Still struggling with Christmas gift ideas? Let this be your guide to find unique zines, comics, artwork and more made by local independent creatives.
On the 26th of November we were invited back to where it all began at Kendal Zine Fest for their third instalment.
0.08 Imprints
This publisher of photobooks and zines featured a collective retrospective of both seasoned and new photographers based in the North West.
Taous traversed around Lille, a city in the north of France. The photographer held a lens to primarily youth culture as well as capturing, in a juxtaposed way, the history of the area which brings insight for the observer into a soft and slightly moody 35mm world.
(Bottom left) Taouse's zine.
Micheal Wiggan was repping up his creation, 0.08 Imprints as well as his own work as a photographer and had three of his zines on display: Found Lost, Unex Amin Ed.1 and Ed.2.
In Found Lost you can see Micheal’s eye for detail as he finds things that most people wouldn’t. Where other people would struggle to see value, he’s found and shot with vibrancy.
As for his Unex Amin collection Micheal told us that he was aiming for it to capture the lives of the people around him and its execution has resulted in some time capsule of moments that viewers can apply within their own lives.
Micheal’s Unex Amin collection.
Caldew Press
Based in Carlisle, Caldew Press is a small publisher that works in partnership with local poetry group SpeakEasy.
Together they produce anthologies of poetry as well as publishing some people’s work independently such as Mark Griffiths and Philip Hewiston, who was running the stall on the day.
Philip’s book Lockdown Town was written in response to the pandemic and the poetry itself is born out of the emotions many felt during such a turbulent time in modern history the good, the bad and the absurdity.
The SpeakEasy anthologies deal with similar themes around the pandemic as well as Cumbrian specific prose, poetry and activism rolled all into one.
(Top Left) Speak Easy Issue 4 (Middle) Mark Griffith's zine Grid and (Bottom Right) Philip Hewiston's Lockdown Town.
Seren Shaw
Artist, poet and crafter Seren brought along a collection of diverse stories, artwork and gifts to Kendal Zine Fest.
From silly mini zines about a crow that gave us a chuckle to some more serious zines like their zine Hiraeth.
Hiraeth chronicled the relationship of Seren’s heritage and celebrates it through combining archival materials with their own work to demonstrate a parallel between history and the art Seren produces today.
On top of this there were some blissful watercolour poetry to read, stickers and even notebooks that Seren had crafted.
Seren’s Hiraeth zine.
Guy Parsons
If you're wondering which guy produced the prints for Kendal Zine Fest’s official poster then look no further because it was this Guy.
The Lake District based illustrator and nature lover brought us their luminous whimsical illustrations of both Fauna, Flora and animals that belong in storybooks and look like something you would imagine in a folk tale.
All of Guy’s work feels like a love letter to the Lakes, it’s climate conscious, comical in places and really seals the vision of what I imagine when I think of the Lakes on a cosy autumn day.
A few of Guy’s Fauna and Flora prints.
Nick Gonzo
Leeds based artist Nick Gonzo brought us into a vivid world rich with humour and violence; aka his epic Funk Soul Samurai comics he was selling at Kendal Zine Fest.
Funk Soul Samurai is the lead character in the comics who is a milkshake drinking, drippy dressed and all round certified badass who saves the day with a boombox of banging beats and samurai swords, of course!
It’s got everything you want and more from a classic comic: razor sharp wit, half human half machines and some bone crunching action from Funk Soul themselves… but we won’t spoil it for you.
Let's hope that Nick is at the next one as it isn’t available on their website just yet but you can buy Omlette of Power and Black Dragon here.
Nick Gonzo’s stall featuring Omlette of Power and a large A4 copy of Funk Soul Samurai.
Part Time Punk Press
Another import from Leeds is Part Time Punk Press who self describes their artwork as ‘a bit weird and sexy’ and is a maker of minature, A5 zines and had some of their prints on display.
Part Time Punk Press told us that their work examines the relationship they previously had with religion and the intersection it has with their artistic style and their own identity that explores all things gothic.
The end product of this is zines such as Church Lurker which explores the beauty behind the archeology of historic churches and Taphophile which explores a passion for cemeteries through photography.
There were also some great short zines that were poetic, macabre and provocative.
Part Time Punk Press’s zines (Top Left) Taphophile (Right) Church Lurker and (Bottom Left) Benchmarks.
Paperr Jamm
Sticking in Yorkshire we have the wonderful Dan who produces a series of zines called Paperr Jamm.
The zines delve into and hold a lense up to pressing sociological issues that are becoming an increasing cause for concern in modern society.
They represent the farming industry in the Phood and Drink special and the Tech special looks at the ever evolving world of technology we’re living in as well as The Tree issue which looks at the changing environment.
All of these zines sound like they deal with pretty heavy and poignant subject matters but in execution it is borne out of wit, satire and some insanely detailed illustrations that draw you into the world of Paperr Jamm.
On top of this, Dan was selling t-shirt designs of his very unique artwork which you can get here alongside his zines.
Paperr Jamm’s Zines (Top Left) Phood and Drink special, (Middle Left) The Tree Issue and (Middle) Tech special.
Chris Lewtas
Selling photo books, zines and prints of his photography, Chris was last up for us to have a look through their collection.
If you are a fiend for liminal spaces, moody neo-noir and soft yet dark photography then you must view Chris’s photo book the Satwell project.
With this photo book Chris manages to achieve brilliance with the way he shoots objects with an undeniable consideration for detail that creates a realised dyspotian world with a click of a camera.
Chris told us that Not Yet focused on photographs he took during his one hour of exercise whilst in lockdown. If you’d like to see more of his work or buy any then you can get it here.
Chris Lewtases photobook, The Satwell Project.