Start Home page featuring my work

http://www.start-london.com/
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Start London Halloween window display and store dressing short documentary

Start London Halloween window dressing from Rebecca Manley on Vimeo.

Here is the short documentary film we made about my Halloween installation at Start, shot and edited by Rebecca Kenyon. Check it out!

You can also view it on the Start blog here: http://blog.start-london.com/2011/10/31/a-rebecca-manley-halloween/

More Start

Black Widow masks

back view

my hand painted tattoo

Brix Smith-Start stepping out in my Black Widow mask tonight

Yesterday I finished creating the Halloween window for Start London. So get down to Rivington Street, Shoreditch and check it out! I had a really fun time working there thanks to all the amazing and friendly staff. The women's store is now temporary home to six of my large scale Day of the Dead skulls (with one more - the biggest skull - hanging in the men's store) as well as a collection of my smaller bijoux skulls. The skulls are of course inspired by original Mexican heads, but also by images of Frida Kahlo, tattoos and old English rhyme.

Matching stripes! - me and Brix in store

For the main window I made three Black Widow masks to put on the mannequins (see below). Brix is wearing one of these masks to a Halloween party tonight, so I'm looking forward to seeing the photos! These I crafted from card, fabric, netting and ribbon and finished with my handmade paper flowers. I then painted shocking pink silhouettes of symbols such as hearts, skulls and horse shoes on to the window itself. At the feet of the mannequins I made a bed of Mexican inspired fabric flowers and sat two of the large skulls (the Magician and the Gypsy) amidst them. And to finish, also on the window, I painted my tattoo logo and four tattoo inspired flowers.

At the moment I am in the process of creating a short film documenting the installation of the window - shot and edited by Rebecca Kenyon. I will post it up on Monday so check back then. 

Through the window - chatting to Philip Start

Start London - sneak peak

Here is a sneak peak at some of the things that I have been making for Start London - in store from Monday.

New project - Start London Halloween dressing

I am excited to have been asked to decorate A-mazing fashion boutique Start London (Brix -Smith Start) for Halloween with my Day of the Dead skulls. This is going to be a really exciting project, can't wait! Watch this space for more very soon...

About Start:

* 'Start was founded in 2002 by husband and wife team Brix and Philip Start – a decision incited by their observation that there was no where to shop for designer fashion in London’s up and coming Shoreditch...'

“People come to Start for the edit. Philip and Brix simply pick the best of the best.”
Melanie Rickey, Grazia

“Antique furniture, directional brands and must-have denim all make Start a much more interesting shopping experience than Bond Street.”
Drapers Record

(*copy from Start London website)

Both sides of the camera

At the moment I am working with my friend director Lizzie Oxby on her latest project, a series of dramatic photographic stills. I can't reveal anything about them yet, but the idea is really elegant and intriguing. This time however I find myself on the other side of the camera for a change, as the model. We shot part of the project in South London last week and are set to shoot the second half this week in East London at Time for Tea, an absolutely amazing house owned and dressed by another friend of mine Johnny Vercoutre. At the same time, I am planning to shoot some footage for a short live action/animation piece of my own which I am very excited about.