Hole In My Pocket x Royal Armouries
Exploring Creativity and History: An Interview with Hole in My Pocket
We’re excited to share news of our new creative collaboration with Hole in My Pocket and the talented artist and illustrator Alistair Burt. In this blog post, we dive into the origins of Hole in My Pocket, the creative journey from architecture to illustration, and the inspiration behind the latest collection for the Royal Armouries.
The Origins of Hole in My Pocket
Hole in My Pocket was born in 2002 while its founder, Alistair was studying architecture.
For Allistair, a lifelong passion for drawing and making things set the stage for a creative career. While architecture provided a structured foundation, illustration opened the door to more spontaneous and varied opportunities. By Christmas 2015, balancing both architecture and illustration became too demanding. After much deliberation, the decision was made to pursue illustration full-time in 2016—and there’s been no looking back.
The name itself? There’s no grand story, Alistair says it simply emerged, fully formed, at the start of the journey.
Alistair Burt, founder of Hole in My Pocket
The Artistic Inspirations
Storytelling and colour are at the heart of Hole in My Pocket’s work. Inspiration comes from modern children’s books, particularly publishers like Nobrow and Flying Eye Books, as well as childhood favourites like Richard Scarry. A deep love for books plays a central role in the creative process, with an ever-growing collection providing a constant source of ideas and artistic influence.
Bringing Designs to Life: The Creative Process
Alistair says every project begins with research—digging into the subject matter to uncover unique angles. Visiting locations and having hands-on experiences often lead to unexpected insights.
Some ideas come together effortlessly, while others require countless iterations. Sketchbooks play a crucial role in refining concepts, followed by colour studies and mock-ups before finalising the design.
Collaborating with the Royal Armouries
The collaboration with the Royal Armouries provided a fantastic source of inspiration. The goal? To create characters with distinct personalities—ones that could be imagined embarking on adventures through the museums.
One standout piece in the collection is the Armoured for the Elephant from the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. Its fantastical appearance inspired a design featuring a brave, smart elephant.
Another highlight is the Soldier Bear, a character that immediately took shape during the design process. The contrast of a traditionally rough and wild creature dressed in a pristine, well-pressed uniform created an amusing and striking visual. The bold red-and-navy colour scheme informed the clean, graphic style of the final illustration.
Recent Projects & Exciting New Collaborations
Hole in My Pocket has been busy with exciting new projects, including two fresh ranges for Edinburgh Zoo - one celebrating their beloved penguins and the other featuring their newest addition, an elegant cheetah. Another notable project involved architectural interior and exterior drawings for Mackintosh at the Willow Tea Rooms, commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Looking ahead, there’s an exciting secret project in the works—turning museum characters into a children’s picture book that explores historical collections in a fun and engaging way. Creating storybooks alongside museum products is a dream come true for Alistair and a fantastic way to bring history to life for younger audiences.
As for the Royal Armouries collaboration, discussions are underway for a new project focused on medieval tournaments, blending historical accuracy with a touch of fantasy. With ideas already forming, this promises to be a thrilling next chapter in the partnership.