Crystal Palace gifts on sale at The Paxton Centre

February 10, 2020 Matt Bannister

“More t-shirts based on these Crystal Palace Subway designs are now available to buy via my shop https://brickworks.teemill.com. 16th September 2020”

In case you’d not seen this on my social media accounts, you can now buy cushions, t-shirts and tea towels featuring my designs from The Paxton Centre in Crystal Palace. Some of the items you may recognise from the shop Smash Bang Wallop, formerly of the Crystal Palace Triangle. Following their sad closing, Beth at The Paxton Centre has taken on some of their stock (including the items I’ve designed). The Paxton Centre also stocks cards and prints of mine, too, in case you’re looking for a gift with your coffee/live event. The designs take inspiration from the famous Crystal Palace dinosaurs, and the hidden but amazing Crystal Palace Subway.

Crystal Palace Dinosaur Cushions

August 26, 2015 Matt Bannister

Back from extinction, my Crystal Palace dinosaur cushions have emerged once again from the railway tunnel.

A while ago, I had some for sale as part of a design competition through OhhDeer.com. That was only ever going to be a short term thing, so after the comp ended I thought that I should get some made myself. The cushions are inspired by my (almost) famous print Crystal Palace Monsters, that featured in that Londonist exhibition all those months ago.

It's a one-sided digital print on 100% cotton cover, with just black fabric on the reverse. Size is 18"x18" or 46x46cm, with an inner cushion pad (100% Polypropylene casing, 100% Polyester Hollow Fibre filling).

The price is £40 plus postage, with £5 from every sale going to the lovely team at Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs to help them preserve and celebrate the Victorian prehistoric sculptures in Crystal Palace Park, south London. On sale via my online store.

In addition to the cushions, if you buy any A3 print of the dinosaurs or the extinct creatures from my site, they also create a £5 donation to FCPD.

Comedy at the Cafe

July 21, 2014 Matt Bannister

Whilst flicking through some recent images of the Crystal Palace Overground Festival 2014 on Facebook, I came across these great pics. A bizarre selection of faces smiling and gurning at the audience, from the recent "Comedy in the Cafe" evening of stand up at Brown and Green Cafe, Crystal Palace station. I then noticed that the temporary stage for the evening had featured my framed prints as a little backdrop. The jaunty angles the pictures have ended up at, suit comedy I think! The images were taken by Ally at Stonelock Photography, and has kindly let me reproduce them here. Unfortunately I did not attend the event, but Ally assured me that some of the photos that didn't make her final edit were a bit blurred, as she was laughing so much. For more info and clips of the comedians, their homepages are here: John Kearns, Jenny Collier, Dan Green, Beasts.

If you fancy getting your hands on your own print to tell jokes in front of at home, click here.

The Creatures That Keep on Giving

June 9, 2014 Matt Bannister

Dinosaur Wedding

I was approached last year by a couple - Liam and Nasreen - who asked if they could use my 'Crystal Palace Monsters' image on their wedding invitations. A few email exchanges later (and a fee, of course), the were distributed and their wedding was a great success, I understand. They are both fans of the Crystal Palace area, the dinos and my work. Win Win Win!

New cards and packshots

Some new cards arrived from the printers (available now from my website store or in person from Brave Girl Gifts if you live near Crystal Palace). I decided to take them out for a walk and take pictures of them. Residents of SE19 may be able to identify where I took them.

Brown and Green Café

I also popped into the Brown and Green Café with a mission. I decided to swap one of the prints featuring sphinxes with a nice new version of 'Change Here for Evolution'. I really like the image and I think it's much better than the one I removed. Also the 'story' behind the piece is set on one of the platforms nearby. If you are ever in the area, drop in for some lovely food. Here are some pictures to help you find where the new print is. He he.

twohundredby200 Magazine

March 22, 2014 Matt Bannister

Just a little post to say that I'm featured in issue 9 of twohundredby200 Magazine, at the moment. It's a free design and creative magazine produced by the design studio of the same name. I had to submit some of my work, and they liked it! Download or read your free copy here. There's lots of other stuff by other people to peruse, too. I'm on page 53 if you are too darned impatient.