To commemorate this year’s Alma Street fair, we threw a competition asking readers to create an artwork inspired by any aspect of it for the cover of our June print issue. Our winner is illustrator Merlin Evans, who is “passionate about recording the world in all its intricate detail”.
Her arresting image features Bacchus, the god of winemaking, festivities and ritual ecstasy in ancient mythology. “I drew him surrounded by vine leaves with a rather messy beard,” she says. “Entwined nearby are some of the elements on offer at Alma Street: wine, homemade bread, tea, cakes, cheese, ale, street dancing and live music. I like to use myths and fables in my work – not only are they very beautiful, they’re as relevant today as when first told.”
Our winner specialises in hand drawn pen and ink illustrations that rely pretty heavily on a good supply of fineliners. “Especially for my current project,” she adds, “an etched graphic novel called Love & Lament, essentially a collection of great historical love letters which features a pot-bellied naked Napoleon – amongst other loved-up characters.”
Merlin has lived between Tufnell Park and K-Town on and off for the last five years. What does she like most? “The libraries, the free book shop, the free art classes for children and of course Hampstead Heath,” she says. “But most of all, the number of places to eat scrambled eggs.”
