Martyn Hayes, is a designer and artist born, bred and working in Leeds.

I've lived the life of an ‘old school designer’ where having the ability to draw your ideas quickly, was the only way to communicate your thinking for clients were valuable skills.

Over the years drawing has become less part of my professional life, and much more part of my personal creative life. The work on this website is essentially my creative mindfulness on a page, connecting the subjects I find interesting with the reason I became a designer in the first place. 

I’ve always been interested in storytelling in art. Artists weave a narrative into what they create, however slight or subtle. Incorporating this into my work gives me a focus to look for; buildings bursting with history, places with personality, and the people that use those spaces.

Colour is an important aspect of my work also. I love to intensify colours and challenge reality with the unusual and unexpected. I find it can give a drawing a different perspective, in a vibrant and fun way.

I draw because I just love it! You can usually find me sourcing a colourful building to draw, urban sketching around Leeds or doing my secret train portrait sketching on my commute. Quite simply, it makes me happy, and I hope you like it too.