An interview with Arena’s new artwork master!

Who is David Wyatt and what have you done so far?
David Wyatt is an artist who lives in Devon and designs/illustrates books.
I am mainly known for my work with children's books, having illustrated many great authors including Philip Pullman, Alan Garner, Tolkien (although readers can be assured the album will be hobbit-free) and most recently Terry Pratchett.

How did you get in contact with Arena?
Many years ago I was in a band with Mr. Mitchell and it was he who landed me the job (after careful screening by Mick and Clive).

What do you think of the music of Arena and does it influence you in your work?
In my youth I came across a band called Marillion, and it wasn't long before
I was discovering the joys of prog past (Zeppelin, Yes, Rush, Tull etc.).

Arena provide a link to that glorious past, as well as adding some great new
sounds. They are an ongoing antidote to the pre-packaged, vacuous shit that
we are particularly afflicted with here in the U.K. (I've been out of the
country for 3 weeks so it's particularly noticeable at the moment).

I listen to a lot of different music while working, but Arena has generally been on when I'm designing Arena material. Hopefully this will inform the images so that they are unmistakably ‘Arena’. I have yet to hear material for the new album but it will be great to have that playing so I can really tie the images to the music.

How did you get started with the artwork for The Cage? [The cover of Cage magazine 24 and the Cage newsletter of November 2001 – eds.]
As Clive has developed his ideas for the album, I've been exploring the infinite ways I could approach the design. The special Cage artwork represents a bit of an artistic work-out; there are many elements that the listener will recognize when the album is finished but the cover/booklet is moving in a slightly different direction. It's still early days though, and I've got a lot of work left to do.

How did you get started with the artwork for Contagion?
Clive has been sending written ideas for several months, gradually breaking the broad concept into titled sections. All this time I've been creating images and evolving the look and feel of the finished thing. I have a frightening amount of sketches, photographs and designs now, only a handful of which will find their way onto the packaging.

At this point, I have an overall approach to the booklet that I'm happy with; the cover is still in it's early stages and I've got several more ideas to try before I can present it to the bosses (a scary thought).

What cover of the other Arena albums do you like the most and which one you don't like at all?
Rather predictably, The Visitor. Very simple, very striking and a little mad. But It depresses me to think about it, as I've got to come up with something that will have to sit next to it on the shelf. A very hard one to equal. I also liked Mattias Noren's booklet for breakfast in Biarritz.

It would be undiplomatic to answer your second question!

If you could design a stage for the upcoming Arena tour, what would you do?
The story behind Contagion could easily be a film (as could many other Arena tracks); I would love to create some cinematic footage to project around the band. This is obviously a little on the expensive side so don't be surprised if it doesn't happen! I've tried getting Clive to write a few number one pop hits to pay for it but sadly he has too much musical integrity.

Anything else to say?
Working on Contagion has been very hard work, but very exciting. Like all Arena fans, I can't wait to see and hear the finished album.

For more info about his work, check out David’s great website: 
http://www.david.wyatt.btinternet.co.uk/pages/web.html

By: Marcel Kolenbrander