WHAT WRAGG ART HOUSE IS ABOUT
We love the blurred edges between life and work. Much of the work we do is in direct response to our loves in life: cycling, rowing, music and art. The best work is created where there is a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the project.
Our work has encompassed graphic design for print and screen, illustration, photography and map-making.
Clients include:
Aediface Partnership, British Rowing, The Chellington Trust, Davison Highley, Emmaus, Hertfordshire County Council, Howe Dell Primary School and Children’s Centre, MS Research Trust, Open Door – St Albans, St Albans Cycle Campaign, Plan International, Rosenstiel’s, Spacemagic Gardens, St Albans City & District Council, St Columba’s School, Tti School of English, Woodfired Ovens, Woodmansterne Publications.
HISTORY
Stephen
After graduating in Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art in London, Stephen became front of house manager at the Young Vic Theatre, responsible for publicity as well as making remote control rats and rubber flying bats for productions. He then became art director at Woodmansterne Publications, where he designed the now ubiquitous square card - the first in the greetings card industry – inspired by the moon landing photography taken on the square format Hasselblad cameras.
In 1998, Stephen and Esther set up their art and design partnership, Wragg Art House in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Esther
Having studied at the Royal College of Art, Esther sold her knitted textile designs worldwide and taught part time at the London College of Furniture and Middlesex University, as well as taking workshops at universities and local schools in sand-casting, paper-making and felt-making.
Stephen and Esther met at their art foundation course in Cambridge and – three children later – have been designing, illustrating and making art ever since.
OUR PASSIONS
Stephen is a born campaigner and doer. A keen cyclist, he was instrumental in the birth of the St Albans Cycle Campaign and chairman for many years, working to make the roads safer for cyclists and encouraging people to get on their bikes. This led to numerous commissions designing cycling maps promoting the Sustrans routes throughout Hertfordshire.
Stephen and Esther started rowing in 2007. Finding that there was very little recreational rowing in the UK, Stephen was pivotal in introducing tour rowing as experienced on the continent. He was part of the team that set up Explore Rowing an initiative by British Rowing to develop a non competitive side to the sport. He created the name and designed the logo.
Having always played the guitar, Stephen’s affections transferred to the ukulele. Small and easy to take on a bike or boat, or just on your back, it is the perfect social instrument. Wanting to share his love of music making, he set up Ver Players, a growing band of more than 60 ukulele enthusiasts meeting monthly at the Hare & Hounds pub in St Albans.
For Esther, drawing, painting and making sculpture is fundamental to her well-being. She is a keen gardener and vegetable grower, an enthusiastic photographer and documenter of all their activities and always has a creative project on the go.