illustrator.
He has been published nationally and internationally, and he has won many awards for his drawings and work.
His originals and prints are highly collected by clients and customers worldwide. He currently works from his studio in Birmingham on commissions along with his own personal illustrations.
“Focusing on the accumulation of money will lead to misery rather than happiness. Build your life around relationships, the things that you love to do and most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP. I suffered from anxiety and depression. I knew that drawing and art was a huge release for me and made me happy.”
Marc Turley
Tell us about your current role and what you like about your career or areas of focus.
I am a freelance Architectural Illustrator based in Birmingham, UK. All my work is hand-drawn from my studio.
I simply love to draw and love the whole creative process. From initial sketching and research to working on the final illustration, every aspect of the process enables me to learn a new skill, a new colouring technique or approaching an illustration in a different way.
I draw all types of buildings ranging from Victorian to Modern architecture. It is a truly wonderful feeling when you have clients who want you to draw their properties, buildings, homes and dreams. Every commission and illustration is different, which enables me to continue to learn each and every day.
My work is highly detailed, with some commissions taking up to 3 weeks to complete. I have to think outside the box on every building I am faced with drawing. It can be challenging to work out how the light hits a window or how trees cast a shadow. These Challenges are what makes my job so enjoyable.
What inspires you, motivates you, helps you to make each day count?
My love for anything creative is by far my first inspiration. My job is to create something that captures every essence of a piece of architecture or built form and turn it into almost a hand-drawn caricature of itself.
I think it's important to talk with other artists and illustrators who inspire you. The creative industry can be very cut-throat and can be quite daunting to somebody who is just setting up as an illustrator. However, I feel that it's imperative to help each other during these troubling times and try to promote other artists as well as yourself.
It is the clients I work with who give me free reign on my projects that really motivates me. You develop a trust with a client that is so imperative to running any successful business. From the initial brief to the completed product, maintaining the trust and being open about deadlines and cost can really have a positive effect on the finished result.
My wife and 7-months old daughter are also a huge inspiration to me. Working from my studio at home enables me to have breakfast with them every morning, to take my lunch breaks with them. Making sure that you maintain a good home/work-life balance is important and allows me to feel more motivated when tackling difficult projects.
Outside of your professional work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I love music. I play quite a few instruments ranging from accordion, banjo, piano and guitar. I was bought up to be creative and loved drawing and playing music from an early age.
I draw all the time for my work, and I also do it as a hobby. I may see a building that I really want to draw, and I will just spend hours sketching, doodling and researching it.
Playing music is also a way to relax and shut the world out. Whether it be on the accordion, piano or guitar, it's simply the most beautiful thing to do.
Spending time with my family is also invaluable. Our baby daughter certainly keeps us on our toes.
PRIVATE HOUSE COMMISSION - Hand drawn window prep sketch
When it comes to your life chosen career, is there a phrase, quote or saying that you really like?
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." ― Edgar Degas. I have lived by this quote ever since I discovered Degas when I was a little boy.
I do a lot of onsite sketching, and 90% of people who walk past are looking down at their phones. It's so important to start looking back up.
As an illustrator, I try to encapsulate not only what's there but also try to draw a visual historic series of events. Every brick I hand draw that's cracked or marked I will show in the illustration. People see my work and start to study the lines, the bricks, the colours and can relate to the illustration itself.
I think that the ability to open another person's eyes and to take them on a journey with you is something I try to achieve in every drawing I do. I feel that a good Illustrator will always keep striving to be true to their craft but also work hard towards helping their viewers understand the meaning of what they are drawing.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Professionally, I am proud of my education and all the hard work I put in. Looking back, I was surrounded by people who saw something in me and helped and nurtured me along the way. I had an amazing time studying architecture, and although I no longer practice, it provided me with a foundation and an interest in illustrations which has been invaluable.
The biggest thing I am proud of by far is my daughter. Watching her develop each and every day is such a wonderful thing. She is mesmerised by watching me draw, the colours I use. She is my greatest masterpiece.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
That you can't please everybody, I used to constantly worry about how I came across to other people and what people thought of me as a person, as a designer, as an architect or as an illustrator.
I feel that worrying what others think of you isn't necessarily a bad thing in moderation. It can make us kinder and more sensitive to how other people think.
Who do you most admire in business, academic, or creative circles?
The clients, customers, contacts, followers and friends who believe in you as a person and believe in your work. Honesty is a huge aspect; I admire the most in people. Without this, a business, academic or social relationship can easily break down.
PRIVATE HOUSE COMMISSION - Sketch process
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I could say the obvious ones such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft etc.
During the Corona Virus crisis, I have always tried to promote independent creative businesses and companies. One of them is my local Craft Beer bar, Cask and Craft or Cass Art where I buy my pens from.
They are all working so hard, and although it's a huge struggle at the moment, it's nice to see more people using and promoting smaller and independent companies.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always.
What drives or motivates you each day in a work environment?
My Family.
What are your thoughts on the future of social media?
I love social media. It is a free platform to advertise your skills set and work. A lot of my commissions are generated by meeting people on social media.
People also like to see behind the scenes of a business. Social media, in a way, allows this to happen. People who only know me as an illustrator normally think that I sit and draw all day.
PRIVATE HOUSE COMMISSION - Completed illustration
In reality, as a sole trader, I'm doing everything from admin, accounts, framing, packaging up artwork, posting, marketing and being a husband and a dad at the same time.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I mainly use LinkedIn for professional purposes and to make new connections with potential clients. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, I mainly upload for personal use, and for showcasing my latest illustrations.
My favourite, by far, has to be Instagram. For me, I generate a lot of commissions from this platform. I also get to connect and follow some incredible creatives from all over the world. We keep in touch on a regular basis and always help share one another's work.
I have a thing in my studio where if I reach my monthly quota of print sales or commissions, I then commission an artist on Instagram to make something for me. I find it's a good way of promoting other artists, sharing their work and skills and giving something back. It's good to help each other, and social media allows this.
Social media has also allowed me to work internationally with collectors of my work now being in Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and America.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever been a mentor to anyone?
I have had good mentors at university and in my previous profession as an architect, but I don't really have a mentor now. There are people who I trust and whose advice I would listen to, but they are more friends than mentors.
I don't really mentor anybody, but I get hundreds of emails a week asking for advice on approaching a drawing, what materials to use, what pens to use etc. I also get lots Of CV's and portfolios sent to me, but as a one-man band, I don't really take on or mentor students. I always try and respond to everyone. It may not be straight away, but I'm always happy to help people who show an interest in what I do.
How do you network? What is your preferred way to network?
I'm not really into networking at events or seminars. Before COVID, I did lectures and talks on my work. It's at these talks, I have managed to meet new people, contacts and even new clients.
I am starting to get noticed more on social media platforms and LinkedIn. Most of my commissions and new clients come from LinkedIn and Instagram.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work?
A lot of young Illustrators or artists who are entering the world of illustration constantly message me talking about style.
There always seems to be a big emphasis on this word. It has taken me about 20 years to develop my style, and I'm still learning new techniques each day. My advice would be just draw, and your style will emerge.
What's the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
One of the most crucial reasons people fail is that they give up too soon. Focusing on the accumulation of money will lead to misery rather than happiness. Build your life around relationships, the things that you love to do and most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP.
I have failed at a lot of things in life but have learnt never to give up. One of the reasons I gave up my career as an architect was that I suffered from anxiety and depression. I kept it hidden and quiet for a long time until I eventually broke as a person. The only thing that was going through my head was that I was a failure.
I eventually took time out to try and get my life back on track. I knew that drawing and art was a huge release for me and made me happy. I surrounded myself with people who I love and people who make me laugh. I retrained as an illustrator and have never looked back since.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience?
Over the years, I've realised that you can have success and try to have a perfect life but still be unhappy.
I would say that success to me now is waking up every day to a job I love to do, getting recognition for my work. Seeing a client smile when you show them a finished illustration, getting great feedback, managing to complete a really difficult piece of work.
What skills do you feel have helped you to become successful?
I work very hard and try to work as efficiently as possible. Maintaining an excellent level of customer/client service is also imperative. Listen to your clients and customers.
Is there anything new that you are working on or involved in that you would like to share?
After many requests, I'm currently working on a book which will feature all my hand-drawn illustrations and sketchbook extracts.
I'm also developing my website along with an online shop where all my prints can be purchased directly from one place rather than social media sites.
THE JOINT WORKS - The jewellery quarter - Birmingham - Hand drawn architectural illustration