Illustration, drawing, artists books and zines research
Our research explores how self-publishing can allow a more diverse range of authors to communicate with an audience. Uncensored — and often made in limited editions — zines and artist's books can often tackle non-traditional subject matter.
We're researching zines that explore mental health narratives visually, either by social healthcare professionals or by service-users. We're also looking at how changing technologies are affecting traditional publishing, e-books, riso printers and letterpress publications.
Our research also covers the exploration of authorial illustration as an emerging genre. This includes graphic novels, comics and zines.
Our research covers the following topics
- Illustration
- Artists' books
- Bookbinding
- Zines
- Drawing and creative practice
- Independent publishing
- Exhibition
Methods and facilities
We use creative and curatorial practices within our research, and we're a member of the Association of Illustrators which gives specialist advice – career, legal and creative – to freelance illustrators and illustration courses.
We're also home to The Ministry of Books, a special collection of artists' books and multiples.
Recent projects include
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Clean air, good health Nairobi: Creative, participatory lung health research
A continuation of the AIR (Action for Interdisciplinary Research) Network and aligned with the research project Tupumue. Tupumue will generate new knowledge about early life course determinants of non-communicable lung disease.
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Future Fantasteek! Serial Zine
Bringing together a trichotomy of investigation; art-zines and independent publishing; artist as social commentator and drawing as a means of immediate visual communication.
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Re-FURBE – Reigniting Farming and Urban Renewal in the Built Environment
A qualitative study utilising arts-based methods will be designed and implemented to explore the lived experience of participants around food scarcity, climate change, nutrition, mental health and UF.
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The burden and early life origins of non-communicable lung disease: from burden and early life determinants to participatory inter-disciplinary solutions
A 3 year project aiming to generate new scientific knowledge about the early life course origins, burden, determinants, and prognostic significance of non-communicable lung disease in Kenya.
Research outputs
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Coast of Teeth: Travels to English Seaside Towns in an Age of Anxiety
Sykes, T., and Netter, L. (2023) "Coast of Teeth: Travels to English Seaside Towns in an Age of Anxiety", Signal Books.
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Illustrated Menagerie AR Scavenger Hunt
Hay, N. (Author). (2022) "Illustrated Menagerie AR Scavenger Hunt", Exhibition, University of Portsmouth.
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Notes
Simms, R. (Author) (2020) "Notes", Artefact.
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Reportage Drawing: Vision and Experience
Netter, L. (Accepted/In press) "Reportage Drawing: Vision and Experience" (1st ed.), Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
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Sketchbooks from covid and beyond: exploring the impetuous, improvisational, and deeply felt musings about life, politics, and the function of caricature
Netter, L. (2023) "Sketchbooks from covid and beyond: exploring the impetuous, improvisational, and deeply felt musings about life, politics, and the function of caricature", Black Book Drawing and Sketching Scientific Journal , 3(1), 38-53.
Podcast | Life Solved
Episode 7: Creative Communication for Health and Wellbeing
How a UoP collaboration is using art as the conduit for vital public health messaging around the world
Community resilience in world crises
What are the “wicked problems” facing our planet, how are they connected and how can we address them?
Saving Seasides – Why Countries Need Coastal Communities
In this episode, we take a look at seaside towns.
Discover our areas of expertise
Illustration, drawing, artists books and zines is one of 5 areas of expertise within our Art and Design: Practice, Theory and History – explore the other 4 below.
Fashion, textiles and material futures
Our fashion, textiles and material futures research is addressing important issues around fashion and textile design and its associated industries.
Graphic and communication design
Our research is looking at the history of design, and ethnographic studies in relation to design, design usability, legibility studies, design knowledge, and epistemology.
Histories and Theories of Art, Design, Visual and Material Culture
Our research locates the historical and contemporary production and consumption of art, design, visual and material culture in wider social, cultural, political and economic contexts.
Photography
We're using the photographic image in its expanded field as an investigative tool. Our research explores photography as a medium, and investigates how photographic practices shape individual subjectivity and modernity.
Interested in a PhD in Art and Design?
Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Art and Design postgraduate research degrees page.
