Page 30 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

Interview and Photography by Mal Whichelow

http://www.facebook.com/MalWhichelowPhotography
Poster Art by Martin F. Bedford

Martin F. Bedford was born and raised in Gravesend, Kent, and after leaving school, he
attended Canterbury Art College. This was followed by a brief stint living in squats and
communes in London before moving to Sheffield in 1975 to undertake a course at Psalter
Lane College. Although he switched to photography part way through, he kept up with his
artwork and completed college with a Fine Art degree.

He then worked for six months as a graphic designer at Sheffield University before heading
out on the road with The Damned and The Adverts in 1977 to photograph their tour. Three
years later, Martin became part of a co-operative that launched, The Leadmill. He was
producing posters and graphics for the club for twelve years, but in 1992, the decision was
made by The Leadmill to produce posters digitally. So, Martin switched to freelance illustrating
full time.

The next project was The Loft, which was an arts lab that had rehearsal rooms and workshops
and provided décor for raves and free parties. Martin subsequently became parade designer
and coordinator for Glastonbury Festival's 25 Anniversary in 1995. Since then, he has
th
managed and promoted bands, run bars, coordinated and produced live events, and a few
years ago, he set up The Honey Bee Blues Club. All of this he accomplished while still carrying
on with his freelance illustrations.

Martin has had exhibitions in Sheffield, London, New York, Vancouver, Paris, and Moscow,
and no doubt, many more to come. I've known Martin for over 30 years, and I see him on a
pretty regular basis -- or at least I did, until the COVID-19 lockdown bit my social life in the
butt. Anyway, be that as it may, while there are no gigs to cover or photo shoots to do, I took
the opportunity to have a remote chat with this highly accomplished artist who has carved his
own colorful niche in the music industry.

***

Mal Whichelow: I can see that your work is influenced by the 60’s American
underground culture. You must have been quite young when that was evolving. What's
your first memory of it?

Martin F. Bedford: Coming from the outskirts of ‘swinging’ London, we were close enough for
the ripples to reach us. Plus, I come from a riverside town opposite the Tilbury docks and all
the things that involves. Add TV and radio, and the result was that American pop culture
already permeated my childhood at an early age and in a very underground way. American
comics and records were prized finds. Everything seemed exotic and groovy, particularly the
west coast. Then I saw the cover for the Jimi Hendrix ‘Axis Bold as Love’ album and my mind
exploded! I can honestly say it was a lightbulb moment for me. Everything that had interested
me came into focus and I knew then that I was an artist and that I loved this form of art…and
what's more, it gave me a reason to get involved with both music and the counterculture. I
now had something to offer.

MW: As a 14-15-year-old you used to print posters in the lunch hour and travel to
Carnaby Street to sell them. For the school to allow you to do that they must have had
belief in you.