The Truth is in the Detail

Overview

The Truth is in the Detail explores the intersection of history, art, and identity through highly detailed hand-drawn and digital illustration. Inspired by the precision of artists such as James Mylne, the project reinterprets historical figures, cultural milestones, and personal narratives into contemporary artworks that merge ballpoint, ink, and digital design.

Aims

• To demonstrate the power of detail as a tool for storytelling in both illustration and design.

• To reimagine historic subjects for contemporary audiences.

• To develop a portfolio that bridges traditional fine art techniques with modern graphic design approaches.

Why The Truth is in the Detail?

Every line, stroke, and mark matters — both in art and in life. This project is built on the belief that careful research and meticulous execution reveal deeper truths. By reworking historic references into layered, symbolic, and visually striking images, the artwork captures not just likeness, but meaning.

Influences and Context

This project draws direct inspiration from contemporary artist James Mylne, widely recognised for his photorealistic ballpoint pen drawings and innovative banknote reinterpretations. His Paddington banknote piece and his wider torn series demonstrate how everyday symbols of value can be transformed into complex narratives about culture, history, and identity.

The 2016 Grandly Grimey exhibition, which explored layered references and cultural icons through detailed ballpoint compositions, is a particularly strong influence. The way Mylne combined meticulous realism with themes of currency, fame, and identity directly informs the visual and conceptual approach of this project.

By engaging with Mylne’s practice, The Truth is in the Detail situates itself within this artistic lineage while expanding it into new territory. The work adopts Mylne’s ethos of precision and detail, while introducing new layers through digital collage, cultural symbolism, and personal narratives.

Mylne’s influence acts both as a technical foundation and as a mentorship connection, grounding the project in contemporary practice while allowing it to evolve into a distinctive visual language.

Outcomes

• A case study series of detailed artworks, including:

  • Money note tributes (£1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100)

  • Portraits of historic icons

  • Reinterpretations of cultural symbols

• An online showcase via MikeDesign Instagram and mikedesign.co.uk.

• Portfolio and exhibition submissions, with potential use in funding applications.

Exhibition Plan

The physical exhibition will take the money note artworks beyond digital format into a tactile, immersive experience:

• Pop-Out / Glue-Book Style Presentation – Each banknote artwork will be transformed into a multi-layered, three-dimensional “pop-out” book effect. This mixed-media approach will reveal every layer of the illustration, giving depth to the backgrounds, typography, and symbolic imagery.

• A1 Scale Panels – Both the front and back panels of the money series (£1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100) will be scaled up to A1 size, creating a commanding visual impact in the exhibition space.

• Collaboration with James Mylne – The exhibition will respectfully request James Mylne’s participation through the rental of six of his works in print format (not originals). These will provide a powerful backdrop and dialogue with the new works.

• Special Guest – James Mylne will be invited as a special guest for the launch, acknowledging his role as inspiration and mentor, and strengthening the connection between his established practice and this new body of work.

• Timeline – The goal is to stage this exhibition before the end of the year, creating a landmark event that bridges mentorship, tribute, and innovation.