After graduating in 2004 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Art and Design I began working as an Interactive Designer for the BBC. I then worked for several years as a graphic designer at various multidisciplinary London design consultancies (Fitch, The One Off and Kino Design). In 2009 I began working independently as a designer and photographer, and in 2010 moved from London to Suffolk.
I work in a wide range of design disciplines including brand identity and logo design, brand communications for print and web, illustration, book design and WordPress website design and development.
In addition to my design work I also take on various photographic commissions such as documentary photography, environmental and location portraiture, interiors, exteriors and food photography. With my photography I favour a simple, natural, reportage style that makes use of the natural light available when possible. I do however often use artificial lighting for food photography to help ensure consistent and accurate colours.
Brand Identity
Brand Identity projects can either be about creating a completely new brand identity for a new business or refreshing and improving upon an existing identity for an established brand.
Print Design
Print Design may be for branding or promotional purposes. A business may typically need business cards, brochures, leaflets and stationery.
Websites
I design websites using WordPress, a popular CMS (content management system) which enables clients to edit and add new content themselves, once the site has been built. I can also provide support and advice with ongoing maintenance, backups and SEO.
Book Design
All aspects of book design, from the initial design concepts for the layout and cover design, to final artwork ready for print. Particular care and attention is taken over the typesetting to ensure a high standard of typographic design.
Exteriors Photography
Exterior photography of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, houses, gardens and more.
Environmental Portraits
An environmental portrait is when the subject is photographed in a particular environment, perhaps the place where they work, their home, or anywhere that relates to who they are, to give further insight into the life or character of the subject.
Location Portraits
A more traditional style of portraiture. With location portraits, a suitable indoor or outdoor location may be used as a setting for photographing the subject, to create an interesting backdrop to the portrait.
Documentary Photography
Photographing an event, people or location to create images that can then be used in print and digital brand communications, social media and other marketing purposes. Documentary photography makes use of natural light, and un-posed, candid shots.
Illustration
Illustration can be used to convey information that perhaps would be hard to achieve in a photograph. I can create bespoke illustrations for use in book layouts, websites, or marketing campaigns.
Infographics
Infographics can be designed in a large variety of ways, and might use a combination of text, illustrations and photographs, as well as conventional maps, graphs, tables and charts.
Food Photography
Food photography for restaurants, cafes, shops. I shoot the food in situ, (within the restaurant or cafe, rather than in a studio), with a table top lighting set up. Set up is quick and simple, and several dishes can be shot this way straight from the kitchen in a relatively short space of time, and with minimal disruption to any customers present.
Interior Photography
Interior photography of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, houses and more. A combination of types of shot may be used to capture both wide expanses and to focus on smaller room details or special products etc.
Working with Tam Preston has been a great asset to our business. She has an amazing ability to fashion something perfect from my sketchy ideas. Tam also brings a wealth of practical knowledge to anything that we need design work for – be it branding, menu design, vouchers, tokens, loyalty cards. She’s also a pleasure to work with: pleasant, reliable and professional.
Tracy Allum
Over the past year I have worked with Tam to produce both a website and advertising brochures for the Thames sailing barge Thalatta owned by East Coast Sail Trust. She has taken a lead in all areas from inception right up to publishing and at all times has reliably produced work of the highest standard to my complete satisfaction.
Mike Keeling
I have worked with David and Tamsin on half a dozen published books and more in the pipeline. They are excellent to work with – they keep to deadlines, they show a positive interest in the text, and they are innovative and additive.
Ruth Artmonsky
I worked with Tam on a project to create a brand profile for my new company, with a strong and impactful logo, a visually appealing and interactive website, and a range of marketing tools. I really appreciated Tam’s contribution of ideas and content and I was very happy with the results and frequently receive feedback from customers on the strength of the logo and the impact of the website versus my competitors.
John Preston
Tam designed and illustrated a small book of verse for me. Her line drawings were delightful and greatly enhanced the meaning of the poems. The design with its clean lines and simple format made it a very attractive book. I left all the design to her and I was extremely pleased with the result.