Soft Power

Bold print. Electric colour. Visual intensity.

I’m Patrick Astwood — a self-taught designer, illustrator, and exhibited artist with a lifelong obsession for visual expression. Soft Power is the natural evolution of that obsession.

My creative journey began in the 1990s through painting and experimental mark-making. What started as exploration quickly became a multifaceted practice spanning illustration, surface pattern design, fine art, and applied design. I’ve never been interested in staying in one lane — curiosity and experimentation drive everything I do.

I’m drawn to bold colour, dynamic composition, and visual storytelling that challenges convention. My influences range from edgy tattoo-style illustration to bold Japanese graphic design, cyberpunk aesthetics, manga energy, and anything that pushes visual boundaries. I’m fascinated by high contrast, layered detail, and imagery that feels unapologetically alive.

Over time, my work has evolved into a distinct visual language that sits somewhere between fine art and graphic design. Through collage, printmaking, digital design, and intricate pattern work, I create pieces that aim to surprise — finding beauty in unexpected forms and intensity in colour.

This evolution has led to solo exhibitions, gallery shows, collaborations, and an expansion into applied art — from bespoke silk scarves under my own label to mural wallpapers, rugs, and statement design pieces. Whatever the medium, the goal remains the same: to create work with presence.

Soft Power is about impact.
It’s about colour with conviction.
It’s about making work that doesn’t whisper — it speaks.

Here you’ll find a curated selection of prints and design pieces created to energise spaces, spark conversation, and bring bold visual adventure into everyday life.

Patrick Astwood