Maggie Lawson
(she/her)
My practice encompasses illustration, animation, and film making. This year I have focused on telling stories through moving image, through a variety of media and techniques. I focus on using traditional materials to create a personal and textural feeling in all of my work.
Haaf Net Fishing on the Solway Firth
This project seeks to archive the practice of haaf net fishing, one of the longest continuously practiced methods of fishing in Scotland, located on the Solway Firth. With this project I wanted the focus to be on the emotional and personal side of the practice, the relationships between the men, the funny stories, and the way of life. The final films were created through a series of interviews with John Warwick and Barry Turner, two of around 30 remaining haaf-netters, using dialogue between the two men, accompanied by a variety of mixed media animations.
The skills and knowledge needed to haaf net are at risk of being lost. More information about the practice can be found at annanhaafnetters.org
Dookit Brewing
I had the opportunity to feature one of my illustrations on a new beer from Dookit Brewing – ‘Glesga Jorts’. This beer is a collaboration with the Grunting Growler, and the design focuses on the community created in pubs, and the people behind the beer.
Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers
I created a three layer screenprinted poster for the film ‘Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers’ by Robert. J. Kaplan, starring Holly Woodlawn. This film follows the main character, Eve, moving to New York to make it big, and all the strange scenes and crazy characters she encounters.
Second Hand Bookshops are the Lovers of the World
Commissioned by Hollie McNish, I created an animated short to accompany her poem ‘Second Hand Bookshops are the Lovers of the World’. The animation was made by drawing into a second hand book, photographing every page to create a textural stop motion hand drawn animation.
