At The Big Chill Festival we set out to seek an individual contemporary illustrator or artist to highlight and profile throughout the promotions and activities.

We can proudly announce that this illustrator is one Chris Bianchi, part of bleeding edge art collective 'Le Gun'.

As our 2010 and 2011 illustrator-in-residence, Chris has been working on a series of unique artworks to be used throughout the year for the festival itself.

We wanted Chris’s style and personality to yield a strong influence over the feel of the piece, while evoking a whimsical, carnival-like atmosphere. We asked Chris to capture two distinct sides to Big Chill's personality. The bouncy, light, wonderment of the hippy-dream; all bubbles and flowers, green meadows, blue skies and sunshine, being the first. The second is of letting go, of indulgence, hedonism and revelry; that exploring a little further reveals a secret world of delights for the body and the mind - a ‘carnival’ of the truest sense.

Chris Bianchi Biography

Chris moved to London in 1998 to further his education in illustration. After completing a BA (HONS) at Middelsex university Chris got a place at the Royal College of Art, where he worked on various projects.

Since graduating he has worked for a range of magazines, publishers, record labels, and leading fashion brands.

Chris is also an animator and has worked on a few music videos, for the likes of Dirty Stop Outs, Kissy Sell Out, and the Plugs, as well as having his animations shown at various film festivals.

When not at the drawing table he is working on musical project called 'Nairobi Lovers' and producing a quaterly newspaper publication called Bare Bones. Chris is a founder member of LE GUN magazine - a publication which explores the narrative side of illustration and story telling.