Sonoko Obuchi

Japanese born Artist / Set Designer Sonoko Obuchi was the first ever artist in residence for the Historic Royal Palaces (Kensington Palace, Tower of London, Hampton Court). There she produced a contemporary film which became part of their permanent collection in 2009. Sonoko created a brand character for Anna Lou of London, a jewellery company and produced many illustrations for their products which featured in magazines including Grazia & Guardian on Sunday. They were sold in Selfridges, Topshop and in luxury fashion stores in Japan. Sonoko worked on Gorillaz 'Strobelite' music video as an assistant stylist.  Her solo exhibition 'POP JAPAN' (2017, The Dugdale Centre, London) was a real success and the exhibition was extended further two months due to the high popularity.  Sonoko had been a music stage designer for the Standon Calling boutique music festival 2008 - 2010, and 2015. Gilles Peterson, Hawkwind, DJ Yoda and Acid Mother’s Temple have performed on her stages. Sonoko has been a stage set designer for pantomime shows at Millfield Theatre in London for the last 10 years.  Sonoko joined Old Vic New Voices in May 2014.

大渕園子 | SONOKO OBUCHI

1982        Born in Fukuoka, Japan
                Lives and works in London, UK

Education

2005        BA Spatial Design, University of the Arts London, UK (First-Class Honours)
2019        PGCE Post-Compulsory Education (teaching qualification),  Institute of Education, UCL, UK (100% score)

Music Video & Animation

2022        Caves/ REUNIØN Music Video | Artwork, Story & Videography

2021        Star/ Archie Faulks Music Video | Artwork, Story & Digital Animation

2020        Way Out West/ REUNIØN Music Video | Artwork, Story & Videography

2020        Anna Lou & Friends Animation, Nucleus Media Rights | Artwork, Concept, Co-executive producer
2017        Strobelite/ Gorillaz Music Video | Styling Assistant

Theatre/ Set/ Stage Design

2021       (Anna Lou’s Christmas Puppet, UK tour, 58 locations | Theatre Design)
               (Snow White, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design)
2020       Manga Mural, Platinum Academy of Performing Arts | 3D Design Enfield Dispatch
2020        Puss in Boots, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design
2019        Mother Goose(2), Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design
2018        Beauty and the Beast(2), Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design
2018        Jack and the beanstalk, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design
2016        Rises, The Old Vic | Theatre Design
                Aladdin, Millfield Theatre | Stage Design
2015        Ages, The Old Vic | Theatre Design
                Sleeping beauty, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design
               Standon Calling, Boutique Music Festival | Music Stage Design
2014        Housed, The Old Vic | Theatre Design
                Cinderella, Millfield Theatre | Theatre Design
2013        Dick Whittington, Millfield Theatre | Theatre Design
2012        Mother Goose, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design / British Theatre Guide
2011        Beauty and the Beast, Millfield Theatre | Stage Set Design / Enfield Gazette
2010        Standon Calling, Boutique Music Festival | Music Stage Design
2009        Standon Calling, Boutique Music Festival | Music Stage Design
                Architectural stories (Permanent Collection), Historic Royal Palaces |
                Concept Design, Art Work, Production & Installation
2007        Rough Sleepers, Pop-up store | Spatial Design
2005/6     Poliform UK | Interior Design

Character Design

2020        Ramen Squad, YouTube Channel | Portrait Manga Tutorial / iPaper

2020        Platinum Academy of Performing Arts |Manga characters for the Manga mural
2009        Anna Lou of London | Character Design

Solo Exhibition

2017        POP JAPAN, The Dugdale Centre, London / Guardian
 

The first Artist in Residence at Historic Royal Palaces (2006)
Japanese UK resident representative, and joined the Emperor and Empress of Japan during their UK state visit (2007)
Manga Portrait of Bruce Forsyth, commissioned by Millfield Theatre (2009)

Chosen to present an award at the Pantomime Awards 2022 alongside Christopher Biggings (2022)
OVNC, Old Vic New Voices Member (2014)
FRSA, Fellowship of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (2014)​