‘Durham’s drissle
Makes it tricky as
I climb from the middle
Always take mead for courage
But today I feel a little funny
Is that crow calling my name
And is it starring
I’m reflecting that I don’t have any savings
Gave them all to my agent
I’m unstable and I’ve slipped’

‘A Tightrope Walker Falls to Their Death in 1237’
Durham, Come Save Me
Faithful Johannes
Out 3rd July

This month, in the lead up to the ‘Durham, Come Save Me’ album launch, I’ll be sharing some of the ideas and sketches that led to the final design of the album artwork.

Most of these are me just getting ideas out of my head and onto the page, so expect extremely loose, quick drawings that haven’t been polished very much, if at all.

Today’s sketch’s were inspired by the song ‘A Tightrope Walker Falls to Their Death in 1237’

At this point, and to be honest from the start of the project, I thought Hob of Pelaw would be the cover star of the album.

Here I’m trying to get the feel and weight of a tightrope walker standing on a rope. I also used reference images to work out the clothing of people in 1237 and to see what someone looks like falling off the rope.

Hob died in 1237 after falling from a tightrope suspended between the centre tower and one of the west towers.

Hob was there to help draw a crowd for the market that was held on Palace Green.

This tragedy caused Henry lll to intervene and tell the prior of Durham that he had destroyed his chances of becoming the next Bishop of Durham.

Hob now has a headstone next to the north door, close to where he fell.
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Pre-orders for the CD with a lyric sheet/ download available now at: https://faithfuljohannes.bandcamp.com/album/durham-come-save-me