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Alison Sampson: Meet the We British artist

Alison Sampson is an award winning illustrator and architect based in London. She was commissioned to create a poster for We British, plus an illustration for a Dylan Thomas vs Bob Dylan quiz.

Alison explains her connection to poetry and passion for spoken word:

I loved working on this project, as I had a chance to continue my uncle’s work.

"I loved working on this project, as I had a chance to continue my uncle’s work. J. L. Carr (or Uncle Lloyd to me) was a Kettering schoolmaster and latterly a Booker prize nominated writer. He published dozens of small books of British poetry and maps through his own Quince Tree Press, designing and illustrating them himself, and selling them worldwide. He wanted every child to know poetry. I had these books in my hands from when I could first read, and his work inspired me to do what I do today. There was no way I could say no to the BBC, when they coincidentally got in touch."

The Quince Tree Press still runs today, under the guidance of J. L. Carr's son Bob, and his wife. All of the books are still in print.

Dante, Gabriel, Rossetti by J. L. Carr

Work in progress...

Initial We British sketches
Inks of Kate Tempest and Bob Dylan

Did you spot the references?

There are 10 references and six poets on the We British poster, the references ranging from obvious to indirect (there's only one of those*).

Left to right:

  • Suburban House: Metroland by John Betjeman
  • White cliffs and beach: Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
  • Albatross (and arrow): The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  • Benjamin Zephaniah (himself)
  • Train: The Night Mail by W. H. Auden
  • Carol Anne Duffy (herself)
  • Llareggub: Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
  • Kate Tempest (herself)
  • Houses of Parliament: English Folk Verse, The Fifth of November
  • Dylan Thomas (himself)
  • Ship: "Dirty British Coaster" from Cargoes by John Masefield
  • John Cooper Clarke (himself)
  • Dark Satanic Mills: Jerusalem by William Blake
  • Daffodils: I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
  • Wendy Cope (herself)
  • *The Ribblehead Viaduct is there, because Alison was inspired to put it there by the poet Ian McMillan, who frequently writes about landscape and Yorkshire, and whose work she enjoys. This is for him.

The We British quiz:

Alison Sampson also created the artwork for a special quiz. Do you know your Dylan from your Dylan?

Take the quiz!

Explore your poetic side