I have compiled this website as an online portfolio and CV, as I am currently actively seeking work within the creative industry. I have a HND in Illustration, a GNVQ in Advanced Art, an Art Foundation and a BTEC 1st in Design. I have a very vivid imagination, and I draw upon my imagination to create colourful and exciting imagery. I am very dedicated to my passion and I am a very hard worker. I am a fast learner, having taught myself key skills in web design, Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator. Most of my work is hand drawn. I am colour-blind, but this has never presented a problem. If anything, it gives me a unique perspective.

In January 2008 I decided to follow my dream of becoming a successful illustrator, and I haven’t looked back since. My work has featured in exhibitions up and down the country and overseas, as well as magazines, websites, flyers and zines. I have been interviewed by several magazines,
as well as a prime-time slot on a local radio art show, and SUBvert Magazine dubbed me "Crayola King". I have been balancing my artistic endevours with a full-time job in customer services. But this year I have made plans to leave my full-time job this May as a major step towards realising my goal as an artist on a full-time basis. I am more than ready and raring to go!

I am very enthusiastic about creativity, so much so that I launched a now very popular character art blog in 2009 called ILikeCharacters.com where I have interviewed the likes of Aardman Animation’s Gavin Strange, Hong Kong toy designer Bubi Au Yeung, and others. I also headed a local art group for 6 months in 2009 called Swindon Art Vibes, where I organised a group exhibition, press coverage and exposure on Swindon’s BBC Big Screen. I am also a member of several art collectives, including Boys Who Draw, Inkygoodness, Lielow and Sketch and Swindon’s Artsite. I am also a contributor to art blog Sweet-Station.com and urban art/skateboarding blog, ClubMumble.com.

I am currently seeking opportunities within the creative industry, and I would be glad to answer any questions you might have, as well as meet up to discuss ideas. I can be contacted at writetome@steverack.com and/or 07765787770.

Below is my CV, along with testimonials and at the very bottom is a video of me allowing you to get to know me a bit better.

CV

Personal Details
Steve Rack - age 32
www.steverack.com
writetome@steverack.com
+44 01793 497503

Career Profile
I have been working freelance as an illustrator since January 2008.I have a very vivid imagination, and I draw upon my imagination to create colourful and exciting imagery. My work has been published in several magazines, zines and books. I exhibit art regularly in the UK and overseas. I founded ILikeCharacters.com in 2009. I currently work freelance as an artist, while working full-time in customer services, with a view to progress towards a full-time position within the creative industry.

Qualifications
BTEC 1st Design - Cirencester College 1992-1993
GNVQ Advanced Art & Design - Swindon School of Art 1995-1996
Art Foundation Diploma - Swindon School of Art 1996-1997
HND Illustration - Swindon School of Art 1997-1999

Employment / Work Experience
Alphabits Poster Project in aid of Children in Need 2009
Clever Little Pod character design 2009
Illustration for publication in Ammo Magazine 2009
Illustrations for New Sugar Magazine Covers Issue 2009
Monthly comic strip for Swindon's Frequency Magazine 2008-present
Monthly comic strip for paranormal group Weird 2008-present
Children's book illustrations for as yet unpublished author, Hilary Kirkup 2008
Illustrations for SUBvert Magazine's Glastonbury '08 review 2008
Illustrations for an article in SUBvert Magazine reviewing band, Jam With Robina 2008
Illustrations for New Sugar Magazine issues 1 and 3 2008
Artwork for the Traveling Sketchbook 2008
Illustration for art blog, Sweet-Station.com 2008
Illustrations for Creature Magazine 2008
10 illustrations for the Color Ink Book 2008
Monthly comic strip for Dirt Cheap Magazine 2008-2009
Illustrations for Cheap Magazine 2008
Illustrations for Candy or Medicine zine 2008

Thames Water 2001 - May 2010: full-time customer services agent.

Reference
Paul Magee
co-founder of SUBvert Magazine
paul@subvertmagazine.com

Testimonials

Steve has a rare and magical imagination that transports his audience to a comforting, less stressful place. Aside from his creative excellence, Steve is a pleasure to team up with. He has a work ethic and a reliability that is rare to find in the creative world. He can take direction and he gets the job done ahead of time. We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with Steve because, quite simply, his work improves ours.

Paul Magee - SUBvert Magazine

Steve Rack's friendly world of creations allow us to momentarily return to our childhood; to remember a simpler world where crayola colours, hope, happiness and bouncy characters littered children's TV.

Ameilia's Magazine


Steve Rack: keeping it real in his fantasy world. Appearing in several issues since it's conception, super nice guy Mr Rack has contributed hugely to New Sugar Magazine. His work has a phantasmagorical, magic potion like ingredient that has certainly helped the magazine set it's bar high right from the knuckle down.

Julian James - New Sugar Magazine

Imaginative, colourful and witty. Steve Rack's work compels the interest of a good audience: the young and the young-at-hearts.

Honey - Sweet-Station.com

Steve was able to interpret my character exactly as I had imagined it, and his artwork brought MUB to life.

Hilary Kirkup - writer