Ricardo Cavolo is an artist and illustrator whose work is surreal and colourful, mixing medieval influences with comic art. You’ll find in his works lots of familiar characters from popular culture – from Duffy Duck and Gollum to The Powerpuff girls. But if you look at the meaning of his works, you’ll discover that he covers topics linked to mental health, fear, depression, or difficulties faced by teenagers. In our conversation, we talk about Ricardo’s life and how it influenced his work, how he developed his style, how his work evolved after he suffered from depression, and how he never thought it would be possible to make a living as an artist.

Ricardo's website: ricardocavolo.com

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This season of the On Design podcast is brought to you by The Conran Shop. Visit conranshop.com today to immerse yourself in the world of design.

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Podcast music and production: James Greenfield

Production: Green Podcast Productions