Jon Horner’s art is inspired by skate culture that he reimagines with his own take on classic British comic book style. The way he presents skateboarding iconography through his ideas and artistic homages is rad. We really appreciate the way he displays and reinterprets skate videos, spots, pro skaters and skate moments with a sense of humour.
He’s been a No Comply member for a while, so we reconnected with him recently to discover how he first picked up a board and put pen to paper to make his work, asked him about the back stories behind five sick skate spots that he’s drawn, in England, America and France, caught up with him on what he’s been creating at the moment, his plans for the future and also asked him about his favourite videos, skaters and artists of all-time along the way.
Read Jon’s Fully Illustrated Interview below to find all that out for yourself and more.
Skeleten, Smoking a Cigarette, by Jon Horner
What’s your full name?
Jonathan Charles Horner
Where did you grow up and where are you living now?
I was born in Cornwall and we moved around a lot when I was young, I’m in sunny Margate right now.
When did you first see skateboarding?
I’m not sure if there was one particular moment, I started in the peak THPS era so it was in the air.
I’m pretty sure I had some Flameboy stickers before I ever had an actual skateboard. Shout out Marc McKee!
Flamebort
What was your first setup?
It was a Hud New York complete, JJB Sports, £25. It had a pretty rad graphic but the wheels literally fell apart, you get what you pay for I guess!
Who was in your first skate crew?
My brother! Our main spot was a smooth bit of tarmac down the road.
Where was the first spot that you skated the most?
The terrible local metal skatepark. We weren’t exactly spoilt for choice, this was before skatepark design was being done by people who actually knew about skateboarding.
Flip Melon Mummy
What skate videos did you have on rotation the most when you started skating?
Vans No Home Comforts tour video. Man that video rules! It’s more of a documentary than a standard skate video and it’s an Andy Evans production so you know you’re in for a good time.
What kinds of art did you first make and what did it look like?
Haha it looked like a child had tried to draw the Thunderbirds with felt pens.
Ok haha. Your artistic style seems to be rooted in the classic British comic book design but what first inspired you to start pushing further into your artistic style and why?
Yeah 100%! I learned to draw by copying the Beano. I’d just copy things I liked, so the Beano and then later Wallace and Gromit, Asterix, the Simpsons etc etc. I’ve always loved comics.
Asterix Gap to Blunt, Lyon Hubba Spot
So, when did you know you wanted to pursue a career as an artist?
I finished uni in 2009 and getting a job was a nightmare so I started making comics since that was what I enjoyed doing the most.
Eventually it kind of worked out. So I guess I didn’t really know until it happened.
What was your first illustration job in the skate industry?
Sidewalk. I owe those guys a lot.
I sent them a comic I’d made and they gave it a very kind review in the zine section and started giving me illustration work. I’m pretty sure the first thing I did for them was the cover for a Big Push DVD.
That’s tight. So what tools do you use to create your work and why?
I’m pretty old fashioned. Pencils and drawing pens on standard photocopier paper, then I scan it and use paint.net and good old MS Paint to add colour. My girlfriend got me a lightbox a little while ago, that was a gamechanger. Cheers for dragging me into the 20th century Rosie!
Rad, so how do you initially go about making a design?
Idea first for sure, depending on the project that can be something I’ve thought of, something a client wants specifically or a mixture of the two.
Ben Raemers
How do you decide your pieces needs to be coloured a certain way?
Hahaha it’s my least favourite part! It doesn’t come naturally to me at all, if I could use a colourist like they do in mainstream comic books I totally would.
Getting to work with proper designers like Jasper Jones or Eric Frenay is such a treat for me when it happens.
What’s the back story behind your ‘Animal Chin’ Style Southbank Entrance Drawing?
That’s from the comic I did that got me going with Sidewalk. Southbank is just iconic isn’t it?
Southbank Entrance, London
Agreed. So what inspired your Venice Lyon Curb Spot piece and what’s your favourite trick you’ve seen go down there?
The legend Jeremie Daclin has been organising a slappy contest at this spot for years now.
Back in 2017 I drew this for the poster and I got to go out there for the weekend.
Before that I didn’t know who Deedz was, by the time I came home he was my favourite skater. So my favourite trick is anything he did there that day.
1. Venice Curb, Lyon
What was the motivation behind making your Hotel De Ville Hip illustration and what is the most memorable trick you can remember going down over this spot?
HDV had a Long Live Southbank moment a few years ago. The floor there was ruined and the city were thinking of making it unskateable.
French Fred and a few others petitioned the city and got them to see the light and a new smooth skateable floor was put in instead, they used this as the artwork for their pitch.
Favourite trick? I’m not sure, if you look on Wall Street‘s Instagram there’s probably some brand new mind-melter going up right now.
2. Hotel De Ville Hip, Lyon
Your rendition of Ogden Bank to Ledge is rad, why did you draw that and do you have a favourite trick you’ve seen done there?
This was part of a poster I drew for one of the Jenkem books. It makes total sense that most skate media is online now but I’m such a sucker for something you can hold in your hand and flick through.
Big love to Vague, Solo, North, Free, The Skateboarder’s Companion and everyone else still keeping the print flag flying.
My favourite trick here is whatever Conor Charleson does when he gets over there eventually.
3. Ogden Bank to Ledge, New York
Also that Lyon Volcano Spot drawing you did is cool. Why did you draw that and what was your favourite trick that was done on that spot?
I did a series of Where’s Wally style graphics for Cliche, this was a piece of JB Gillet‘s board. So I’m going to say his Airwalk from Freedom Fries.
4.Volcans de la Part-Dieu, Lyon
That was a sick trick. Your Southbank Pillar with Roots illustration is cool too. How did it come to life?
That was for a Long Live Southbank fundraiser.
Favourite trick at Southbank? My favourite that I was actually there for was Danny Wainwright doing a Layback Ollie over the barrier rail from flat after a Vans demo, Danny is the best.
5. Southbank Undercroft Pillar, London
What’s your favourite skate video of all-time?
Albion. If you want to show someone what English skating is you could do a lot worse than putting that on. Miss you Ben.
Who’s your favourite skater of all-time and why?
Oh man. Neil Blender probably?
Who has your favourite style on a skateboard?
Chris Pulman I think.
I remember seeing him at Southbank once in the early/mid 2000s and he was mostly just cruising around popping shifty Ollies and half trying a Fakie No Comply Bigspin Manny on one of those ‘Side Effects of Urethane’ blocks, what a treat. Anyone who can skate to Morrissey and Redman in the same video is someone worth watching.
What is your favourite skate spot in the UK and why?
Royal Oak. I’m not sure why, it’s just the answer that popped into my head. I used to skate there a lot when I lived in London. Shout out to Andy Smoke. and it’s pretty fun plus it has a good look to it, there are some classic photos from there.
Who is your favourite artist?
Haha this changes pretty much every day! If I had to pick just one then today I’m saying Evan Dorkin because I just re-read his Eltingville Club comics series. Ask me tomorrow and it’ll probably be someone else.
What is your favourite skate spot in the world?
The Skatepal park in Asira al-Shamaliya in the West Bank.
Do you have any other new plans or announcements for the future you would like to mention Jon?
I’ve got something in the works with John Rattray which should be out soon. It’s a follow up of sorts to the Why So Sad comic we made last year.
Jon Horner: Why So Sad Board Top Graphic
Sounds interesting. Any shout outs you would like to make?
Ben Powell and Andy Horsley. If it wasn’t for them taking a chance on me I doubt I’d be doing what I do now.
The Board is Mightier Than The Sword by Jon Horner
Any last words to people reading this Jon?
Free Palestine
