The renowned graphic artist joins forces with five music legends in a unique collaboration to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.
We can all probably name more famous singers and guitarists than drummers. But ultimately, an amazing drummer is the bedrock of every great rock classic, and they deserve to be celebrated a heck of a lot more. It seems that graphic designer Anthony Burrill feels similarly, given the direction of his latest work.
The project, titled One Two Three Four, features a series of limited-edition screen prints that showcase Burrill’s signature typographic style combined with iconic drumming patterns. They were produced with the help of Harvey Lloyd Print Studios and will be exclusively available on the Teenage Cancer Trust website.
The designer, known for his powerful and positive messaging, has created exclusive artworks in partnership with drumming legends, including Paul McCartney’s drummer Abe Laboriel Jnr, Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders, Simple Minds’ Cherisse Osei, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, and Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison.
What’s you can buy
Each print interprets the musician’s favourite drumming pattern into a striking visual representation, with the exception of Matt Helders’ piece, which is based on the intro to Arctic Monkeys’ fan-favourite song Brainstorm. There are only 100 prints available for each design in the limited-edition series. Each of these is autographed by both the artist Anthony Burrill and the respective drummer.
In addition to the autographed prints, which are priced at £85 each, he’s designed retro-style T-shirts and an A3 screen-print poster featuring his typographic interpretation of a drum roll. These items are available exclusively through the Teenage Cancer Trust’s online store for £30-£40.
The project aims to raise £40,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. This amount could fund a full-time Outreach Nurse for an entire year, providing crucial support for young people battling cancer across the UK.
Music and being human
Anthony, whose work is held in permanent collections at prestigious institutions such as the V&A and The Design Museum in London, is clearly enthusiastic about the project. “Music is a vital part of being human,” he says. “It connects us, brings us joy and creates a feeling of community.
“As a teenager, my love of music helped shape my character and introduced me to the creative world. Working with this select group of musicians has been an incredible and unique experience.”
This project aligns with Burrill’s history of supporting charitable causes and collaborating with musicians, including Kraftwerk, Air and Sigur Rós. It also reflects his passion for creativity without limitations and his ability to push traditional letterpress printing into new territories.
Micky England, senior product manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, praised the collaboration, saying, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Anthony Burrill, Mike Dolbear, and the outstanding drummers on these incredible pieces for our online shop. The prints really encapsulate the energy of drumming rhythms and are in Anthony’s signature style, which will be perfect for fans of both.”
With every day bringing news of cancer to seven young people aged 13-24 in the UK, the funds raised through this initiative will contribute significantly to Teenage Cancer Trust’s mission of providing specialised care and support to young cancer patients.
