If you've ever wandered through Bristol and thought, "You know what this city needs? A giant dinosaur attacking the Clifton Suspension Bridge" then there's a good chance you've already come across the work of Dixon Does Doodles.
At Socktopus, we're always looking for ways to bring original artwork and fresh sock ideas to our customers. Working with independent artists like Dixon Does Doodles allows us to create socks that tell a story, whether that's celebrating landmarks, showcasing local talent or simply putting a giant dinosaur where it definitely shouldn't be.
It's collaborations like these that help make Socktoverse what it is.
Known for his distinctive illustrations packed with dinosaurs, monsters, zombies and all manner of wonderfully strange creations, Jon has built a loyal following through his colourful doodles and unmistakable style.
We caught up with the man behind the pen to talk dinosaurs, murals, Socktopus and what's next.
First things first, who is Dixon Does Doodles?
I'm Jon, a doodler based in Bristol. I was born in West Yorkshire many years ago and it was bloody lovely. I later moved to Brighton for love and fun in the South East sun, then after our children started popping out we moved to Bristol.
I've always been a doodler. As a kid I loved art at school and eventually went on to study illustration and printmaking at university. After graduating, though, I fell out of love with it and ended up working in a variety of retail roles.
For years, every birthday and Christmas gift I received seemed to be a pencil, a pen or a sketchbook. My family we’re clearly trying to tell me something. Eventually I realised I was missing a creative outlet, so I started drawing customers, workplace interactions and dinosaurs while working hard at my day job.
One day, a friend saw one of my drawings and asked if they could buy it. That got me thinking. Maybe other people would like my work too. Over the last ten years, that's exactly what I've been doing.
Why doodles?
Because I can't stop.
Doodling has always been how I process ideas, conversations and sometimes boredom. Dinosaurs, monsters and weird creatures just seem to appear naturally when I put pencil to paper. It's never felt forced, it's simply how my brain works.
What's your creative process?
Everything starts with lots of pencil sketches.
Whether I've got a commission, a new idea or I'm chatting on the phone, I'll usually be sketching something. Once I'm happy with a drawing, I'll scan it into my iPad and use Procreate to redraw, line and colour the final piece.
It's a mix of traditional sketching and digital illustration, which gives me the freedom to experiment while keeping that hand-drawn feel.
How did you discover Socktopus?
Socktopus! Best damn sock shop in the land!
I was actually contacted by the awesome former Socktopus Bristol store manager, Gemma, who spotted one of my doodles in a shop window. She asked if I'd be interested in a collaboration and I think I replied "yes" before she'd even taken her finger off the send button.
What socks are you currently wearing?
Right now I'm wearing my Capybara Cowboy socks.
A solid choice, if you ask us.
Tell us about your Socktopus collaboration
We decided to create a sock based on one of my most popular Bristol-themed doodles, Dinosaur vs Clifton Suspension Bridge.
It's not the most imaginative title in the world, but it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The whole process was brilliant. I worked closely with Angela on refining the design and bringing it to life as a sock. She's an awesome designer, incredibly patient and made the whole experience really enjoyable.
Seeing one of my doodles transformed into something people can actually wear has been pretty special.
We also have to talk about the mural you painted in our Bristol store...
Gemma asked me to tackle something I'd never really done publicly before, a large under-the-sea mural inside the Bristol shop.
Captain Socktopus was the star of the show, surrounded by fish, sea creatures and all sorts of underwater doodles.
Because of the height and angle of the wall, and the fact the shop would still be busy while I worked, I came up with a slightly different approach. I pre-drew lots of elements from the mural and had them printed as vinyl stickers.
That meant I could paint the background first and then apply the illustrations afterwards. It worked brilliantly. The colours really pop against the painted backdrop and it gave me much more control over the finished piece while allowing me to pack in even more doodles.
Where can people find your work?
You can find everything I'm up to at www.DixonDoesDoodles.com.
You can also follow my doodling adventures on Instagram at @dixondoesdoodles.
What's next for Dixon Does Doodles?
There's plenty on the drawing board.
I'm currently working on a new batch of colouring books, including Bugs and Slugs!, Ocean!, and Magic and Monsters!.
There are also more Dinosaur vs... illustrations in the works, and this time they won't just be Bristol-based.
I'm hoping to create some new greeting cards too. I haven't actually thought of anything hilarious for them yet, so don't rush me.
And, of course, I'd love to design more socks.
We'll certainly be keeping our fingers crossed for that one.