Tobias Hickey

Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, Illustration

School of Arts

Art & Design Communication

Art and Design Communication

Contact Details

Tobias Hickey lectures in illustration, drawing and printmaking. Graduating with a degree in Graphic Design from Liverpool Polytechnic in 1992 and subsequently gaining his MA Illustration from Central St Martin's College of Arts and Design in 1995, Tobias initially took on commissions to illustrate children's books. His freelance practice then broadened into design and advertising and he became an established editorial illustrator, with regular commissions for The Guardian, The Times The Observer and The Independent newspapers. Other clients include You magazine, The Evening Standard, GQ Magazine, The Lawyer, The Daily Telegraph, TES, Sky Broadcasting, British Airways, Vodafone, Reader's Digest, Harper Collins and Conran Design. His illustrations have been published throughout Europe and in Australia.

In 2015, along with colleague Piet Grobler, Tobias founded the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society (ICPBS) with a remit to engage with ‘society’ in its broadest terms by promoting multiculturalism, inclusivity of all minorities and socially disenfranchised people. Subsequent projects MIGRATIONS and SEA CHANGE have developed as co-produced, international artist collaborations featuring touring exhibitions and publications.

Qualifications

1999-2002 Morley College, London, City and Guilds 7307, Further and Adult Education Teacher’s Certificate Part 1
1993-1996 Central St. Martins, London, MA Communications, Illustration and Graphic Design
1989-1992 Liverpool Polytechnic, Liverpool, BA Hons Graphic Design and Film Studies

Teaching Interests

Drawing
Printmaking
Editorial
Design
Narrative

Research Interests

Migration
Ocean Literacy
Environment
Reportage
19^th Century Whaling Journals
Picture Books
Political and Societal Commentary
Mail Art
Printmaking
Curation

Membership of Professional Bodies

Association of Illustrators (AOI)
International Committee Member Biennale of Illustration Bratislava (BIB)

Publications

2023 SEA CHANGE – Save the Ocean, Otter-Barry Books, ISBN 978-1913074180 (Curator and editor)
2019 Migrations: Open Hearts Open Borders, 2019, Otter-Barry Books, ISBN 978-1910959800 (Curator and editor)
2014 MALE, A, 2014 Illustration- Meeting the Brief Bloomsbury, London (featured illustrator)
2011 ‘Images 35 The best of British contemporary illustration
2011 Creative Quarterly 24 , New York (featured artist)
2010 ’Images 34 The best of British contemporary illustration
2010 Gina Cross, Editorial essay, AOI Publications (featured artist)
2009 ‘Images 33 The best of British contemporary illustration
2008 ’Images 32 The best of British contemporary illustration
2007 ‘Images 31’ The best in British contemporary illustration
2001 ‘Images 25’ The best of British contemporary illustration

Exhibitions

2022 SEA CHANGE – Nami Island, South Korea
2022 SEA CHANGE – Pop Up Exhibition, Hay Festival, Hay on Wye
2021 MIGRATIONS- Postcards from Artists around the World, International Youth Library, Munich, Germany
2019 MIGRATIONS – exhibition, panel discussion, Amnesty International Headquarters London
2018 MIGRATIONS – Nami Island, South Korea
2018 MIGRATIONS – Woordfees Literary Festival, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2017 MIGRATIONS – Biennale of Illustration Bratislava
2011 Images 35- Best of British Illustration, London Bankside Gallery
2010 Images 34- Best of British Illustration, LCP, London
2009 Images 33 - Best of British Illustration, LCP, London
2008 The Graphic Art of Comment, The Guardian Newspaper Newsroom
Images 32 - Best of British Illustration, LCP, London