Photo of Barney Ibbotson in front of his Brits Art Trail billboard piece

What I Do

Since starting out as a freelancer in 2009, I’ve developed a signature style built on detail, symmetry, and precision.

I work across civic, commercial, and cultural settings , adapting my line work to everything from large-scale murals and environmental graphics to animation assets, infographics, and product packaging.

I partner closely with design agencies, marketing teams and business owners to turn ideas into finished artwork.

While my layouts are highly structured, the work itself is playful, fun, and packed with bold, vibrant colours.

I love to bury tiny details and little visual stories within a piece, creating clean, intricate compositions that reward people for stopping to look a little closer.

“While my layouts are highly structured, the work itself is playful, fun, and packed with bold, vibrant colours.”
— Quote Source
 
Portion of Barney's illustration for the 'This Is The Place' book

Based in Manchester.
Working Worldwide

While my portfolio reaches across international borders, including permanent flagship installations for the Home of Carlsberg in Copenhagen and festival activations in the US; my creative home will always be Manchester.

I am hugely inspired by the industrial heritage and creative culture of the North West, which has led to rewarding local collaborations, including historic civic commissions for Manchester City Council and curated city art trails.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of creating bespoke artwork for an eclectic range of clients, including Carlsberg, Lacoste, and Joseph Holt Brewery.

Whether partnering with local independent businesses or global institutions, I approach every commission with the same dedication to craft and storytelling.

 
PLAYHOUSE illustration, showing an intricate device in the style of Heath Robinson or Rube Goldberg

Scalable Vector Precision

The vast majority of my commercial and public realm jobs are built using vector graphics.

Unlike standard digital photos or drawings made of pixels, vector artwork is constructed using mathematical lines and anchor points.

This means it never blurs, loses quality, or pixelates, ensuring the artwork stays perfectly sharp at any scale; whether it's shrunk down for a postage stamp, layered up for animation, or wrapped across a 20-metre wall.

It also makes the files incredibly flexible for production, allowing for clean layer separation and easy colour changes.

 
Window vinyls at Flow in Manchester

Improvised Doodling

While it is only a small part of my overall output, I also enjoy stepping away from the computer screen.

This side of my practice is entirely hand-drawn, using a free-flowing, intuitive "doodling" style with Posca pens and acrylics on canvases or boards.

I also use this style for select private commissions, and have taken part in live 'doodling' events over the years.

 
Barney drawing with Posca paint markers at a Design Manchester event in 2019

My Story

I’ve loved drawing for as long as I can remember, starting back when my dad handed me a stack of old computer paper and some felt-tip pens as a kid.

I was lucky enough to be encouraged by an excellent art teacher during my school years, which kept that passion alive. This led me to study an Art Foundation course at Manchester Metropolitan University, followed by a Graphic Design degree at Liverpool John Moores University.

I spent my early twenties finding my feet; temping, working for a catalogue company, experimenting with design software, and developing my craft.

After working as a designer at a small company, a stint playing drums for a Manchester rock band, and a brief spell working alongside my friend and fellow illustrator Stanley Chow, I took the leap into full-time freelance work.

Networking within Manchester’s brilliant creative community helped me build the practice I have today. Over the years, I've loved staying involved by taking part in exhibitions, live drawing events, lecturing at Stockport College, and giving talks to the next generation of design students.

 

Clients include:

 

    • February 2026 / Brits 2026 Art Trail Exhibited work on a billboard in a city-wide art trail in Manchester

    • September 2024 / Local Art Show Contributed to exhibition at Emma Evans Art Gallery, Monton, Salford

    • September 2024 / Stockport Paint Jam Live art contributor, Stockport

    • April 2020 / Playhouse Co-organiser and illustrator for competition, book and exhibition

    • November 2019 / Design MCR 19 - SM(art)TY PARTYLive art contributor, Fairfield Social Club, Manchester

    • September 2019 / The Mancunian Spray Live art contributor, Manchester

    • November 2018 / Thinking of Home Contributed a design to fundraising auction for Shelter

    • October 2017 / Design MCR 17: Burgess Re-Covered Contributed to exhibition, Anthony Burgess Foundation

    • July 2017 / This Is The Place Contributed an illustration to fundraising book

    • April 2017 / Meanderings (with Dan Hett) Collaborative exhibition at Nexus Art Café, Manchester

    • September 2016 / Wellington House Art Jam Live art contributor, Ancoats, Manchester

    • April 2016 / Barney's World Solo exhibition at Electrik, Manchester

    • November 2015 / Manchester Moleskine Contributor to book and exhibition, TAGallery, Manchester

    • September 2015 / Wellington Mill Paint Jam Live art contributor, Ancoats, Manchester

    • October 2014 / Everything Must Go Contributed to exhibition at Twenty Twenty Two, Manchester

    • October 2014 / The Science of Play Contributed to exhibition at Federation House, Manchester

    • September 2014 / Wellington Mill Paint Jam Live art contributor, Ancoats, Manchester

    • September 2014 / Design MCR 14 - 10x10 Contributed to exhibition at Federation House, Manchester

    • June 2014 / Yorkshire in Yellow Contributed to exhibition at Millenium Galleries, Sheffield

    • January 2014 / Pong Ping Contributed to exhibition at Twenty Twenty Two, Manchester

    • September 2013 / Canalfest Live art contributor, Manchester

    • May 2013 / Lazerian - Gerald Project Contributed a paper dog design to exhibition in NYC

    • January 2013 / Lantern Contributed a paper sculpture to exhibition at Soup Kitchen, Manchester,

    • November 2012 / Made in Mancunia Mini-exhibition at 2022NQ, Manchester

    • October 2012 / Eskimo Creative presents Iron Designer Participant in live ‘Photoshop battle’ at 2022NQ, Manchester,

    • October 2012 / OWT Creative: Interlace Motion Zine Project Contributed an animation to exhibition at Vault, Manchester

    • July 2012 / Graphic Showdown as part of Future Artists Residency Programme Mini-exhibition at The Black Lion, Salford

    • June 2012 / Home Exhibition Contributed an illustration to exhibition at Cornerhouse, Manchester

    • October 2011 / Manchester and Salford Illustrated Contributed to fundraising exhibition in Manchester

    • September 2011 / Versus Contributed a design to exhibition in Bristol

    • May 2010 / Unconvention Factory Contributed a poster to exhibition at a music conference, Macclesfield

    • November 2009 / Stanley&Barney exhibition Collaborative exhibition (with Stan Chow) at Golden Camel Gallery, Manchester.

    • June 2009 / Capture Manchester Exhibition Contributed an illustration to exhibition at CUBE Gallery, Manchester

    • March 2009 / Unconvention Contributed a poster to exhibition at a music conference, Salford

    • June 2008 / Barney Ibbotson Exhibition 01 Solo exhibition at New Cross Gallery, London

    • 1997-2003 / Doodlebug Live doodling events in Manchester, Brighton and London

Ready to bring your next project to life?

If you would like to work with me, or would like to enquire about freelance availability, please get in touch via phone or email.

Alternatively, fill in this Project Enquiry Form.

 +44 (0)7525 641206

barney@barneyibbotson.com