A French studio with an English name? It all started in 1996 when Lionel Avignon lived in Kilburn, north-west London, sharing a house-cum-studio, the original ‘Hartland Villa’, with creative types such as photographers Damien & Leila de Blinkk,
Jean-Christophe Husson,
musician Ian Williams,
ceramist Benjamin Lignel, and designer Anton Andrews. When Lionel moved back to Paris in 1999 he took the name with him, hooking up in 2001 with Stefan de Vivies.
The illustratior and photographer artist Elene Usdin, has shared the studio with them since 2002, often as a collaborator; she was responsible for much of the imagery in their work for the Opéra National du Rhin.
These friendships have always provided a platform for the creative energy which we feel is one of our strengths, and long may they continue.
Lionel Avignon and Stefan de Vivies also work on their own artistic projects outside of Hartland Villa: you will find Lionel’s drawings projects & "ici il fait encore beau" publication on lionelavignon.fr, and Stefan’s "Supporter" project on lesupporter.com.
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Lionel Avignon
Since 1999
Founder of HartlandVilla, Art Direction
1997-1998 Freelance art director, London, UK. Art direction for NG New Generation magazine.
Design for record labels, publishing houses and official institutions.1996 Designer at Wherefore Art ?, London, UK. Publishing, visual concepts.
1995 Graduate of L’ÉNSAD Paris - visual communication.
1993 Graduate of L’École Estienne Paris. BTS visual communication.
Stefan de Vivies
Since 2001
Art Direction at HartlandVilla1997 Independent graphic designer at Studio K, Paris; De Kempenaerstr - OK, Amsterdam; Fidélité productions, Paris; Maison de la poésie, Paris (stage design).
1996 Warsaw Academy of Fine Art.
1995 Graduate of L’ÉNSAD Paris - visual communication.
1993 Graduate of L’École des Beaux Arts, Angoulême.