Irish graphic designer bounces back from pandemic with Kate Bush book

A picture spread from the book 'Finding Kate' by Micheal Byrne and Marius Herbert. Picture: Michael Byrne/PA Wire

A graphic designer whose business collapsed during the pandemic is producing a stunning picture book about superstar Kate Bush – from his garden office.

Dubliner Michael Byrne has been a diehard fan of the English singer-songwriter since her rise to fame in 1978.

He fell into the project by accident after work dried up due to the pandemic, and now it has sparked interest across the world.

"When the business fell off a cliff because of Covid, I went from not having enough hours in the day to waiting for the phone to ring," said father-of-three Mr Byrne.

"I started to listen to music again, especially to Kate. I'd go out to my garden office, pull up the lyrics and got a deep interest in what she has done and how she created music, and an idea started to form in my head.

Because work had gone so quiet, I just kept ploughing away with the concept and, eventually, I thought, 'I might have something really good here'."

Mr Byrne has been collaborating on the book with Marius Herbert, with whom he founded his design agency Zest Creative.

By last month, the pair, working remotely, had the foundations of a large, coffee table book, Finding Kate, about the reclusive star.

They are hoping an ambitious crowdfunding drive to complete it will be a worldwide hit with fans of the Wuthering Heights singer.

The friends have signed up to Kickstarter, a platform designed to support creative projects.

Pre-sold copies

They have already pre-sold copies to fans in Ireland, the UK, US, Australia and Japan. Others have handed over cash and asked for nothing in return.

Mr Byrne plans for further book projects if this one takes off.

"There is nothing out there like this book, it is ambitious and it is costly as well," said Mr Byrne, from Knocklyon.

This is a real labour of love and it would be brilliant if more like-minded people who are passionate about music and creativity get behind this project.

"I've picked 35 of her songs across five decades and we're illustrating the story behind them."

English singer Bush has plenty of Irish connections, not least her late mother Hannah hailing from Waterford.

Riverdance's Bill Whelan wrote and arranged all the Irish arrangements on her hit albums Hounds Of Love and The Sensual World and the tracks were recorded in Dublin's Windmill Lane studios.

The songs feature uilleann pipes, tin whistle and other Irish instruments and were played by musicians including Donal Lunny of Planxty and John Sheahan of the Dubliners.

People who buy the 100-page book, priced at €58, will be named as supporters inside. 

Another €12,000 is needed to complete it over the next five weeks.