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With only 17 days left to go until ToyCon UK, we figured we would bring you another Tuesday afternoon TCUK Exhibitor Interview! This time we speak with the duo behind Skelevex and Raar – DMS & Neese. Together they make up the Monsters & Mecha booth!
Tell us a little bit about yourself & your background
DMS: I’ve been making resin toys for a living for over six years, this is the only job I’ve ever had that I haven’t hated. I live in Cornwall with my long suffering wife, and plush creator, Neese.
Neese: Obviously, I live in Cornwall with Dan (DMS). For me, making plush is a hobby. I teach young children and also work with children up to the age of eleven. I’ve always had an interest in creative hobbies and have been making plush for about three and a half years.
How did you get into the Designer Toy scene?
DMS: I was working as a web designer for a mainstream toy company and came across the Dunny by Kidrobot when looking into toy materials. I’ve been into graffiti for about thirty years (yes, I’m that old), so once I saw some toy designs by graffiti artists I really got interested.
Neese: I started to get interested in some of the designer toys that Dan showed me, especially some of the plush. I also saw an article about Felt Mistress in a magazine, which got me more interested and Dan kindly offered to buy me a sewing machine.
What is your ‘go-to’ tool when customising/creating?
Neese: I’m not sure that it counts as a tool, but I quite often use my fabric samples as a starting point and for inspiration.
DMS: Depending on what I’m working on, the material can be completely different. I’d have to say pencil and paper though.
What is your favourite platform to customise?
Neese: I like the shape of Munnys and have done a few customs using that platform.
DMS: Having my own collaborative platform with Alto, Skelevex will always be a favourite.
If you could collab with any artist(s), who would it be?
DMS: I’d love to see custom Skelevex by loads of artists, something there will hopefully be much more of in the future. I couldn’t pick just one artist.
What’s been the biggest influence on you in the year since ToyCon UK 2014?
Both: Buying a house! We’ve got permanent studios in and outside of the house now, for everything from computer based design to painting, to plush making and resin casting. Being settled is really positive and a huge boost in being creative and productive.
Have you got anything brand new coming to the event this year?
Neese: There will be three brand new colourways of Raar! Each will be limited to just five pieces, with companion Mumbles in the same fabric.
DMS: The launch of the new size (midi) Skelevex in various colourways, full size Skelevex customs by some amazing artists and some resin silliness (One Inch Wonders) from my alter ego Captain Yampy. We’ll also be releasing a mini Skelevex Dead Presidents (TTC covered this HERE) as an experiment in the ‘pay what you want’ style of Radiohead’s In Rainbows album. That’s definitely going to be interesting!
We both also have other pieces that we hope to be bringing along.
What are you most looking forward to seeing?
Both: Everything, by everyone! ToyCon is our one chance a year to have an up close look at what everyone’s been creating. We love seeing all of it.
If you could have anyone appear at ToyCon UK who would it be?
Both: There are so many great artists from around the world that we’d love to see in person, it’s impossible to pick!
If your house was on fire and you could save one toy in it, what would it be?
Neese: The original Raar!
DMS: All the Skelevex 3D print masters.
You can find these guys on social media at the following links:
Facebook: DMS / Neese
Twitter: DMS / Neese
Instagram: DMS / Neese
If you’re still sat on the fence and wondering whether or not to attend ToyCon UK 2015, well why not climb down from that fence, go buy your ticket HERE and come see us on April 25th for beard hugs and designer toy goodness! We promise you that this will be awesome!
