ARTIST SHOWCASE: JAMES YUILL

This week's Cult Kits 'Artist Showcase' saw us catch up with an illustrator we've long since admired. You'll recognise his work from the likes of These Football Times, his name; James Yuill.

We spoke to the illustrator to hear about his current works, plans for the future and what he makes of this seasons' current crop of shirts.

CK: First things first, who is your team?

JY: Hearts! Edinburgh's big team with the best badge in world football.

CK: Tell us a bit about yourself

JY: I'm from Edinburgh and have been living in Berlin for the last 12 years. I have a wee family consisting of Fiancée, 6 year old son and a Scottish Fold cat. We can normally be found in our garden or some kind of eatery or park in Berlin. My illustration work has focussed heavily on football and sport, but I also do lots of band posters and tee designs, as well as branching out into pop culture. I follow the Hearts games on Hearts TV and get to games when I can, if I am in Scotland or Hearts are in Europe. I have been taking the wee man out to the Olympiastadion to watch Hertha, which he loves.

CK: Tell us what you've been working on lately?

JY: I have done a couple of bits for the last few These Football Times editions. I also did a piece for the Forward Play exhibition in Leeds for the Women's World Cup. Right now I have a massive project for Topps that I will be working on until the end of the year, as well as drafting up a new tee for my boys, We Were Promised Jetpacks, who are heading out on a UK tour at the end of the year. I did a piece for Nutmeg, which was about Scottish born players playing for Australia and vice-versa. It was a Lyndon Dykes/Jason Cummings mash up, which turned out really nicely, I think.

CK:  ...how has the project come about?

JY: The majority of my work comes through people seeing my Instagram profile and reaching out there or via email.

CK: What's been your standout piece/job/collab of 2023 so far?

JY: I think the biggest published work I have done this year has got to be the Japan cover for These Football Times. A couple favourite portfolio pieces from the last year include my Zidane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pieces.

CK: What other work is catching your eye at the moment?

JY: My favourite stuff right now includes Charles Drawin, Dan Evans, Stan Chow, Maria Picasso Piquer, Julian Pace, Marcello Martinelli, Giorgio Mozzorechia, Amber Day and Lydia Hignett. 

CK: What do you think your team's chances are this coming season?

JY: We should be third really. We have been inconsistent and unconvincing to this point though. Third and/or a cup would be considered a very successful season. Anything less is probably a disappointment.

CK: What's your standout footy shirt for the 23/24 season?

JY: Italian shirts are generally the best, right? Venezia dropped off a bit this year. although I do like the Gondola style one, even though the colours don't really have anything to do with the team. I am a big fan of the Bologna home shirt, all the Roma shirts (any variation that doesn't have the Riyadh sponsor) and the Modena shirts are also class. My son has the marbled Italy away kit and I love that one too. Shirts of the year have to be two 150 year anniversary shirts though: Scotland and Hearts third kit. I didn't manage to get a Scotland one. So if you can help me out, let me know!

CK: What do you think of your team's shirts this year?

JY: Home shirt is decent. It's not my favourite ever Hearts top but a solid effort and the continuation of the MND Scotland sponsor is commendable. The little man has it. I liked  that we chose pink for the away kit but the tone and design leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion. The Stellar Omada sponsor doesn't look great. They could do with a bit of rebranding. The 3rd kit, for the 150th anniversary of the club, is phenomenal. It is based on the original Hearts kit and sold out in a couple of minutes. I managed to get myself one.

CK: Can you tell us what you've got coming up – any exciting collabs/jobs we should look out for?

JY: I am working on a massive project for Topps until the end of the year, which I am really excited about. It's for their Champions League Museum Collection. That won't see the light of day until 2024, though. 

CK: Where can people follow you and check out more of your work?

JY: I  post most of my stuff on Instagram and you can follow me there @jmsyllart. I have some loose plans to redesign my website, jmsyll.art.