Graham Humphreys is a British illustrator and visual artist best known for producing
film poster
A film poster is a poster used to promote and advertise a film primarily to persuade paying customers into a theater to see it. Studios often print several posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and international markets. The ...
s. During the 1980s, Humphreys worked with
Palace Pictures, producing publicity material for films including ''
Dream Demon
''Dream Demon'' is a 1988 British horror film co-written and directed by Harley Cokeliss and starring Jemma Redgrave in her debut role opposite Kathleen Wilhoite, Jimmy Nail, Susan Fleetwood and Timothy Spall.
Plot
Diana Markham, an uppe ...
'', ''
Basket Case'', ''
The Evil Dead
''The Evil Dead'' is a 1981 American independent film, independent supernatural horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker ...
'', ''
Evil Dead II
''Evil Dead II'' (also known in publicity materials as ''Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn'') is a 1987 American comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi, who co-wrote it with Scott Spiegel. The second installment in the ''Evil Dead'' film series, i ...
'', the ''
Nightmare on Elm Street'' series, ''
Phenomena
A phenomenon ( phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable Event (philosophy), event. The term came into its modern Philosophy, philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be ...
'' and ''
Santa Sangre
''Santa Sangre'' () is a 1989 surrealist psychological horror film directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky and written by Jodorowsky along with Claudio Argento and Roberto Leoni. It stars Axel Jodorowsky, Adán Jodorowsky, Teo Jodorowsky, Blanca G ...
''.
Humphreys has worked with The Creative Partnership since the 1990s, and
Tartan Films
Palisades Tartan is a film distribution company with headquarters in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It was established by the Palisades Media Group following the collapse of Tartan Films in the summer of 2008. Palisades Tartan ac ...
and the
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
's home entertainment label BFI Video since the 2000s. He has been involved in films including ''
Life is Sweet'', ''
Erik the Viking'', ''
From Dusk till Dawn
''From Dusk till Dawn'' is a 1996 American action horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino from a concept and story by Robert Kurtzman. Starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Tarantino, Ernest Liu, and Juliet ...
'', ''
House of 1000 Corpses
''House of 1000 Corpses'' is a 2003 American black comedy horror film written, co-scored, and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, and the first film in the ''Firefly'' film series. It stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, Ka ...
'', and ''
Party Monster'', as well as numerous releases for BFI Video, including its ''Short Sharp Shocks'' collections in the
Flipside strand. Other film work includes material for ''
The Pervert's Guide to Cinema'' and ''
Into the Dark''.
He also illustrated a poster for ''
In Search of Darkness'', a documentary about 1980s horror films.
Humphreys's graphic design for print media includes work published in ''
New Musical Express
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a " rock inkie", the ''NME'' would become a maga ...
'', ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ' ...
'', ''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'', ''
FHM'', ''
QX'', ''
Arena
An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...
'', ''
Loaded'', ''Junior'' and ''F-1 Magazine''.
In 2021, Graham Humphreys was commissioned to illustrate a series of record covers of classic horror movie soundtracks such as ''
Carnival Of Souls
''Carnival of Souls'' is a 1962 American psychological horror film produced and directed by Herk Harvey and written by John Clifford from a story by Clifford and Harvey, and starring Candace Hilligoss. Its plot follows Mary Henry, a young woman ...
,
The Last Man on Earth'' and ''
White Zombie'', released by
Rob Zombie
Robert Bartleh Cummings (born January 12, 1965), known professionally as Rob Zombie, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live show ...
. All the records were pressed on coloured vinyl and housed in special packaging with new artwork by Graham Humphreys.
Bibliography
* ''Nightmare on One Sheet: The Horror Art of Graham Humphreys''.
Korero Press
Korero Press is a London-based art book publisher. Its list of books mainly includes pop culture, street art, erotica and horror titles. It has published books by contemporary artists Ron English, Patrick J. Jones and Graham Humphreys. Korero ...
, 2023,
* ''Hung, Drawn and Executed: The Horror Art of Graham Humphreys''.
Korero Press
Korero Press is a London-based art book publisher. Its list of books mainly includes pop culture, street art, erotica and horror titles. It has published books by contemporary artists Ron English, Patrick J. Jones and Graham Humphreys. Korero ...
, 2019,
* ''Drawing Blood: 30 Years of Horror Art''. Proud Publishing Ltd, 2015,
References
Further reading
*
*
British graphic designers
20th-century British illustrators
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Film poster artists
British horror artists
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