My name is Mick Buston and I am a Margate-based illustrator.
From plastering to prints: my unexpected journey to illustration.
My path to illustration might surprise you as it wasn't exactly a part of a grand plan. In fact for most of my working life, I’ve worn a variety of different hats.
I followed in my dad's footsteps spending my first 12 years post education as a plasterer. Despite my best efforts, I was never going to be the best at it. Lack of talent and physical stature in equal parts. Realising this, a necessary career shift led me via an entry level office admin role to 20 years in sales and marketing positions for a range of different businesses.
I had no artistic hobbies growing up but that changed when my brother bought me a digital point and shoot camera for my 40th birthday and for the next 10 years I tried all I could to switch careers again to a life as a photographer.
Unfortunately, chronic health issues forced me to step away from photography as a career path. But that wasn't the end of the creative spark! In early 2020, I started playing with collage, a gateway that unknowingly led me to the world of illustration. Here's the crazy part - I'd never even drawn before!
Fast forward to today, and I'm running my own illustration print store, filled exclusively with my own original works. It's been an incredible journey so far and who knows where the following decades will see me heading.
So, that's a glimpse into my life and the unexpected path that led me to where I am now.
Let’s get personal
I was born in 1968 in Lewisham hospital as the first child of Chris and Rose Buston. I am the older brother of Jim Buston and proud uncle of Josie, Maya and Tom.
Somehow my ever patient partner Sallyanne has been putting up with me since Halloween 1998 and in 2023 we became the soppiest dog parents to Dolly the Shih Tsu.
Home for the three of us is a beautiful Victorian flat in Westgate-on-Sea and I am fortunate to have a separate studio space within the iconic Dreamland building on Margate seafront.
Print information
Open-edition
Each print is one of an unsigned open-edition with no false scarcity to drive up prices to allow everybody to own a print at an affordable price.
Archival quality
Giclée printed using archival inks on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, each print is optimised to last you a lifetime.
Locally printed, internationally
Using a print fulfillment partner with facilities in the UK, Germany and the United States, your print should arrive quickly and undamaged with faster delivery.
Borders
Handling border included on each print allowing for matting or framing and is included in overall size of print ordered.
Packaging
Each print is carefully packed in protective flat or roll packaging depending on size.
Framing
All prints are sold without frames allowing you to personalise yours to your own taste.
Easy 30 day returns and refund policy
Damaged print?
Let us know as soon as possible with photos to help us understand what went wrong. We will ship a new print to you as replacement or refund your order. Let us know what your preference is.
Changed your mind ?
We do accept returns for 30 days after you order is shipped.
Simply contact us to let us know and then return your print to us in the same packaging, undamaged, and we will refund you as soon as we receive it back safely.
Please note, we do not refund shipping costs.
Charitable contribution
We believe everybody should have adaquate access to food and shelter so we donate 5% of each print sale and commission to UK charities helping those in need.
Commissions
Whilst the majority of my time is spent creating unique illustration prints for sale in my print store, I do take on selected editorial, publishing and commercial illustration commissions.
Illustration licensing
All illustrations are available for editorial, publishing and commercial licensing. Contact directly with usage terms for a quote.