Artist Collaboration: Turning Furious Pie’s Illustrations into Textile Art

Artist Collaboration: Turning Furious Pie’s Illustrations into Textile Art

Oct 10, 2025Tara Collette
  Free from AI ~ This article is written by Tara Collette (human).

 

Meeting Illustrator Furious Pie in Manchester’s Northern Quarter

One of my first artist collaborations was back in 2017, with artist ‘Furious Pie’ also known as Benjamin Harrison. We met on May 22nd, it was a sunny morning in Manchester. I was stomping through the Northern Quarter - if you don't know Manchester very well, this area is known for its street art and independent shops. I had a coffee in hand from Foundation Coffee House and was on my way to a design studio for an unpaid internship (I lasted a day).

Outside Fred Aldous (Manchester's best art supply shop), was a man up some ladders, spray painting shapes onto the shutter. I can’t quite remember how the conversation went, but it's likely I asked him what he was up to, which now looking back, seems a little intrusive. But I do remember Ben telling me I had lipstick on my teeth, and the utmost respect was gained in that moment. We exchanged Instagram handles, and off I skipped to my dreary 8 hours of clock-watching. 

Photo: Ben, not in 2017, but on some ladders painting outside Fred Aldous in the sun (I'm trying to build a picture here). 

From Street Art to Textile Collaboration

I created my first ever set of banners at the start of May 2017, when in University studying Graphic Design, so I was extreamly new to banner making, but keen to keep making after graduation that summer. I can only presume this is where the excitement of chatting to Ben came from. I was very aware that I wasn’t an illustrator; I had no creative identity or style of my own, but I knew I was good at this making banner thing. I assume I asked Ben on that sunny morning if he fancied working together, as there is no email correspondence or messages between us discussing a potential collaboration.

Fast forward 6 months, Ben emailed me a shape that he thought would work well in textile form:

Exploring New Banner Directions

I was keen for this creative collaboration with Ben, as my banner work back then had been extremely text-heavy during my time at University. I wanted to explore something more fluid, something that didn’t rely on perfect typography alignment or kerning. Working with Ben’s illustrated shapes gave me the freedom I was looking for; his abstract, playful forms allowed me to move away from typographical precision.

Ben's illustrations made me think of precarious little ceramic vases with small succulents sprouting from them. There was a playfulness to his illustrations and yet a strong sense of consistency - each irregular and organic piece seemed to inhabit its own small world. 

Translating Illustration into Fabric Form

I created the banner by scaling up his design and tracing it, hand-cutting every individual piece, which gave the process a slow-paced rhythm that I enjoyed. I was eager to see how his usually two-dimensional shapes could take on a new life when translated into physical fabric form. I used a soft linen-like base and layered up the cotton shapes piece by piece - giving a new depth and energy to his illustrated shape.

Lessons from My First Artist Collaboration

Creating this banner with Ben taught me a few things back in 2017. I didn't applique anything down when I first began making banners - this came a few years later, when some shapes had inevitably started to peel off. Eventually, when I had mastered appliquing on the sewing machine, I went back to all my old pieces and secured the designs in place. This is something I now do on every banner - without fail. 

Photo: Banner for Manchester's Patagonia store - in collaboration with Manchester illustrator, David Bailey

Small World Vibes – Coming Full Circle with Fred Aldous

In a true small-world twist, after several large-scale banner commissions within Manchester and this collaboration with Ben, Fred Aldous reached out to me to ask if I would like to be their Artist in Residence for 2022! This felt like a surreal, full-circle moment after I had worked hard networking and painting the town ... with banners for the past 5 years. 

I'd like to think that working with other artists like Ben Harrison and Mariel Osborn (both of whom worked at Fred Aldous at the time) helped me get on the creative radar of Freds.

Photo: My artist in residence window display with Fred Aldous, 2022. 

Looking Back: Growing as a Textile Artist in Manchester’s Creative Community

Now, looking back in 2025, I am super grateful to people like Ben Harrison, Mariel Osborn and David Bailey. They each guided me and welcomed me into Manchester's creative scene and these initial collaborations and friendships 100% shaped my career as a textile artist within Manchester. 

I love that Manchester was named the 'creative capital' of the UK (by Adobe Express) in 2024 - this is a city that operates on a close-knit network of artists, illustrators, makers, and designers who all overlap, share opportunities, and champion one another. I think this early chance meeting and collaboration with Ben demonstrates just that. 

Future artist collaborations 

If you’re an illustrator or artist interested in exploring textile collaborations, please get in touch. I'm especially keen to apply for artist open calls and exhibitions with collaborative pieces in 2026. 



About the Author

Tara Collette is a Manchester-based banner maker with over 9 years of experience.

Her portfolio includes work with clients such as Camden Town Brewery, Represent Clothing, and The Breakfast Club.

Instagram

Photography: joesmithphoto.com