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Celebrating Northern Phrases With Colour: The Story Behind our mardy bum Cross Stitch Kit
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The Artists Collection, our collection of modern, beginner-friendly cross stitch kits featuring artwork by British artists, has just got bigger! For the newest in the line up, the Mardy Bum Cross Stitch Kit, I had the pleasure of working with Marc Godfrey-Murphy (AKA Marco Looks), a talented illustrator based in York whose work is full of colour and joy and celebrates many a Northernism.
I first met Marc at a Christmas Market many moons ago and I fell in love with the amount of colour he uses in his designs, While I got to know him over that four days that we had adjoining stalls (the 'strangers on a train' phenomenon is strong when you're stall neighbours!), I wanted to let him introduce himself to you!
Tell us about yourself marc!
Hello! I’m Marc, a former Cbeebies animator (#teamnumberblocks) now freelance Illustrator and independent greetings cards publisher, based in York. I started my illustration business, MarcoLooks, back in 2018. A values-driven and illustration-led business, with colour and design at the heart of my work., my work is now stocked in many shops across the UK. For the past two years, I have created the York Nutcracker Christmas trail and was recently appointed to keep the Paddington sculpture in the Minster garden looking its best. I also work as a part-time animation tutor helping students join the animation industry.
What influences have shaped your artistic style over the years?
My work in children’s animation has certainly strengthened my love of colour. However, I have been a massive fan of Disney animation all my life. More specifically, the work of Mary Blair, holds my affection and attention. She was one of the artists who created the visual design for Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and her work inspired my concept designs for the first York Nutcracker Trail back in 2024. Life is better with colour.
Can you tell us the story behind the 'mardy bum' cross stitch design?
As a Southerner, living in the North (for the last 14 years), I have grown really fond of local colloquialisms. A few years ago, I created a short series celebrating northern phrases and sayings, and Mardy Bum, is probably the one that always tickles me most. I started using that particular colour palette in my work, over lockdown, a time when maximum colour brought much needed joy!
Apart from ‘Mardy Bum’, is there a particular local term that you love most?
I live in York, and Yorkshire folk have a knack of making you feel like you’re in safe company each time someone refers to you as “love”. It always makes me smile. I went back down south recently and used the word “bob” in the context of “I’ll bob round to yours”, and my friend’s didn’t know what I meant. I also referred to a packed lunch as a “pack up”, and was greeted with nothing but raised eyebrows!
what makes you a mardy bum?
I think of a mardy bum, as an affectionate way of calling someone a bit lazy and grumpy. Besides, it’s always fun to use the word “bum”, don’t you think? I didn’t even realise it was also in a song until more recently.
I’m not a mardy bum myself. No, nope, nuh-uh, not me. I am a radical optimist. I am perpetually hopeful. I try to offer a positive stance whenever I can. Not to be worthy or saintly, but rather because I have a weak tolerance for anyone with the disposition of being a mardy bum. My colourway rainbow creates the irony in the mardy bum design. I am the rainbow, offering a bit of colour to world of the mardy bum.
have you ever tried cross stitch yourself?
I haven’t done any cross stitch since school. In year 9 textiles, I cross stitched a giant admiral butterfly, it was so relaxing to do. We never had mindfulness or anything like that at school, so thank goodness for our textiles class introducing us to an art form to help us relax, right?
What was it like collaborating on a design that would become a cross stitch kit?
It’s been really good fun and I’m so grateful. Seeing my work in print is something I’m used to. The thrill of spotting cards I’ve designed in a shop, is the best feeling. However, I never imagined my designs would make it to a product like this. Hopefully folks will enjoy a mindful and colourful moment bringing the Mardy Bum into their craft time.
If you could design another cross stitch piece, what would it feature?
I’m a massive fan of musical theatre. I recently created a collection of cards celebrating the joy of going to see a show, so something in that theme is probably where I would be keen to explore. Perhaps involving theatre programs, concession stands, tickets and stages, that kind of thing.
A huge thank you to Marc for trusting me with his beautiful design and for sharing the story of Marco Looks.
If you’re ready to bring a bit of colour to your cross stitch, the
Mardy Bum Cross Stitch Kit is available now!
J xx
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