Graham Fink
Multimedia artist Graham Fink is recognised as one of the world’s most respected, and highly awarded, creative minds.
Fink is a multimedia practitioner working in the fields of photography, film, painting, drawing and technology.
His career over the years has been defined by never being entirely satisfied with the status quo, whether in the world of advertising, or in the world of art. Fink has long explored ideas of the subconscious and creativity through works spanning video, installation, photography, and painting, he tries to understand the principles behind artistic practices and new creative expressions.
In 2001 he set up his own production company, thefinktank – a conceptual production company. Graham is a great believer in nurturing young talent and launched theartschool in 2005 (described as Britain’s most radical art school), holding sessions in venues as diverse as the House of Commons.
He was recently Chief Creative Officer at the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather in China. Before taking up that appointment in April 2011, he was Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi in London. In 1995, he began directing television commercials and music videos at the Paul Weiland film company. Previously, he was Deputy Creative Director at the Gold Greenlees Trott, and Group Head at Saatchi & Saatchi and WCRS. Before that he was an Art Director at CDP. To get this job he dressed up as an old man (CDP didn't take on junior creatives). His first job in advertising was as Art Director at Medcalf, Wrightson, Lovelock. All five companies are or were London advertising agencies.
He became the youngest ever President of D&AD (Design and Art Directors Association) in 1996. He was subsequently voted into D&AD's 'Art Direction book' representing the top 28 Art Directors of all time.
He has won awards at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, BAFTA, Clio's, LIAA, BTAA, Campaign's UK Big Awards, Creative Circle, Mobius, Eurobest, EPICA, New York Festival, China 4A's, Longxi, SPIKES. In 2011 he won the UK Creative Circle President's Award. And in 2012 he won Ogilvy Asia's first ever Cannes Grand Prix.
His award-winning photography has been used in many advertising campaigns including PlayStation's 'Blood' and 'Mental Wealth' poster campaigns. He also directed a short film (Z) for the Millennium, commissioned by David Puttnam which was shortlisted at BAFTA.
