The Black Parade

Black is Black

Paint it Black!

Black or White?

End of Part One

In November 1998, Jack & I opened Black Sheep with one goal in mind, ‘to become the No.1 agency of choice in Wales’. Since that day, we’ve built a reputation for great creative work and a client service that’s second to none. We’ve done this by providing strategic and creative thinking across all media, building strong and consistent brands for clients in the public and private sectors from our pen in Cardiff Bay, Wales UK.

Becoming the agency of choice was always was a big ask, we know. But an idea that’s stayed with us, having spent the last 12 years driving towards that dream, through good times and bad.

It’s been a roller coaster ride that’s seen the agency grow to 19 staff at our peak with a turnover of 1.3 million. However, our passion and commitment to achieving this shared vision has never faltered, even when the odds were stacked against us. Especially in recent times where economic pressures have taken their toll on our clients and subsequently us.

So we’ve come to the end of our 12 year apprenticeship in Wales’ creative sector and are looking forward to the next twelve years with a renewed sense of focus and direction.

This post is dedicated to the people who made Black Sheep, the agency what it was and still wants to be. A celebration of who did what and when. Their contribution to the agency, large & small, helped make it exciting, creatively stimulating and a pleasure to have worked along side (most of them anyway). Seeing how most of them have developed and moved on to new challenges has been a real thrill for us and we wish them every success in their future careers.

The mix of staff from 1998 through to November 2010 changed as the needs of the business changed. Here you can see when each member of the flock played their part in Black Sheep.

Staff in order of service and where they are now (if known):
Neil Asher_Creative Director
Jack Bland_Account Director
Dion Hester_Graphic Design Intern
Dan Clemo_Graphic Designer — Senior
Joanna Cook Abbott_Graphic Designer
Lee Griffith_Graphic Designer (UWIC PDR)
Chris Coles_Consultant — Chairman
James Osgood_Account Director (Peter’s Pies)
Jason Veal_New Media & Interactive Developer
Ruth Tuttsel_Finance Manger
Marc Jennings_Junior Designer (The Undercard)
Clare Scott (was Sinkinson)_Graphic Designer — Senior
Graham Hutchings_New Media & Interactive Developer (Atticus)
Gareth Wall_Graphic Designer — Senior
Katherine Formosa Bown_Account Executive
Rebbeca Holliday_Finance Manager
Jane Barker_Studio & Production Manager (Westdale)
Tom Tribe_Graphic Design & Interactive_work experience
Robert Cozens_Managing Director (RCA Marketing)
Nicola Osgood (was Northway)_Account Manager
Tom Dixon_Graphic Design Intern
Amanda Hopkins Maclellan_Finance
Aled Jones_Graphic Designer (Notjones)
Anne Scourfield_Graphic Design Intern (Teaching)
Catrin Lewis_Graphic Designer (Neat Supreme)
Darren Scammell_Sales Director
Gavin Richards_Graphic Designer (Horizon)
Jon Paul James_Graphic Designer
Darren Jamieson_Web Developer
Gareth Acreman_Studio & Production Manager
Terry Evans_Artworker
Claire Siggery_Graphic Design Intern
Kevin Poole_Account Executive
Emily Scott_Account Executive
Kate Achterlonie (Deceased)_Junior Account Executive
Alice Child Dabiri_Account Executive
Alexis West_Graphic Designer (The Swinging SeeSaw)
Pam Toye_Finance Manager
Kim Manson_Junior Account Executive
Steve Leard_Junior Designer – Middleweight (StazikerJones)
Ana Rita Cruz_Graphic Design Intern (SpinDogs)
Gemma Roberts_Graphic Design Intern

Festive iPhone Wallpaper’s from the pen

Festive iPhone Wallpaper from Black Sheep

Jack & Neil iPhone Wallpaper

Download & install for iPhone & iPod touch

1. Click on any one of the above “320 x 480” Wallpapers to download the wallpaper to your computer.
2. Right-click on the downloaded image and select “Add to iPhoto Library”.
3. Switch to iTunes and make sure the wallpaper image is part of the library that gets synced with your iPhone or iPod touch.
4. After syncing, tap the “Photos” icon on your iPhone or iPod touch.
5. Locate the image you want to use and tap to view.
6. Tap the arrow icon, and select “Use As Wallpaper”.

More Information
iPhone User Guide 14MB PDF
iPod touch User Guide 12MB PDF

12th Black Christmas

Wishing our friends & clients of the last 12 years a very merry Christmas.
We’re looking forward to seeing and working you in the new year!

Jack & Neil

Staying warm in the coldiest climates requires the best kit

Delivered to retailers at the end of last week, the new & updated, Multimat® product range brochure for 2011.

Click on the Brochure cover (above) to view the brochure at Issuu.

‘It’s testament to the close working relationship between our two companies, that we’ve spent the last 5 years continuing to develop the Multimat® brand in the outdoors market.’

Jack Bland
Black Sheep Account Director

Heading down to Swansea Metropolitan University

Working in Cardiff for the last 16 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some truly great creatives, with most of them starting as juniors. Fresh out of college and looking for that all important first rung on the ladder. One of my responsibilities at Black Sheep has been to find that talent.

As Black Sheep’s Creative Director, this experience has given me the opportunity to help guide and nurture the talented creatives that we’ve been fortunate to employ over the years. Whilst seeing them go on to greater heights in their careers has been a real thrill for me and has probably been the most challenging and yet the most rewarding part of my career to-date.

Lecturing, has been something I’ve been interested in doing, but didn’t know how or when it might happen in my career. So naturally, I jumped at the opportunity when Angela Williams, Course Director, BA(Hons) Design for Advertising at Swansea Metropolitan University approached me with a view to teaching on the course. As it’s especially relevant and exciting for me to come back to Swansea after spending a few formative years at the college, studying Technical Illustration (1990-91), when it was Swansea Institute of Higher Education guided me to where I am today.

So, as of 28th September, I’ll be at the University every Tuesday until Christmas.

Click on the links if you want to know more about the BA(Hons) Design for Advertising Course or Swansea Metropolitan University.

1 last studio space available in Cardiff Bay

After opening the gate to the Pen a few months ago, we’ve welcomed four new tenant’s to 103 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Namely; The Undercard, Hello Tank, Fauvel Khan and Advanced Jewel Craft, seeing Bute Chambers become a real hub of creativity in the bay.

We’ve got 1 studio left, which benefits from good natural light and can accommodate up to 12 people.

LOCATION
103 Bute Street, Cardiff – 2nd floor studio TO LET

Cardiff is the principal commercial and administrative centre of Wales with an urban population of approximately 315,000 and in excess of 500,000 living within 10 miles of the City Centre.  The City enjoys excellent road, rail and air communications. Theses include the A470, A48 and A4232 which lead from the M4 to the City Centre, Cardiff Central Railway Station which is part of the Great Western Rail Network, and Cardiff International Airport.
 
The property is located within the heart of Cardiff Bay approximately one mile south east of Cardiff City Centre. Mermaid Quay Festival Shopping and Restaurant Complex, The Millennium Centre, The Welsh Assembly Building and Cardiff Bay Waterfront are all within the near vicinity.

The Taff Crossing and the Butetown Tunnel which provides dual carriageway access to the M4 Motorway at Junction 33.

DESCRIPTION
Second Floor
Studio 1 – Front Office — 67.96 sq.m. (12 persons max)
The available accommodation is situated to on second floor of a three storey property built at the turn of the last century. The offices benefit from recent renovation including wooden flooring, inset service boxes with Cat5 network cabling installed, wall mounted cupboard storage, central heating, 5 desks are included-however more can be arranged on application. The building and studio’s are alarmed and benefit from a door entry system, allowing tenants out-of-hours access to their respective units. Tea-point, fridge, dishwasher and W.C. facilities are provided for. There is also a boardroom facility to house 10 – 15 people available subject to prior booking on a fair usage policy.

LEASE
This unit is available immediately to lease on flexible terms. Further details are available upon application.
 
RENT
Upon application.

For prices and further information, contact:
Jack Bland
jack@blacksheep.info