“We were misfits in the pantheon of pop, Barney made us look magnificent”, Billy Bragg. Introduction To Reasons to Be Cheerful : The Life and Work of Barney Bubbles by Paul Gorman 2008. 

Born Colin Fulcher, Barney Bubbles was a visionary graphic artist who’s influence is felt to this day. Senior designer at Sir Terence Conran’s design studio in the 1960’s, Bubbles became involved in London’s art and music scene producing light shows for bands such as Quintessence and contributing to the underground press including the legendary OZ magazine and Friends (where he was art director). 

In1969 Bubbles began designing record sleeves as “Teenburger” and went on to work with Hawkwind, the Edgar Broughton Band and many others.       

His art direction of Stiff Records from the beginnings of the New Wave in the early 70’s sparked what some believe to be his finest body of work including record sleeves, posters, videos and ephemera for acts such as Elvis Costello, The Damned, Wreckless Eric, Ian Dury, Billy Bragg, Dr Feelgood, Depeche Mode, Squeeze, The Specials… the list is endless. 

Throughout his career Barney Bubbles maintained a stoutly independent creative integrity and referenced such artists as Picasso, Kandinsky, and art movements from abstraction and constructivism to the Bauhaus. Privately, Bubbles painted and also produced a range of furniture. 

Sadly in 1983 financial worries and depression led him to take his own life. 

We are proud to present an exhibition of original items from his huge back catalogue in collaboration with Mike Hobday and including Horace Panter’s tribute to Elvis Costello’s early Stiff Records hit “Alison”.