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An Illustrated Guide to Dublin

By Visit DublinDublin's Official Tourism SiteBIO
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Between residencies and massive outdoor commissions, inclusion in international compendiums and big-time ad campaigns, Dublin's illustrator scene is in boom. While the style of the city's illustrators vary wildly, there's one subject they've almost all tried their hand at: capturing the spirit of Dublin in one image. Here we collect just some of those ingenious attempts.


An Illustrated Guide to Dublin

Fatti Burke and Steve Simpson

"When I die, Dublin will be written in my heart."

James Joyce remains a hipster touchstone for every generation of the literary-minded across the globe. Here, his love letter to the city he was born and raised in gets some typographical treatment from Fatti Burke's tattoo-influenced pens and the award-winning Steve Simpson.

Jennifer Farley

Taking in the iconic Poolbeg chimneys, Farley's print was made for the Damn Fine Dublin exhibition in Smithfield's Block T (which is now home to a dedicated print studio). This bright, vibrant poster is a product of Farley's simple, but affecting children's illustration style.

An Illustrated Guide to Dublin
An Illustrated Guide to Dublin

Niall McCormack

Dublin Book Festival

There couldn't be a designer more perfect than McCormack for putting together a poster for the Dublin Book Festival. On his HiTone blog, McCormack avidly exhibits classic Irish book design and the influence of styles past can be seen in this rendering of Smock Alley Theatre, the recently reopened seventeenth century building that is an intriguing slice of history in and of itself.

Fuschia MacAree

Best Saturday in Dublin, the Irish Times

Planning a weekend in Dublin? Fuchsia MacAree may not be a cartographer by trade, but when it comes to capturing the spirit of the city in one map this 10-step guide to a perfect Saturday in Dublin gets it right on the money. From disco-light pitchers of beer in Korean bar the Hop House to Hatch & Sons' perfect sandwiches, this is a personal view of Dublin accessible to all.

An Illustrated Guide to Dublin
An Illustrated Guide to Dublin

Craig Robinson

8-bit Dublin

Designed to promote free wi-fi hotspots across Dublin city, Craig Robinson's 8-bit characters will be instantly recognisable not only to Dubliners, but anybody who stops by for a couple of days. From vikings up to Phil Lynott, these pixel-drawings were rendered on to mosaics and used to decorate the town.

Dave Comiskey

Damn Fine Bridges

The Liffey is the lifeblood of Dublin city, and the bridges that straddle work like the rings of a felled tree: you can see the history of the city in the generations of design that are illustrated by them. Dave Comiskey's poster shows the variety of the city's bridges in simple, but pretty lines. 

An Illustrated Guide to Dublin
An Illustrated Guide to Dublin

Steve McCarthy

Eight Types of Dublin Nerds

When we asked Steve McCarthy to direct Web Summit attendees towards the hangouts of Dublin's geeks, we didn't expect something that so perfectly captured the breadth and character of the city's enthusiasts. His rollcall of some of Dublin's best specialist spots is a go-to guide for any hobbyist looking to meet like-minded nerds.

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