My college at university was tiny–there was about thirty people in my year and we pretty much all lived on site for all three years. It was much more of a boarding school type of experience rather than a bustling thousands-of-undergrads-everywhere one. I really treasure those years and those people. We would bump up against one another far more than if we could have been lost in the crowds of our choosing but it had different and stranger fruit; like the deep fondness one feels for cousins and a whole panoply of funny little habits and rituals and in-jokes that we developed.
Charlie was in my year and she is a spark, a bobby dazzler; bright and beautiful and deep, with an absurd and surreal sense of humour. Ben is a lucky fellow, he’ll never be bored.
I was really stoked to be asked to design their wedding invitations, especially when they used the words ‘sea’ and ‘books’ and sent me this picture for inspiration. It had me reaching for my Irish lament violin even though I don’t play, am not Irish and the picture is of somewhere in Devon. There’s nothing for anyone who’s invited to lament though because they are having their reception in one of those houses and one of those fields. You luckies.
After much paper-cutting, increased Photoshop learning (thank you to my ever patient friend Phil) and printing discussions, off they went, along with the original artwork…
…and here’s to much adventure and bobby dazzling in the marriage of Mister Ben and Miss Charlie. x
Hannah Stoney is a British artist and writer.