Highbury & Emirates Stadium Illustration : Arsenal FC Heritage & Architectural Art Project

A walk to Highbury...
Highbury is a place that carries weight, even in its absence. What remains today is quieter, residential, enclosed...but the structure still holds traces of what it once was. The Art Deco facades, the symmetry, the sense of arrival. It’s a different kind of presence now, but no less distinct. This project began as an exploration of that shift, how a stadium, once defined by movement and noise, becomes something more static while still retaining its identity.

The Brief
The focus was to create a 'Heritage Range' to include my Highbury illustration, of the not just as a former football ground, but as an architectural space with its own visual language. The second part of the brief was to create new illustrations of the modern Emirates Stadium.

Process
As with most of my work, the starting point was observation.
I spent time around the site, studying the remaining facades and how they sit within their new context. What stood out was the contrast between the clean, almost formal architectural lines and the quieter, residential atmosphere that now surrounds them.

Initial sketches focused on symmetry and proportion, particularly the strong horizontal and vertical lines of the Art Deco detailing. These were gradually simplified into a more controlled composition, removing visual noise while preserving the defining characteristics of the structure.
Where Highbury is about composition, the Emirates is about flow. Even sketching it felt different. At Highbury, I focused on symmetry. At the Emirates, I tried to capture motion and scale, which is much harder to pin down on paper.

The final illustration is not a direct representation of a single viewpoint, but a refined interpretation, combining elements to create a balanced and recognisable form.

Applications
The Highbury and Emirates illustrations were part of a wider range of merchandise that included Art Prints, Tea Towels, Mugs, Magnets, Keychains, Socks, Glass cases and more.

Approach
This project reflects a broader approach to illustrating architecture with cultural significance. Working from real observation, and developing a visual language that can translate across formats. Stadiums in particular sit at the intersection of design and identity. The aim is to capture both, without overcomplicating either.

Commissions & Collaborations
I work with brands, clubs, and cultural organisations to develop illustration-led projects rooted in place and identity. If you’re looking to commission work around stadiums, architecture, or culturally significant spaces, I’d be happy to discuss your project.