We're delighted to share that the collector's edition of Joe Lycett's Art Hole has been shortlisted for Creative Review's Annual Awards 2025! The Awards celebrate the best creative thinking from the past year, and are judged by some of the industry’s most respected professionals, so we're extremely pleased that the team at Trapeze in collaboration with Joe gained this industry recognition.
When many deluxe books err toward a demure, refined image, it's refreshing to be confronted with something as wilfully extravagant as Art Hole, with the collector's edition pushing book design to ever-more dizzying heights! It's the ideal presentation for the paintings of comedian Joe Lycett - vibrant, unrefined, and even a little unhinged.
Art Hole turns this into a long-running joke - each painting is accompanied by annotations and explicatory notes as if it were something from the gift shop of the most exclusive of art galleries. It's a humorous dig at the world of high art, but it's also an endearing reminder that anyone can pick up a brush and start creating something, if only they get past the initial embarrassment of not being particularly good at it.
But what is good, anyway? Joe might not be considered a master portraitist by conventional yardsticks, but when he turns his paintbrush toward the likenesses of pop artists and politicians, his harsh acrylics and lopsided faces perfectly satirise society's elites. It's bold, unflattering, and exquisitely hilarious.
For this article, we interviewed Lucy Horrocks, the senior production controller at Trapeze, to learn more about how this edition came together.
Explore the collector's edition of Art Hole
How did ideas for this edition diverge from the standard hardback?
Lucy Horrocks: Right from the start we knew this edition had to be ‘disco’, bold, and absolutely bursting with humour. That meant breaking away from the usual special edition formats and looking at things we hadn’t done before. It was all about reimagining what a special edition could be – more fun, more unexpected, and a whole lot louder.
How did you work with Joe to bring this edition to life?
LH: It was a full-on collaboration from day one. Joe and his incredible book designer Billie were bursting ideas from the outset, and it was so fun to jump on board and make them happen. We had lots of check-ins and meetings, and they even came with me to Italy to see the book printed and do the final checks. It was a true team effort from beginning to end.
Are there any ideas that didn’t make the final cut?
LH: Oh, so many! We explored everything - from classic high-end options to totally wacky ideas. Honestly, nothing was off the table in those early stages, and I found myself researching things I’d never come across in my career before. To say this one broke the mould is an understatement. In the end, we narrowed it down to ideas that felt fresh, fun, and a bit unexpected. This is a special book, and we wanted it to stand out (literally, with that jazzy foiled paper)!
Where was this edition printed?
LH: This edition is printed in Italy, in a beautiful factory overlooking mountains near Verona - dreamy!
The glassine envelopes were sourced from a UK supplier, and the glasses were from our wonderful gift and games printer.
The paper is 150 gsm Magno Volume, which is a gorgeously thick paper that shows colour brilliantly, without being shiny. We needed something that felt luxurious and elevated and would showcase the colours well, and this hit the sweet spot.
What part of this special edition are you most proud of?
LH: This may be a bit niche and Production-nerdy, but I’m so proud of how we figured out the structure. The way everything fits together, including the endpaper pocket, envelope, and all the extra bits and pieces, took a lot of testing and problem-solving, but we made it work beautifully. It’s sleek and so satisfying to hold in your hands.
What do you hope fans will enjoy most about this edition?
LH: I hope they will enjoy how fun it is! It’s full of personality and surprises and is a total celebration of what modern book publishing can be. It’s rare to come across a book this joyful and unexpected, and I hope it’s one people will treasure for years to come.