Click here to visit Rob Perry’s Gallery.

How many years have you been a freelance illustrator?

I sold my first illustration when I was still a student in 1990…to a nice little Scandinavian women’s magazine. Not as saucy as it might sound! I’ve been freelance ever since.

How reliable are you?

Blimey! Customer service, that’s the name of the game. I can honestly say that I have never missed a deadline.  This is the main difference between success and failure as an illustrator.  It is also important to communicate well with the client. I have always had a special admiration for art directors, they are very brave people. Their jobs are on the line whenever they pick an artist. Anything we can do to make their “leap of faith” easier will only serve to promote good relations and the smooth running of the job.

Why don’t you have a website?

The simple answer is I haven’t needed one. I have always had an agent who, for the best part, has kept me busy. In October 2006 I moved to Austin, Texas to take up a position as Director of Fine Art at The Gemini School of Visual Art & Communication. As a full-time member of staff it became difficult to pursue my freelance work…I felt a little like I’d retired. This added to a number of other reasons meant that it didn’t work out so I’m busy reconstructing my career on this side of the pond.  One of my ex students is building me a site at the moment…so I’ll be online soon.

In a commercial sense what can your work be applied too?

I think my main strength is figure and likeness. Commercially this has leant itself to the sports market where likeness is important. I have also done a lot of portraits. I love these but unfortunately have never found enough to just concentrate on that.  After teaching for two years I have begun to think more creatively; a by-product of listening to my own preachings!  I think I also learnt a lot from my students. You can’t beat a bit of youth spirit to rekindle the old creative juices! My work with football plate designs, the good pay, the churning out one design after another and having to stick to a formula definitely prevented me from pushing the boundaries.

Who are your top clients?

I got a great scalp in April, landing four paintings of hounds for the latest Otrivin campaign for Saatchi & Saatchi. Others include: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., Andre Deutsch, Ross Brawn, Ferrari F1, Alec Stewart(ex-England cricketer), IMG, MBI Inc., The Bradford Exchange, The Cricketer International Magazine, Football Classic Prints, Newbury Building Society & Disney Interactive.

Apart from illustration what other skills do you have?

I used to play a lot of cricket and rugby (I had to knock the rugby on the head when I broke my hand and I couldn’t work for a few weeks). I love to teach and I am also very experienced at pouring beer!

What’s your favourite sandwich filling?

I’m not fussy on the filling. But the bread in America is terrible. You can’t beat a good old British granary loaf. As a subnote, the best sandwiches in the world are made at Felsons on Little Clarenden Street in Oxford. Go for their chicken, bacon & coriander or brie & onion marmalade. Everyone’s a winner.

Click here to visit Rob Perry’s Gallery.