Gail Armstrong — Paper Sculpture Illustrator, London

Gail Armstrong has been creating paper sculptures for over 25 years and her enthusiasm for the medium hasn’t waned one snip. She still wants every image she creates to be better than the last, and she has cut, embossed, folded and glued her way to a cabinet full of creative industry awards. Her clients simply love her unique ability to turn a flat sheet of paper into an amazing work of art.

From galleries full of contemporary artworks through to Paperchase outlets selling her favourite medium, Gail takes inspiration from the world around her, then applies her imagination to craft characters, vehicles, buildings, products, typography and entire dioramas – either in full colour or plain white. She has a BA and Post Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design and Illustration at Glasgow School of Art.

Approach

Each construction begins with extensive planning as Gail explores the composition and how to sculpt the image three-dimensionally. Then she meticulously constructs the set, poring over the textures, colours and patterns, before it is photographed.

Style

Paper may seem flat to most of us, but Gail sees in it the potential to create new worlds with their own look and feel. Simple sheets are manipulated and transformed into 3D sculptures, imbued with beauty using a gamut of stocks, textures and colours.

Podcast

LISTEN to Gail talk about the art of paper sculpture in the AOI’s Inside Illustration podcast. As part of their 'Handmade Illustration' season, she shares her methods and the storytelling potential of tactile illustration.

Awards

Shortlisted - Communication Arts Award (2021) Winner of #Moobriefs (2020) Charlie Award for Best Magazine Cover (2020) Shortlisted 3 times for World Illustration Awards (2014, 2015 & 2020) Winner of Asiago International Award for Philatelic Art (2012) Creative Match Flair Award (2011) Creative Circle Awards Silver & Bronze (2011) WPP Gold Award for Advertising (2010) Gold & Silver in The London International Awards (2010) Cannes Bronze and Gold Lion Awards (2010) The Big Won – 1st in Press Campaigns (2010) Daler Rowney Award for Outstanding Paper Sculpture (1997)

Client list

Gail's clients include Templar Publishing, SunSense, Kleenex, United Nations, Charles Darwin University, Nestlé, Sogo Hong Kong, Sandoz, Macy's, MidFirst Bank, California Lottery, Delta TechOps, Safeguard Handwash and Jack-In-A-Box.