Ian Reynolds

I have been working as a designer and illustrator since completing a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 1989. I worked for the BBC as a technical illustrator and photographer for several years before starting my own graphics business. In recent years I have also been employed as a lecturer in graphic design and a freelance illustrator, designer and photographer.

I tend to split my time working either from my home studio based in a small worcestershire village, a friends studio in Worcester; or visiting various aircraft collections and airshows from around the UK.

The idea behind DreamBird came from a childhood passion for WW2 aircraft that the intervening years have not managed to shake off. Illustrating war birds combines all my interests: technical drawing, photographic research, aircraft and a kind of professional admiration for the art of the pin-up. It also gives me an excuse to spend plenty of time crawling over old aircraft recording their every detail!

I guess every war bird fan secretly has a name they would call their fantasy aircraft, their Dream Bird. Traditionally wives and girlfriends became the inspiration for many aircraft names (Ferocious Frankie, based at IWM Duxford was named after Major Hopkins wife) but many others carried more esoteric monicas.

What would you call yours?