Illustrator Tom Hovey describes himself as “the guy who draws all the cakes.” An apt description for The Great British Bake Off‘s official illustrator – a coveted job he’s kept since it’s inception in 2010. His multi-disciplinary approach has seen him apply his unique style across a broad spectrum of genres including TV graphics, food illustration, editorial, book illustration, storyboarding, animation, apparel design, and even murals.
But it all started by sort of mistake. “It’s a real case of being at the right place at the time right time,” he told Vulture. “My best mate worked in television and suggested that I apply for a job in ‘the edit’ at this new cookery show. With no TV experience or idea about how edits worked, I blagged my way in and started two days later.”
After his editing job took off, Hovey shared with the directors and editors that his passion was actually illustration. “It led to the director coming to me in the second week saying that he felt there was a visual element missing and maybe I could come up with some ideas,” he recalled. “I sketched a few examples, we decided on a style that fit the bill and I got the gig.”
Throughout the many seasons of the show, his creative style has stayed consisted, creating appetizing illustrations of the deserts at hand. “The concept was to create drawings based on what the bakers may have sketched out when deciding what to bake in the show in their own recipe sketchbook,” explained Hovey. “The style has grown with the show and I think as the contestants’ skills have improved year on year, so have mine, and in turn my ability to display their creations in the best light.”
