James Jarvis (born London, 1970) is a British illustrator and toy designer, a pioneer of the soft vinyl designer toy revolution.
Jarvis began his career as a designer for the fashion company Silas. He created characters at his own company, Amos Toys, each character with its own personality and background world. He now works as a freelance illustrator.
Education Jarvis was educated at Dulwich College, London. After a foundation course at Chelsea College of Arts he went on to study illustration at the University of Brighton (1990–1993) and took a master's degree in illustration at the Royal College of Art (1993–1995).
Career 1994: freelance illustrator 1998: begins collaboration with London fashion company Silas, designing a moulded plastic toy, Martin 1999: more Silas toys, Evil Martin and Bubba Silas 2000: exhibition at PARCO Gallery, Tokyo, later at Nagoya, of 'World of Pain', an imaginary environment invented for Silas 2000: World of Pain comic launched 2000: new toy Tattoo-Me Keith, for Silas 2001: Lars World of Pain, for Silas 2002: Juvenile Delinquents characters for Sony Capsule Toy 2002: book James Jarvis Drawings published 2002: With Sofia Prantera and Russell Waterman (directors of Silas), sets up Amos Toys 2003: three sets of In-Crowd toys for Amos: Forever Sensible Motorcycle Club, Ages of Metal and Zombies 2003-2007: King Ken (ape icon), Vortigern's Machine, the Great Sage of Wisdom, Tales From Green Fuzz, Rusty, Wiggs, Yod's Micro Theatre of Dreams August 2006: with Liberty of London, creates Vortigern's Machine and The Great Sage of Wisdom displays in the menswear department of Liberty's Regent Street, London, store January 2007: exhibition at Festival International de la Bande Dessinee, Angoulême, France March 2007: launches blogspot at jamesjarvis.blogspot.com: "An insight into artistic genius, or the rantings of a madman on the road to oblivion? You decide!" April 2007: runs in Zürich Marathon April 2011: Collaborated with Coca-Cola for their 125th Anniversary February 2012: 'Fifty-Two Spheres' - solo Exhibition at Beach London Gallery, Shoreditch June 2013: 'Objects in Space' - solo Exhibition at Beach London Gallery, Shoreditch James Jarvis Drawings (Relax Book, Tokyo, 2002) Vortigern's Machine and the Great Sage of Wisdom (Amos Novelties Ltd, 2006) Yodzine (Amos Novelties Ltd, 2007) Selected Drawings (Amos Novelties Ltd, 2008)
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