BARRY DOWNARD BIOGRAPHY

Barry believes that the end goal of making images is “communication”, and he enjoys the challenge of constructing images that tell stories that resonate with the intended communication.
Having worked in the advertising, marketing, photography, film, and allied creative design industries since 1982, Barry Downard’s business is based on providing creative visual solutions and concepts (photography, film, CGI illustration, artwork and design) to advertising & design agencies, and publishers.

Trained as an interior designer, Barry designed houses, shop interiors, exhibition stands and fashion show productions, played drums and worked as an art director before drifting into fashion and advertising photography. Exposure to all these varied creative disciplines provides for excellent background knowledge informing the love of detail, and the ability to conceptualise the story-telling elements required when constructing his illustrations and images. Working with numerous international Creative Directors has honed his ability to understand the communication requirements of creating images.

His interest in photography started as an ad agency art director working with photographers, and after leaving the ad agency, he built a successful fashion and advertising photography business working with major SA clients.

In 1993, Barry became inspired by the story-telling possibilities of digitally manipulating his photographs, and developed a style of photo-illustration. The illustration technique consists of taking lots of photographs (shot by himself, supplied by client, or stock images), and throwing them into a Picto-Snaffle-Matic machine, stirring it up with a generous dose of fun, and sticking it all together with computer glue. Subsequently, he has broadened his skill set to include cgi modelling and rendering.

Although Barry’s style is generally photo-real and surreal, he has a broad and diverse range of influences, including Klimt, Robert Longo, Michael Sowa, Gary Larson, Arthur Rackham, Ernst Haeckel, and Lane Smith, and his photographic influences are Henri Cartier-Bresson, Artur Elgort, Richard Avedon, Javier Valhonrat, Nadav Kander, Gregory Crewdson, and Philip Carter, to name just a few.

Barry has had 3 illustrated children’s books published (Simon & Schuster, NY and Milk & Cookies Press, NY), and has worked with major ad agencies from Moscow to Los Angeles, as well as numerous publishing clients (both magazines and books).
He has had solo exhibitions of his work, at Soho House Club (London), and in several South African art galleries.
Barry has also worked as Director of Photography and Production Design on a full-length feature film.

Awards:
*1 “Loerie” award for photographic craft (South Africa)
*6 “Silver Quill” awards for photographic craft. (South Africa)
*Won the the South African section of the 2001 Hasselblad International Competition (South Africa)
*A gold and a silver “RX Club Award” (New York) for work done for Glaxo Smith Kline (Paling Walters)

Clients:

BMW-Mini (UK), Pringles (USA), Budweiser (UK), Orangina (A.G. Barr) UK, BDH (Manchester), Ogilvy (South Africa, Moscow and UK), Old Navy (USA), Danone (USA), Skoda (Germany, Blumberry (Berlin), Microsoft (UK), Nestle/Nescafe (UK), Billington Cartmell (UK), Planters (Kraft Foods) USA, Mercedes Truck Division (UK), QBO BellPottinger (UK), SAAB (UK), Vauxhall (UK), Carlsberg (UK), Ola (Unilever SA), SONY Playstation, TBWA (London), Glaxo Smith Kline, Paling Walters Targis, Simon & Schuster (New York), Mens Fitness UK, The Knowledge (The Times), The Economist, Hodder Publishing (UK), Arizona Opera, Cleveland Opera, De Beers, Durex (SA), Jupiter Drawing Room (SA), Scholastic Books (Omnibus Australia), Scholastic Publishing (New York), Sun International, Nike (SA), Yamaha (SA), Specialty Stores (Miladys, Mr Price), Playtex, Gotcha, Wrangler, Huletts, Unilever, Yamaha, Ellese, Lee Jeans, Old Mutual, Belgotex, Frame Group (Consolidated Textiles), Smirnoff, Integer Home Loans, Puma, Bear Clothing, De Beers, Innoxa, House & Leisure, Fairlady, Huisgenoot & You, Cosmopolitan, amongst others.

Barry is passionate about animal welfare and biodiversity conservation concerns, and a percentage of proceeds of sales from all he does is donated to animal welfare.