Interested in maps, want to see the borough in a different way?

Mike Hall has recently created a new illustrated map of the London Borough of Camden.

Mike told us more...

Introducing this illustrated map of the borough of Camden, the latest addition to my series of London borough maps, an ongoing project for which I aim to complete a map of each borough in the city. All elements of each map are drawn by hand and coloured digitally.

Here's a bit of explanation about the map's design: first of all, the overall style is a modern take on the decoration of the antique English County Maps that were published by Thomas Moule in the 1830s; the chequered border decoration of this design references the 2-Tone movement of the late 1970s and 80s made popular by local acts such as Madness, whilst the compass design references the badges sold at the markets in Camden Town. Illustrated scenes within the borough occupy two corners of the design; Kenwood House at the top, and the view from Primrose Hill at the bottom. The inclusion of the borough's coat of arms and other heraldic symbols also reference those antique maps; the four smaller shields display symbols found on the coats of arms of the three former boroughs that merged to form Camden in 1965, Hampstead, Holborn and St. Pancras.

The map itself features all of the main thoroughfares and most residential roads, major railway lines with stations marked, and a selection of the prominent parks and open spaces, buildings and other landmarks. Additionally, a selection of the borough's important buildings and locations from the British Library to the Zabludowicz Collection are listed and marked with numbers on the map.

I regularly create maps of different neighbourhoods in London and elsewhere, as well as illustrated landscape scenes and character studies. This latest map of Camden is the 7th in this series to be completed, and the full set so far can be seen on my website: thisismikehall.com/londonboroughmaps

The maps are printed onto archival fine art paper and copies can be purchased through my online shop at Etsy.com