Jamie Hewlett

Jamie Hewlett
Name	Jamie Hewlett
Caption	Hewlett at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Birth date	3 April 1968
Birth place	Horsham, West Sussex, England
Occupation	Cartoonist, animator, graphic designer, comic book artist
Known for	Co-creator of Gorillaz and Tank Girl
Spouse	Emma de Caunes, 2011

Jamie Hewlett is a British visual artist renowned for co-creating the pioneering virtual band Gorillaz with musician Damon Albarn. He first gained prominence in the late 1980s as the co-creator and artist of the anarchic post-apocalyptic comic book series Tank Girl, published in the magazine Deadline. Hewlett's distinctive, energetic style—a fusion of punk aesthetics, manga influences, and sharp satire—has made him a defining figure in contemporary pop culture, extending his work into animation, music video direction, and major international exhibitions.

Early life and education

Born in Horsham, West Sussex, Hewlett developed an early interest in drawing and popular culture, heavily influenced by punk rock music and the artwork of bands like The Jam. He attended the Worthing Sixth Form College, where he met future collaborator Alan Martin. His formal artistic training began at the Northbrook College in Worthing, though his style was largely shaped by the DIY ethic of the punk subculture and the vibrant visuals of 1980s British comics such as 2000 AD.

Career

Hewlett's professional career launched with the founding of the alternative comic magazine Deadline in 1988, where he and writer Alan Martin introduced the iconic character Tank Girl. The series' success led to a 1995 feature film adaptation starring Lori Petty and a video game for the Sega Genesis. Following this, Hewlett contributed artwork for Blur, designing the cover for their album The Great Escape, which cemented his creative partnership with the band's frontman, Damon Albarn.

Gorillaz and virtual band creation

In 1998, Hewlett and Damon Albarn conceived Gorillaz, a virtual band featuring animated characters like 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. Hewlett designed all the characters, artwork, and music video visuals, with the project debuting in 2001 with the album Gorillaz. The band's innovative blend of alternative rock, hip hop, and electronica, paired with Hewlett's groundbreaking animation and narrative world-building, achieved global success, winning a Grammy Award and a MTV Video Music Award. Key projects include the visually ambitious albums Demon Days and Plastic Beach.

Other artistic projects and collaborations

Beyond Gorillaz, Hewlett has engaged in diverse projects. He directed the opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with Damon Albarn. In 2006, he created the opera Monkey: Journey to the West with Albarn and Chen Shi-zheng, based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. His work has been exhibited at institutions like the Saatchi Gallery in London and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris. He also designed characters for the 2012 London Olympics mascots and contributed to The Who's rock opera Tommy.

Artistic style and influences

Hewlett's artistic style is characterized by dynamic, line art-heavy drawings, vibrant color palettes, and a gritty, satirical edge. His primary influences include Japanese manga artists like Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame, the punk art of Jamie Reid, and the anarchic spirit of British comics from 2000 AD. His work often critiques consumerism and mass media, utilizing pop art sensibilities and a fusion of Eastern and Western visual traditions to create instantly recognizable iconography.

Personal life

Hewlett married French actress and television presenter Emma de Caunes in 2011, and they have two children together. He maintains a relatively private life, splitting his time between London and Paris. An avid collector of art and design objects, his personal interests remain closely tied to the worlds of illustration, music, and contemporary art, though he largely avoids the celebrity spotlight, focusing on his creative endeavors.

Category:British cartoonists Category:English animators Category:English comic book artists Category:1968 births Category:Living people