John Bramwell
Album artwork for
The Light Fantastic
When I was asked to design the cover for John Bramwell’s latest album, The Light Fantastic, it felt like the kind of brief you always hope will land one day. The project came through Dave Fidler — guitarist in John’s band — who reached out to see if I’d like to create the artwork for its release through Townsend Records.
For those unfamiliar, John Bramwell is the former frontman of I Am Kloot — a band that defined the early 2000s indie landscape with poetic grit. This solo album felt more luminous, more layered. And fittingly, John had his heart set on using a stained glass window from Strasbourg Cathedral as the centrepiece of the cover.
Rather than rely on photography (which felt too literal, and posed some practical challenges), I suggested a hand drawn interpretation — something that would bring warmth and tactility to the design while staying true to the intricacy of the window itself.
We began with a Rembrandt-inspired palette: earth-toned, classical, heavy with browns and shadow. But John wanted more light. In the end, we let the colours speak — vivid jewel tones glowing through a black background, like the real thing catching sunlight.
His own handwriting is used for the tracklist — another layer of personal touch — while the inner gatefold features photographs by Anthony Harrison, capturing the mood behind the music. The final design extended across t-shirts, posters, and gig visuals, becoming a full identity for the album.
One of our favourite moments came at the launch at Stoller Hall. A breathtaking performance, made even more surreal when a few people asked to get their vinyl sleeves signed — the kind of full circle moment that makes you quietly take stock.
These are the projects I love — the ones where music, story, art and object come together. Where nothing is rushed, and every detail earns its place.
If you're an artist, label, or creative looking to turn your next release into a visual experience — I’d love to hear from you. Let’s create something worth pressing to vinyl.