We obviously think all our maps are works of art. The artistry involved can take years and it’s no wonder people hang them on their walls. Yes, they are practical and useful, but they are also beautiful. Here are a few artists who take the art of cartography to a new level:
Using maps as his canvas, Ed Fairburn takes advantage of the contours to create beautiful portraits.
Shannon Rankin deconstructs maps and reconstructs them into new forms by folding, cutting and pinning them to create unique visual shapes.
Matthew Cusick’s uses cut-outs from different maps, newspapers and books to create collages of landscapes ranging from sea views and highways to portraits and classic cars.
Using recycled maps along with embroidery and appliqué on fabric, Mary Bryning explores the patterns of geography from ordered urban areas to the natural lines of coastlines.
London based Julia McKenzie uses influences from nature, especially ornithology to add a natural element to urban order of maps.
If this has inspired you, and you want to have a go at creating a masterpiece, this A-Z colouring book will help you get you started. So get your colours out and keep inside the lines.