Pictured: Dan Berry at Swan Hill Studios
Dan Berry, a Shrewsbury-based graphic artist, is exhibiting at Swan Hill Studios from April 17th to 26th. He’s leaving his garden log cabin studio in Bayston Hill for the week to take residency at the studios, where he’s working on his latest graphic novel.
Dan has been illustrating since the early 2000s. He used to run the UK’s first-ever degree course in comics at Wrexham before becoming a video game producer and eventually committing to illustration full-time, with his works being used worldwide.
One of his works from the last couple of years is The Bones, inspired by finding human bones in a plastic bag at Shrewsbury Abbey aged 18! The illustration is displayed at the exhibition.
Dan’s work spans print, digital and interactive media, and includes collaborations with author David Gaffney on graphic novels such as The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head and Rivers. They are currently working on the third book in their trilogy, with a central theme of grief.
How does Dan describe his work? “Spontaneous… and magnificent – but I can’t say that!” he chuckled. But it really is special – with deep and hilarious stories coming to life through his illustrations.
Dan’s exhibition is an open book of his talents and storytelling, including original artwork, comic storyboards, and sketchbooks. You can also buy his original custom-made pen.
Alongside the exhibition, Dan is leading a Graphic Storytelling Masterclass on Wednesday, April 22nd. It’s an evening session designed for illustrators, comic makers and anyone interested in visual narrative. The masterclass will explore the fundamentals of pacing, page composition, and the relationship between words and images, offering practical insight into how stories work on the page.
Meet Dan Berry and view Outside the Lines until April 26th at Swan Hill Studios, every day from 10am – 3pm. The masterclass on April 22nd is £25, and it includes a notebook, pen and welcome drink, and can be booked here.
Find out more about Dan at thingsbydan.co.uk
