Born in 1969 in Cardiff, Wales
Pete Fowler grew up in a vibrant musical environment. He was deeply influenced by the aesthetics of album covers and it was the sleeve for anarcho-punk band Crass that made the greatest impact on him.
“I have always been drawn to bands with a visual identity, and Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher’s artwork for Crass was incredibly strong, very political and quite disturbing.”
A fan of The Specials, Fowler was also impressed by the imagery used by the 2 Tone record label.
“That was when my interest in art and music really met,” he says. “I loved the label’s checkerboard motif and the man in the shades and suit. It was very monochromatic, simple imagery that helped forge a very strong identity for the music and label.”
Fowler pursued his passion for art by studying fine art at Falmouth University, graduating in 1991.
From Cornwall to London
Fowler initially made ends meet creating artwork for T-shirts and nightclub backdrops while holding small exhibitions in bars. His unique style quickly garnered attention, leading to a pivotal moment when Creation Records invited him to present his portfolio to the Welsh band Super Furry Animals.
Fowler's collaboration with Super Furry Animals became a defining aspect of his career. His first major project with the band was the album cover for Radiator in 1997, which featured his distinctive cartoon style of illustration in which the influence of his trips to Japan was beginning to show. The characters he created for the Radiator project were turned into giant inflatables, becoming part of the stage show and by extension, as Fowler himself has said, part of the band themselves.
“There are not many bands who consistently work with the same artist. Working with Super Furry Animals was like a marriage; you get to know each other better as you go along and to keep it working it’s essential to continuously bring something fresh to it.”
Partnership with the Furries continued over the years, with Fowler creating numerous album covers, single covers, and further inflatables and figurines for the band.
Monsterism
In addition to his work with Super Furry Animals, Fowler developed the Monsterism series; a collection of characters and narratives set on Monsterism Island. This project included designer toys, comics, and two soundtrack albums: The Sounds of Monsterism Island in 2005 and A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island in 2009. It has left a lasting impact on the world of designer toys and illustration.
Fowler's versatility as an artist is evident in his diverse projects. Working as a freelance artist/illustrator and designer with clients including Sony, GQ, Kia Motors, Volvic, Disney, Rough Trade, Virgin, Apple, Coke, Pepsi, the Guardian and Paul Smith, Pete has forged a career out of many hours as a child sat in front of TV cartoons and buried in comics, often playing with Star Wars figures. He is also one half of the musical duo Seahawks, with whom he has released several albums and remixed tracks for other artists.
A Unique and Enduring Presence in Contemporary Art
Fowler continues to be an influential figure in both the art and music worlds. His work is characterized by a blend of folklore, psychedelia, and super nature. His album artwork, particularly for Super Furry Animals, remains iconic.