Meet James Hilton | Artist and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Hilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After working for big established global brands in the corporate world for over 20 years, I realized I missed being creative! I always thought to myself ‘if this were my brand, this is what I would do.’ I was so eager to have the opportunity to express my own creative vision, and I finally made the jump! I felt excited to have such extensive business experience to combine with my creativity, and deliver a product I hadn’t seen before.

I’ve always had a passion for screen printing and printmaking – in some ways, it’s a lost art form, and one you don’t see every day. It’s such a unique craft, and one that allows such precise detail through a meticulous technique. I decided to be my own boss and share my unique vision, a combination of deco motifs, mid century styling, with a clean graphic twist. Living in Miami, it is the perfect city to deliver vibrant, bold designs. I really submerged myself in the South Florida lifestyle to gather the inspiration for some of my most popular prints in the collection.

Now I love to see my hard work paying off, every time I connect with a customer or even better yet, seeing one of my prints on the wall in their home!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Im a British graphic illustrator and fine art screen printer based in Coconut Grove, where I live with my wife and son.

I first learned to screen print as an undergraduate studying for my bachelor’s degree in the UK. Having graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in textile and fashion design, I spent over 20 years working in corporate graphic design, product and merchandising roles for a collection of well-known global brands.

As my career progressed, I had the opportunity to travel the world, experiencing different cultures and in turn, meet some amazing people, This also allowed me to widen my creative frame of reference with all the beautiful places that I had the opportunity to visit.

In 2018 I relocated to Boston, MA, for an amazing job opportunity which helped to further my professional career but its also where I was once again able to channel my passion and energy for design, refreshing my knowledge of printmaking and screen printing at Massachusetts college of Art and Design in my spare time.

Combining a wealth of practical knowledge and technique from my corporate life, I took this passion and made it a full-time focus by starting my own print studio. From there, I’ve been exploring various topics that visually influence me, creating work that represents the subject matter in a new and intriguing way. I can find inspiration in many forms, from classic American muscle cars and comic books to pop art styling, vintage wallpaper, and old jazz record album sleeves.

My studio takes its name from the same turn of phrase which reflects my laid back attitude to life but also from the fact that I shares the same birthday day as his wife and son (albeit different months).

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much happening in and around Miami right now that it feels like there’s something new to discover every week!

We live in Coconut Grove and we absolutely love it. It’s so walkable, there are loads of great places to eat and drink and it’s a little more relaxed and slower paced than South Beach.

When we have friends or family visiting us we always make a point of taking them to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Id never heard of it before I moved to Miami so to me, in some ways it’s like a hidden treasure. The entire place is so beautiful and serene. I find it incredibly inspiring!.

If you like coffee, then you have to go by Imperial Moto in Little River – its a little bit off the beaten track but it’s got to be one of the coolest coffee bars in Florida (and the coffee is so good!)

In the evening we love to go to have a drink at Level 6 in the Grove – their cocktails are really good and the views up on the roof are arguably even better. Then downstairs Amal serves some of the best Lebanese cuisine in Miami.

We recently had dinner at Queen, over on South Beach – that was spectacular. Its based in an old theatre that has been completely renovated with a decor and lighting that creates an ambience that I can only describe as cinematic!

Lastly, if you haven’t been to Miami, you have to walk Wynwood to take in all the amazing murals and street art – seeing such intricate detailed artwork but in such large scale is awe-inspiring. Once you’ve done that, grab a drink at Panther, find a seat outside and watch the great and good of Wynwood walk by.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife, Kate – without a doubt!!! She was the one that encouraged me to take this creative journey, chase my dreams and have confidence in my artistic ability. Without her support and reassurance i’m not sure if I would have been able to get the business as far along as I have. If i’m having a tough day she sets me right and gets me going again!

Beyond that, I have to also give a ton of gratitude to my parents for not pushing me down a traditional route in my studies and letting me explore the arts from a young age.

Website: https://www.22ndofnever.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/22ndofnever/

Image Credits
Angel Romero @angelromerophotos