Maxwell Tilse: Hand-Drawn Urban Memory Maps

Maxwell Tilse, a self-taught illustrator born in Sydney and based in London since 2015, creates detailed ink drawings that capture the emotional character of cities. His practice, rooted in traditional techniques, uses Indian ink and nib pens on paper, with no digital alteration. Tilse's work is influenced by early exposure to European comics like Tintin and Asterix, and his travels, which began with a backpacking trip after university, where he sold hand-drawn postcards. He has collaborated with organizations including the BBC, PayPal, Nespresso, Turkish Airlines, and Art Basel Miami. His notable projects include the "Little Cities" series and intricate cut-out illustrations of London's historic pubs. Tilse's process involves outdoor sketching, which he finds essential for capturing the atmosphere of a place, and he notes that climate can affect his work, citing Morocco's favorable conditions and Chicago's harsh winters. He is drawn to Istanbul for its architectural variety and hopes to travel to Iran and India. Tilse also enjoys seeing his illustrations as jigsaw puzzles, finding crowded scenes particularly challenging. He advises emerging artists to sketch outdoors with simple pens, emphasizing that every location has creative potential. His work is featured on AATONAU, an art platform.