Artist Merges Cartography with Ink and Pencil Drawings to Create Beautiful Portraits

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

British artist Ed Fairburn uses maps as his canvas to create incredible portrait drawings. Each detailed work merges the topographic lines of cartography with the hand-drawn contours of the subject’s face, resulting in a captivating coexistence between landscape and humanity.

Rendered using traditional drawing materials such as ink and pencil, Fairburn starts by making gradual changes to various types of maps to “tease out” the human form. Roads, rivers, and mountainous contours weave and merge together to create abstract shadows, lines, and facial shapes.

In one of his works, an original first edition NASA orthophotomap of the Moon is transformed into a stunning side profile of a woman; in another, a map of Brussels details the curves of the subject’s neck and shoulder. “I aim to preserve the functionality of each map by feeding the composition instead of fighting it,” says Fairburn. “I often spend hours studying each map before I begin any physical processes.”

Each piece works similarly to a pointillism painting—when viewed up close, it’s not easy to decipher the faces. However, when viewed from afar, the viewer is able to see the human subject emerge from the topographic patterns. Fairburn explains, “I’m interested in the subtlety of each synchronization, and the way in which each completed map behaves more like a portrait when viewed from further away—it’s almost paradoxical that a portrait should lose detail when examined closely.”

You can see more from Fairburn’s portfolio on his website.

British artist Ed Fairburn uses maps as his canvas to create incredible portrait drawings.

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Each detailed work merges the topographic lines of cartography with the hand-drawn contours of the human face.

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

The artist’s work represents coexistence between landscape and humanity.

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Portrait Drawings Cartography by Ed Fairburn

Ed Fairburn: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [Cross Connect Magazine]

All images via Ed Fairburn.

Related Articles:

New Extraordinary Ballpoint Pen Drawings on Maps and Vintage Letters by Mark Powell

20+ Pieces of Modern Map Art Putting a Contemporary Spin on Cartography

8 Contemporary Portrait Artists Who Are Reinventing One of Art’s Oldest Subjects

Artist Creates Web-Like Portraits From a Single Unbroken Thread

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content