Joe Magee is an independent artist, illustrator and film maker based in England.
He has shown works at many galleries including The Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Victoria and Albert Museum, International Symposium of Electronic Arts (Japan, Liverpool), Watershed, The National Portrait Gallery and The Royal Academy. He has artworks in the permanent collections of University of the Arts London and University of Bath.
Joe has been commissioned by a range of international publications to provide illustrations, such as The Guardian, Time magazine (including 5 covers published), The New York Times, Libération, The Washington Post and Nature magazine. He works regularly with a range of universities including Johns Hopkins, Boston University and TUFTS.
Joe regularly collaborates with British comedic performer Bill Bailey and they’ve made many short films together, often co-writing and co-directing. These films have shown as part of live theatrical shows (including venues such as Wembley Arena) as well as on TV. In 2021 Joe directed and produced Bill’s stand-up show, Larks In Transit at The Royal Opera House. He has designed several books for Bill including Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to British Birds and Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness. And also designed a Tudor spaceship.
Joe has won numerous awards for both film and illustration, including two D&AD (British Design and Art Direction) Awards For Outstanding Achievement. A 2022 design and illustration collaboration with Boston University’s prestigious School of Public Health won 8 industry awards.
Joe studied Design at London College of Communication, Glasgow School of Art, and completed a Master’s Degree in Communication Media at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Joe likes to work with a range of people and organisations and happily works with charities and individuals who need support. He aims to continue working across media, experimenting with both moving and still images, both commercially and non-commercially.
List of Projects (films and art)
2024
Thoughtifier Theatrical visuals: A series of short films and images to accompany live theatrical performance for the Thoughtifier worldwide stage show and tour by Bill Bailey. Venues across UK, Europe and Asia include O2 London.
2023
The Sound of A River. 20-page illustrated story, co-written with environmental scientist Chris Uttley. Commissioned by The Nature of Cities. Funded through Network Nature, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Partners ICLEI, OPPLA, IUCN, Biodiversa+, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum. Supported by Stroud District Council.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Drawing, Ring O’Roots selected to hang in this year’s show.
Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive. A series of 40 stop-frame animations incorporated into a feature-length documentary. Production Company: Yeti Television. Commissioned by, and first broadcast on: Sky Arts. Film Festival premiere: Stroud Film Festival, Feb 2023
AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best Specialist Factual – International Broadcasting Awards 2023
Best Multi Channel Production – Broadcast Awards 2024
Best Single Documentary - Bafta Cymru 2023
Best Feature Documentary – Celtic Media Awards 2024
AWARD WINNER
Best Documentary: Biography – New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2024
2022
Wallmart. Exhibition of prints and drawings. The Prince Albert, Stroud
2021
Bill Bailey - Larks In Transit, Live at The Royal Opera House, London. 60mins. Produced and Directed by Joe Magee. Broadcast on BBC1, September 2021 BBC iPlayer
Jackpot. Short film, directed by Joe Magee. Très Court International Film Festival, Paris, 2023. Encounters Film Festival 2022.
2019
A Half-Fledged Thing, Short film (1min30secs), directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, a venue of The Cheltenham Trust. This film presents at the gallery 23 Nov 2019 - 25 Feb 2020 as part of the exhibition, Ernest Gimson: Observation, Imagination and Making, curated by Kirsty Hartsiotis.The exhibition is supported by the Wolfson Foundation as part of the DCMS Wolfson Museums & Galleries Improvement Fund.
Tudorland. A series of new images by Joe Magee commisioned by Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for Will's Kitchen, the Trust's new eatery opposite Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Curated by Simon Poulter and Craig Ashley through New Art West Midlands.
2018
The Custom House Large scale interactive projection in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Commissioned by Collusion for the Reveal project. Coding by Pi & Mash. Produced by Marcus Romer and Simon Poulter. Creative technologist Richard Hall. Executive Producers: Simon Poulter, Rachel Drury. Supported/funded by Borough Council of West Norfolk and King’s Lynn, Arts Council England, Norfolk County Council, Discover King’s Lynn and The Business Board.
No Sherbet Short film, 10mins, Starring Keith Allen and Seán Gleeson. Screenings: Encounters International Short Film Festival, Bristol 2018.
2016
Remembering Jelly Exhibition. Line Gallery, Stroud. 2-30 April 2016. Part of Site Festival 2016. Supported by SVA
The Way It Is Short film. 1min30secs. Directed by Joe Magee.
Boxy An Star Feature film (in development). Adaptation by Joe Magee of the novel Boxy An Star by Daren King. Script development supported by the National Lottery through the BFI and Creative England.
2015
Love Story Short film. 5 mins. Directed by Bill Bailey and Joe Magee. Starring Bill Bailey and Emma Thompson. Commissioned by BBC.
2014
Jelly 1.0 Short film. 1 min. Directed by Joe Magee. Screenings: London Film Festival, Oct 2014 (as part of Cube Microplex's 'The Film that Buys The Cinema’) / 31st Tehran Short Film Festival, Oct 2014
The Day of the Aloof Icon Exhibition, The Modern Warehouse, London
Modifried SHORT FILM. 1min30secs. Directed by Joe Magee. Encounters International Film Festival, Watershed, Bristol 2014.
2013
Each Shining Hour Short Film,. 9mins. Directed by Joe Magee Summary: A hard-working citizen revolts against the moral propaganda message that time equals money. Cast: Angus Barr. DOP: Adam Laity. Commissioned by Watershed Media Centre, Knowle West Media Centre and MAYK. Funded by Arts Council England and Bristol City Council
Qualmpeddler Series of short films. Directed by Joe Magee to accompany live theatrical performance for the Qualmpeddler stage show, tour and subsequent DVD (Universal) by Bill Bailey. Includes moving image stage designs, virals and tour identity. Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd. Theatrical exhibition includes: Sydney State Theatre, Liverpool Philharmonic, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Salford Lowry Centre and Hammersmith Apollo. Film include: Dub town Abbey. Semi-Animated film 2mins 15secs. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey / Tåk Fur Køffe. Short film, 1min. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd / Skimbo. Short film, 1min Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey / The Bloc. Short animated film, 20secs. Directed by Joe Magee / Ripped Apart By Badgers. Short animated film, 45secs. Directed by Joe Magee / Nunstep. Short animation, 1min. Directed by Joe Magee.
2011
Sleep Now, And Awake In Hell Residency and exhibition at Heriot Watt School of Textiles and Design (Galashiels). The work shows as part of a group show curated by Mark Eley at: Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh 20-24 June 2011. Further details: http://schooloftextilesanddesign.tumblr.com/tagged/joemagee
2010
House of Bread Film Installation in a former Bristol bakery. Commissioned by Illuminate as part of ‘Longest Night'. Elizabeth's Place, North St., Bristol 17-21 December 2010 Mark's Bread, North St., Bristol 21-22 May 2011 www.marksbread.co.uk
Car Park Babylon Short Film. 12 mins. 35mm. Written and directed by Bill Bailey and Joe Magee. DOP Hubert Taczanowski. Produced by Mike Elliott for Sprout Pictures. Executive Producers Gina Carter, Charles Elton, Kris Bailey. Commissioned by Lucy Lumsden as part of the Little Crackers series for Sky. First transmission Christmas 2010. Screenings: Atlanta Film Festival (Official selection) 2011, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2011, Rhode Island International Film Festival 2011
Dandelion Mind Series of short films to accompany live theatrical performance for the Dandelion Mind stage show, tour and subsequent DVD (Universal) by Bill Bailey. Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd. Includes moving image stage designs, virals and tour identity. Theatrical exhibition includes theatres and arenas such as Birmingham LG Arena, Cardiff CIA Arena, Blackpool Opera House, Liverpool Echo Arena, Edinburgh Playhouse, York Grand Opera House, Manchester, MEN Arena, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Films Include: Punk Toast. Short film. 1min. Directed by Joe Magee / Lazer Gazer. Short Film. 2mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast Bill Bailey, Chris Pirie, Joe Magee. Music Bill Bailey / Les Voitures. Music Video. 2mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey. Music Gary Numan / Zwanzig Hectares, Animation. Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd / Internet Lovesong Short animated film. 2mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd.
2009
Phishing Short Film. 3mins45secs. DV. Directed by Joe Magee. Supported by Arts Council of England. Screenings include: Ffotogallery, Penarth
Humming Paradise Exhibition. Ffotogallery, Penarth, 4 Jul-15 Aug 2009, Centrespace, Bristol. May 2009. Supported by Arts Council of England, The Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff City Council and The Welsh Assembly
Stabilizers Film installation. April 2009. Commissioned by Blackout Arts. Tollgate House Bristol 2009, Illuminate Spring Forward North St, Bristol, 2010.
2008
WERK No.16: Joe Magee Special INSTALLATION in collaboration with ROCKET (Tokyo), Exhibition of drawings. Rocket, 28 Nov - 23 Dec 2008, 6-9-6 Jinguumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
WERK No.16: Joe Magee Special Limited edition publication. Winner of 2 D&AD Awards For Outstanding Achievement. Text and Interview by Alison Harley, 376 pp, colour, 220mm x 305mm, Edition: Limited 800 copies
Visible Agenda / Urban Tales screenings, TALKS and workshops. A British Council supported visit to Vietnam and Singapore working with young artists and film makers at Hanoi Cinemateque, Hanoi Film College and The Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents, Vietnam (as part of British Film Week) - and Temasek Design School and Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.
The Graphic Art of Comment Exhibition. The Newsroom Gallery at The Guardian, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA24July-26 September 2008. Catalogue published. Public presentation by Joe Magee: 'A History of The Bowler Hat'.
Joe Magee Moving Image Retrospective La Salle College of Art, Singapore Film Festival, April 2008. Supported by The British Council
2007
Tinselworm Series of short films directed by Joe Magee to accompany live theatrical performance for the Tinselworm stage show, tour and subsequent DVD (Universal) by Bill Bailey. Commissioned by Glassbox Productions Ltd. Includes moving image stage designs, virals and tour identity. Theatrical exhibition includes arenas such as Manchester MEN Arena, Birmingham NIA, London Wembley Arena, Auckland ASB Theatre, Sydney State Theatre, Melbourne State Theatre. Films include: Das Hosenbugler. 2mins 30secs. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey, Kevin Eldon / Evolution. 1min45secs. Animation. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast: Bill Bailey / I Aint Gonna Be Your Bitch. Short film, 2mins. Directed by Joe Magee / Five Way Conversation. Short Film, 1 min 30secs. Directed by Joe Magee. Cast Bill Bailey.
Joe Magee Moving Image Retrospective Cube Cinema, Bristol. Curated by Blackout Arts
The Waters Prevailed Animated film, projected large-scale onto Bristol Council House. Commissioned by Watershed Media Centre
2006
Stabilizers Short Film (installation). 6mins. Directed by Joe Magee Commissioned by Blackout Arts Screeningsinclude: Tollgate House, Bristol 2006 Illuminate, Bristol 2008
2005
Reception Short film. 1min 30secs. DV, Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Electric Pavilion. A Watershed project. Funded by Arts Council England, Bristol City Council and Business West.
Brief Encounters International Film Festival, Watershed, Bristol Nov 2005 / Performance Channel transmission, 21 Nov 2006 / State of Play, The Public, West Bromwich, UK, 2009
Motorway Signs Exhibition. In collaboration with artist Simon Poulter, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Feb - March 2005
2004
Prints exhibition. The Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Jan - Feb 2004
2003
Seeing it in Black and White Exhibition. Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts, University of Bath. Nov - Dec 2003. Funded by University of Bath ICIA
Clot Short film. 9mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre. Watershed, Bristol, March 2004 / Cube Blackout, Ashton Court Festival, Bristol July 2004 / Buffalo Short Film Festival Nov 2004 / Rotterdam Film Festival, Feb 2005 / International Festival of Cinema and Technology, Orlando, USA, Nov 2005 / Hands Free Series, Dorchester Arts Centre / May 2005, 2 21m2 Stavanger, Norway August 2005
Fruit Loop Short film. 9mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre. Watershed, Bristol, March 2004 / Cube Blackout, Ashton Court Festival, Bristol July 2004 / London Film Festival Oct 2004 / 36th Festival Nazionale del Film Corto, Bolzano Italy, Nov 2004 (Award Winner: International Competition Special Prize of the Jury) / 20th International Short Film Festival Berlin, Nov 2004 / Brief Encounters Film Festival, Watershed, Bristol Nov 2004 / Buffalo Short Film Festival Nov 2004 / Commonwealth Film Festival, Manchester May 2005 / Rotterdam Film Festival, Feb 2005 / Broadcast RAI 3 (Italy), 13 Feb 2005 / International Festival of Cinema and Technology, Orlando, USA / Nov 2005, Dorchester Arts Centre (Hands Free Series) May 2005 / 2 21m2 Stavanger, Norway August 2005
Gearhead Short film. 10mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Commissioned by Picture This Moving Image and Knowle West Media Centre. Funded by The Lottery through The Film Council. Lux Open, The Royal College of Art, May 2003 / Picture This Screening at Watershed, 9 July 2003 / Frome Festival, Merlin Theatre, July 2003 / Edinburgh International Film Festival, August 2003 / 17TH Leeds International Film Festival, October 2003 / Brief Encounters Film Festival, Bristol, November 2003 / Winterthur 7th International Short Film Festival (Switzerland), Nov 2003, / Chapter, Cardiff (Cardiff Screen Festival) / 20 November 2003, Napoli Film Festival, Italy, December 2003 / Tampere International Film Festival, Finland, March 2004 / Odeon West End (UK Film Council Awards), London, Feb 2004 / Watershed, Bristol, 28 March 2004 / Commonwealth Film Festival, Manchester May 2004 / Cannes Film Festival (UK Film Centre), May 2004 / British Council Film School, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic July 04 / Screen Shift, The Cube Cinema, Bristol, July 2004 /Show Commotion, Sheffield July 2004 / Cube Blackout, Ashton Court Festival, Bristol July 2004, Halloween @ 38.83.04, Dray Walk, Brick Lane, London, E1 Aug 2004 / British Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania Oct-Nov 2004 / Buffalo Short Film Festival Nov 2004 / Rotterdam Film Festival, Feb 2005 / FutureShorts, Trof, Manchester, April 2005 / Shorticulture, London April 2005 / Hands Free Series, Dorchester Arts Centre, May 2005 / 2 21m2 Stavanger, Norway August 2005 / International Festival of Cinema and Technology, Orlando, USA, Nov 05 / 3rd International Harm Reduction Film Festival, Vancouver 2006 / City on Film Symposium, Singapore Film Festival, April 2008 / Sinema, Singapore, Oct 2008 / National Cinema Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 2008 / Hanoi Cinematheque, Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 2008 / Galaxy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, October 2008
2002
A Personal History of Corruption Interactive installation and linear short film (30secs). Directed by Joe Magee. Produced as part of The Clarke Digital Bursary 2002. Developed at PVA Media Lab and Watershed. Supported by J.A. Clark Charitable Trust, University of the West of England, Arts Council of England. Watershed Media Centre, September 2002
2001
Blackbird Has Spoken animation. 2 mins. and SHORT STORY. Directed by Joe Magee. Summary: A captured video loop of a blackbird is used to explore ideas of viral culture and the evolution of language. Funded by Arts Council of England. Watershed, Bristol, December 2001, Flux Magazine, Feb 2002
Hypnomart Short film. 3.5mins. Directed by Joe Magee and Alistair Gentry. Summary: In a synthetic shopping mall surveillance and unsuspecting body language combine to create theatre. Commissioned by Arts Council of England and Channel 4. Screenings include: Broadcast Channel 4 / UK September 2001, Brief Encounters International Short Film Festival, Bristol, October 2001 / Bow Arts, London, England, February 2002 / FirstSite, Colchester, England, February 2002 / Wolsey Art Gallery, Ipswich, England, February 2002 / Animated Encounters, Watershed, Bristol April 2002 / Lovebytes Festival, Sheffield UK (Search Engine Cinema) March 2002 / ICA, London, England, March 2002 / Chapter Arts, Cardiff 2002 / London Architecture week 2002 / The Big M, Locations around the UK, autumn 2002 / Hiroshima Media Festival, Japan 2002 / Microwave Media Festival, Hong Kong 2002 / ISEA International Symposium of Electronic Arts, Japan 2002 / Light House, Poole, December 2002 / Oslo Central Station, Norway (Once Seen, Art in Public Space) Oct 03 / British Animation Retrospective, Warsaw October 2002 / Videotage-Tokwawan 8 November 2002 / Peterborough Digital Arts, Pb.Museum & Art Gallery, April-May 2004 / SciFi Channel Europe 2004 / Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dance Bass Programme, August 2004 / Festival Internacional de AnimaAao do Brasil, July 2004 / Holland Animation Festival - Utrecht, August 2004 / Antwerp, Aug 2004 / Troms Kunstforening, Troms, Norway. November 2004 / Edinburgh Filmhouse (London), April 2005 / 45th Crackow Film Festival, Poland 2005 / Filmhuis Den Haag, July 2005 / V&A Museum London (Born Free) January 2006 / National Portrait Gallery (Tracing-the-Contours) March 2006 / Splash on the BBC Big Screen, Liverpool 2-15 June 2006 / Hyperlive: Animation and the Camera, Curzon Soho, London, July 2006 / Off The Wall Film Festival, Hastings July 2006 / 25FPS Festival, Zagreb, Croatia, Sept 2006 / City on Film Symposium, Singapore Film Festival, April 2008 / Sinema, Singapore, Oct 2008 / National Cinema Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 2008 / Hanoi Cinematheque, Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct 2008 / Galaxy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, October 2008 / Move On Up, Art on the Underground, London, Jun 2012 / Move On Up, The Mobile Cinema, Salford Quays, Nov 2014
General Hospital COMMISSIONED ARTWORKS. Installed at, Taunton and Somerset Hospital, Commissioned by Art for Life
Kulture Klinic Short animation. 1 min. Commissioned by Picture This Moving Image and Watershed. Funded by ArtsCouncil of England Screened at locations in South West England, 2001
2000
Yesterday's Papers Exhibition. Mud Dock, Exeter
1999
Blue Roses Short Film. 3mins. Directed by Joe Magee. Made at PVA LabCulture, supported by Arts Council of England
1998-2001
Playtime Exhibition. Mud Dock, Exeter 1999, Severnshed, Bristol 2000, Hope Street Gallery, Liverpool 2001. Funded by Arts Council of England. Supported by Liverpool John Moores University
1999
Jesusplex Multimedia installation, Animation, 12 mins Commissioned by PVA Media Lab. Funded by Arts Council of England. Scientific and Literary Institute, Bridport 1999 / Manchester Metropolitan University Holden Gallery, Manchester 2000 / Club Circuit, 2000, Flashpoint, Newcastle, 2000 / Screenspace, Watershed, Bristol, 2000 / Light House, Poole, December 2002 / Heretic Poetic, Centrespace Bristol Nov 2006
1998
Reproduction Exhibition, Animation, 19secs. Directed by Joe Magee Commissioned by Watershed, Bristol 1998. Watershed, Bristol 1998 / International Symposium of Electronic Arts, Liverpool 1998. Funded by Arts Council of England and Watershed.
1997
Damage Exhibition. Included published catalogue. Aytoun Gallery, Manchester. Funded by Arts Council of England and The National Lottery. Supported by Manchester Metropolitan University.
EDUCATION
1991-92 MA (Hons) COMMUNICATION MEDIA
Manchester School of Art
1986-89 BA (Hons) GRAPHIC DESIGN
London College of Printing
1985-6 ART FOUNDATION
Wirral Metropolitan College
Clients
The Guardian
Time Magazine
New York Times
Washington Post
L’Express
Libération
MIT Technology Review
The Observer
Amnesty International
New Yorker
Nature Magazine
New Scientist
BBC
LA Times
Wall Street Journal
Boston Globe
TBWA
Pentagram
Financial Times
International Herald Tribune
The Reader
Bloomburg Businessweek
Condenast
MacMillan
Frassinelli
Heriot Watt University
Time Out
The New Humanist
The Economist
Esquire
National Film Theatre
Which?
Architects Journal
The Independent
The Times
Harper Collins
GQ
Newsweek
Royal Anthropological Institute
RIBA Journal
Random House
Forbes
Oprah Magazine
Universal
Buzzfeed
The History Press
Oxford University Press
Harvard Business Review
Quercus
Institute of Environmental Sciences
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Politico Magazine
Greenpeace
Metal
4th Estate
TMP Worldwide
McCann Erickson
Polygram
Wolff Olins
Foreign Policy Magazine
Chronicle of Philanthropy
Courrier International
University of Boston
Documented
Factory Records
University of Liverpool
Berkeley University
WIRED
Watershed
Polydor
AMV BBDO
McGill University
TUFTS
Johns Hopkins University
Dorling Kindersley
Penguin Books