Next Exhibition: The Current

Next Exhibition: The Current
Featuring Adam Bridgland, Jess Wilson, Adam Hayes, Lucy Gough and Matthew Green
Opens Saturday 17th May and runs until 28th June

Jess Wilson (image top)

Jess Wilson graduated in 2006 and has been living and working in London ever since. Graduating from university with a 1st degree honours in Graphic design she started straight away getting her illustration work out there. Jess has worked with top clients producing big jobs for magazines, clothing ranges, prints, books and packaging. As well as working with clients Jess tries to get involved in as many exhibitions as possible and carrying out self initiated projects.




Adam Hayes

Adam Hayes is a specialist in hand-rendered typography and intricate, intelligent illustration.

His prolific work style has generated an impressive portfolio that reflects an interest in vernacular lettering and a fascination with urban and natural landscapes.

Adam’s creative process see’s his simple pencil sketches transformed and refined into elaborate and optimistic illustration. Each project is concept-driven, allowing his work to grow and maintain a sense of energy and sophistication.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Adam has since established a diverse client base which welcomes collaboration with global companies, charitable organisations and small, local start-ups.




Adam Bridgland

Born in 1979, Adam Bridgland studied printmaking at Norwich School of Art & Design and then studied at the Royal College of Art (MA Fine Art Printmaking).

Since graduating in 2006, Bridgland has used a diverse range of materials and working methods to pursue an incisive and often witty exploration of distinctively British sentiments, externalising the underlying sense of loss and nostalgia that permeates our memories.

He has exhibited widely in the UK, America, Europe and Asia. The British Museum, the V&A, UBS, Boeing Asia and Debbie Harry are just some of the collectors of Adam's work. In July 2009 Adam was awarded his first major public art commission by Commissions East. He completed his second public art commission for SmartLIFE in Cambridge in November 2011.



Matthew Green

Matthew Green excels in producing beautifully hand-drawn illustrations, his signature style is often compared to wood-cut prints and etchings. Beyond this craftsmanship and at the heart of all of Matthew’s work lies an enormous sense of fun. He creates worlds and moments where fantasy can meet the most mundane; from a voyeuristic zebra who resides in an old wooden shed to a glamorous blue tit dining for one.



Lucy Gough

Lucy Gough studied Creative & Cultural Studies at Norwich School of Art and since graduating in 2002 has exhibited extensively throughout the UK and beyond.

Lucy’s most recent work draws inspiration from a variety of sources including architecture, industry and the solar system. The stylised representation of everyday objects and use of hand drawn type are recurrent themes in her artistic practice. The content of the text varies in its sentiment from poetic to purposeful to playfully ironic.

Andy Smith New Exhibition at Soma

Four Fonts Walk Into a Bar...
An Exhibition of Silkscreen Prints by Andy Smith
Opens Saturday 1st March 2014

Our new exhibition by Andy Smith is now open in our first floor gallery space. All the prints and items from the exhibition are available to view and purchase online.

The artwork of Andy Smith has at its core a sense of optimism and humour. This new collection of work by the award winning illustrator revels in this and explores the theme of popular jokes, one liners, gags and puns.

He presents a set of images which experiment with hand drawn typography and silkscreen printing that are bold, colourful and eye popping- his most colourful work yet.

Complementing the prints on paper are some of his popular, large, wooden printed signs, books and objects all signed and numbered by Andy.

Come along and find out what happened when those four fonts went into that bar!

View all the prints on our website here

View photos of the exhibition on Flickr here

Signed copies of 'I Like It. What Is It' poster book by Anthony Burrill

We have some signed copies of Anthony Burrill's new poster book, 'I Like It. What Is It' now available. Each book has been signed at the back by Anthony and he has included an extra large poster in with each! The books are available at £19.95 and are available on our site or in the gallery.

For our Bristol customers, we have a selection of frames available that fit the posters.

View the poster book here

View all work by Anthony Burrill here


I Like It. What Is It? is a collection of unique posters featuring catchy typographic slogans by designer Anthony Burrill. Simply pull out the detachable prints and display the bright statements on your wall.
Artfully designed and printed using special colours, these bespoke artworks will brighten up any room or workspace. Burrill's persuasive and upbeat style of graphic communication will appeal to design lovers from all walks of life.

Includes 30 pull-out posters, with details of the stories behind the designs on the back, and a page of witty stickers including 'This Way Down' and 'Sorry, We're Open!'

‘Burrill is a great designer because he makes you notice and appreciate truths that would otherwise remain dead and inert. His work has such resonance because it’s so true: we should all work hard and be nice.’ Alain de Botton

About the Author 
Anthony Burrill was born in Lancashire and studied Graphic Design at Leeds Polytechnic University. Following an MA at the Royal College of Art, London, he has created pieces for clients including Wallpaper*, The Economist and The Design Museum. His work is held in the permanent collections of the V&A Museum in London and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York.

New Artist: Hazel Nicholls

Hazel Nicholls is one of our latest additions to the Soma artist lineup. She joined us at Pick Me Up where her screenprints proved very popular. The fluro pink Russian Doll print below was probably the most photographed piece on our stand!



Hazel Nicholls is 31 and lives in South East London. Thirteen years ago she moved from Northern Ireland to attend Camberwell College of Arts. She left Camberwell with a degree in Illustration. Hazel loves Real Ale, the seaside, ten pin bowling and of course a good pun. Her work is mostly influenced by a longstanding love of cross stitch and an interest in old phrases. Her designs have found themselves on limited edition prints, ceramics, textiles, packaging and more recently a giant fibre glass egg (as part of the Faberge Big Egg Hunt, 2012). She learnt how to screenprint four years ago and she hasn’t looked back since.



You can view all items by Hazel on our website here including silkscreen prints, tea towels and tape.

Changes to Opening Times and Online Delivery in April

While we are in London at Pick Me Up fair, opening times will be slightly different to usual and some online shop orders may be slower than usual during the set up and first few days of the fair (15th -.22nd April).

Soma will be closed Tuesday 16th April.

We will not be offering express delivery services until Wednesday 24th April.

If you are making a special journey or need a parcel by a specific date, please get in touch by phone or email.

Pick Me Up runs from 18th - 28th April 2013 at Somerset House, Embankment entrance, London and is open 10am - 6pm Tuesday - Friday, with late night opening on Thursdays 18th & 25th until 10pm.

Hate Mail by Mr Bingo Book Signing 17th Nov

Next Saturday 17th November between 2-4pm, Mr Bingo will be in Soma for the Bristol signing of his new book, 'Hate Mail'. Come along during this time to meet the genius illustrator and get your books signed. 



In his own words, "Last year I sent a postcard to a stranger called Jonathan Hopkins. It said on it "F*ck you Jonathan, f*ck you and f*ck your sh*t legs". People seemed to be into it so I opened a service on my website, inviting strangers to pay me in return for an offensive postcard addressed to them (or whoever they ordered it for).

"I persevered with the project and now with over 400 'Hate Mails' under my belt, I am pleased to announce that Hate Mail (the book) is out now and available to buy."

It has been rumoured that there could be bottles of 'Hate Ale' at the signing, brewed specially for his London book launch in a brewery.

Books will be available to purchase in Soma from the 17th.







You can read Creative Review's review of the book here.



The signing will be held on Saturday 17th November, 2-4pm, 1st Floor Gallery Space, Soma, 4 Boyces Avenue, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AA.

Konichiwa, Japan - Photos from the show

Here are a selection of photos from 'Konichiwa, Japan' by Felt Mistress and Jonathan Edwards. You can view more on our Flickr page here.









At the opening, visitors were able to get their very own monster portraits drawn by Jonathan! See a couple below:





You can view all the work on our website here.

Soma for Not Another Bill

I was asked by Ned from Not Another Bill to put together the October mailout. For those who haven't heard of Not Another Bill before, it's a fantastic idea by Ned Corbett-Winder, a subscription service where you get a surprise present in the post every month. Each month is produced by a different creative or group of creatives.



I asked Bristol based illustrators Tom Frost and Peskimo to each produce a print and a badge for the packs and Glasgow based Lesley Barnes to design a tote. Each pack contained a print, a badge and a tote.

Both Tom Frost and Peskimo hand printed theirs - which was no mean feat! Tom's (pictured above) is a two colour silkscreen print on reclaimed card and numbered using a pin perforating machine and Peskimo's (pictured below) is a three colour silkscreen print. These prints were specially commissioned for Not Another Bill and not available anywhere else!



Lesley's tote was silkscreened in Cornwall on 100% organic tote bags using environmentally friendly inks. It features the great creatures she has designed for us. She designed the dancing bear tote that we sell in Soma and you can see the bear in the middle of this design.



You can see more work by Peskimo here, by Tom Frost here and by Lesley Barnes here.

And you can visit Not Another Bill here.

20% off magazines online during October

Throughout October we are offering a very generous 20% discount on magazines and books online. We have quite an extensive range of back issues and it's time to clear some of them out! We have Eye, 3x3, Varoom, iDN, and Anorak amongst others. To claim your discount, use the code HAPPYMAGAZINE at the checkout. This offer can only be used on books and magazines.

Next Exhibition: Crispin Finn at Soma

We're really pleased to announce our next exhibition featuring Crispin Finn.

Pack Rat 1/10/11 - 13/11/11 
A series of prints by Crispin Finn at Soma Gallery. 

The term Pack Rat refers to people who engage in the excessive acquisition of possessions, even if the items are worthless.

Crispin Finn love collecting all sorts of objects and ephemera from continental toothpicks to a vernacular beach bat & ball design, most of it being everyday and ephemeral, but all of it curious, clever or beautiful in some way. Filling shelves and cupboards of home and studio this mass grows daily as they come across the interesting within the quotidian.

The apparent cross overs between the areas of acquiring, selecting, organising, and obsessive compulsive behaviour are all themes that have inspired their show at Soma.

For their 'Pack Rat' show they've created a set of prints in their trade mark red, white and blue based on their fascination with collecting inspired from items within their archive. These prints aim to make the ephemeral momentarily more permanent, examine the beauty of vernacular design and draw to attention how the everyday is worthy of wall space.

The preview evening will be on Friday 30th September, so please do come along if you're in Bristol!

View work by Crispin Finn here.

More Sunny Side Up Teasers!

Here's a handfull of teasers for the Andy Smith show which opens this Saturday with the private view on Friday evening 6-9pm.


The Lonely Goldfish, enamel paint on wood


Push to Quit, silkscreen on wood and varnished


This Way, enamel paint on wood


That Way, enamel paint on wood


They Went That Way, hanging sign, screenprinted and varnished


Shoot The Breeze, silkscreen print