Hand Painted Murals | Traditional Sign Painting | London's Premier Signs
CASE: 12X3 Boxing Gym E1
…..Ryan Pickard 12X3
12X3
Nick talking about 12X3. Audio Interview. 06/08/2023
From the memoires of ‘Signman’.
Q. So how did you guys meet?
OK so I got this inquiry online 2018, I think it just came through on e-mail from a guy called Ryan, who was opening a boxing gym and there were few e-mail exchanges.
He sent the logo over that I thought wow this is pretty cool… and then we arranged to meet, I think it was quite a cold wet day, it was late autumn from memory, so it’s pretty much going into that time where you can’t expect much, you know we’re heading down to Christmas, nothing special is going to really happen now it’s all done that sort of thing.
That was going on and so we arranged to meet in a Emilia’s, a cool Italian cafe in Allie St. E1. (my daughter Emily was born in the province Emilia Romagna Italy… I worked there in Italy as food tourist guide for 8 years… hmmm another great job and adventure!).
We had the idea to just have a chat and a coffee, and then look at the gym space.
I don’t usually cut a path across town on the off chance.
So I’ve got there a little bit earlier, the espresso was really good, so I message this guy and then within 5 minutes he’s showed up and rushed in… I think he was on a bike or something – and this beautiful looking kid comes up to me and says ‘’Hey man good to meet you’’ and I thought OK so who’s this? He either ain’t a boxer with those looks or he’s a really f good one… and so I look cool-calm and don’t look sort of hmmm… and just don’t ask dumb questions – and then he mentioned that he’s waiting for Darren (Darren Barker… another world Champion!) or someone, he mentioned someone else anyway, and I thought, ”Oh well that’s the guy we’re waiting for… that’s the main man who’s coming down in a minute – and this is just the young design-side graphics guy, who’s doing the running and hustling, and looking busy, and keeping the refit work rolling.
So we go in there and it’s a great space, straight away I’m looking at it thinking, wow this is very cool! – it’s got a vibe…. wtf is going on here? It’s unusual to just walk into a place that’s so tuned up from the get go.
What I mean by that is he pointed around the space where everything was going to go and click fit.
And then he unfolds a few tester ideas, shows me some lovely typographic decks, and I’m starting to think well hang on, I’m getting a sense of polish here (Marc Thorpe/Saatchi and Saatchi decks)… what is this place going to be!? Bang! he’s got the sheets out with the project… is this the fucking man or what?
And it suddenly dawned on me that this indeed, is the man: this young guy, looks like 21, and we, like we sort of like click, we clicked you know, and I really liked this guy because he had it all measured, understood the all the angles – and I thought wow something going on here in this place.
Most times when you go on site your have to slightly over explain yourself but when someone’s in the design zone that doesn’t seem to happen it just gets processed, affirmed and defined.
Q. So it ignited your creative instincts?
Yep, I called a buddy straight after the meeting, I was really excited about this project, I said you know this this young fella just showed up with a gym, had a meeting with him, it’s a really cool gig, he’s only like 21, really young and he’s like fucking so cool, you know switched on, in sync… I was really excited about the project and I was a bit what? wtf!?
So what spun me out was I was living between Piacenza, Emilia Romagna, Italy and London at that time and in Italy, young people are ‘held down’ socially and young entrepreneurs are thin on the ground, it’s paternal BS, they are so talented but don’t get allowed to get this sort of schema together like this. So early in their lives, everything’s set out to keep young people either working in min wage, retail or in 7 year university degree, until they’re nearly 30 and then go and work for a family business – it’s a different culture and to be honest, it was a culture that I wasn’t feeling great about anymore – a stagnant economy etc.
So here I am in the revival, thriving new East End, it’s all booming, it’s a mega city drome and young people are making it happen. And this to me reminded me of myself, what I had done as a kid and how amazing London can be.
So yeah it was a big moment kind of looking at myself looking at Ryan, seeing myself alongside in a place with people that share the same powerful creative drives, values… and instincts
Q. How did the brand ID come across?
I think at that moment, I was setting up the 12X3 windows and I got pulled overseas and Kevin Roberts stood in and did the painting, did a beautiful job and the logos looked great on the glass – then we had some more designs coming through and the font looked really cool it was typeset a vernacular, chunky 60s condense sans serif as we say. Ry was super focused on all the aspects of design and application.
The brand was such a gritty reflection of their paths. They knew the stories and I never asked the questions – Respect. So yeah it had a lot of power.
Q. The shared experiences helped?
By the time I’d met 12X3 partner founder Darren, who was kind of a very different guy to Ryan, I’ve found out who they are and were was blown away by their success and achievements. The fact these are two world champions really impressed me and I was a bit in awe actually you know. I was also proud of them too! I’ve been a fighter myself in martial arts and wing Chung and my great grandfather was a bit of a legendary flyweight, Charlie Harwood, from Norwich, I think he was British champion something like that.
The guys asked me if I’d been to Repton Boxing club, said ‘’You should come down to Repton, it’s amazing place, it’s a Museum of Boxing! We’ll take you there”.
There were a couple of other guys showing up, eyeing it all up and starting to look around the place, like they meant business, you know it was it was already starting to buzz and happen this space, and I was really comfortable in amongst these guys, because I’d growing up with fighters: there’s no safer place than to be alongside your brothers and sisters of the gloves and everything just seemed to gel.
I was away for a few of the first installs and then I came in and did some nice finishing murals and glass panels and the whole thing came beautifully together.
I had a student assist Dave King, along with Didier and Nina, helping me on some stuff and it was just a really strong powerful heartfelt project.
Q. Resonating days then?
Some time went by and they got back in touch and were going opening a place over in Paddington. I went and hit it all up for them. There was a lot of great work there, and I think it was at that time that Ryan showed me the video that he produced, about Repton, with Ray Winston, who was also himself a ‘Repton boy’. It was a really stunning video and he sent me over a copy of the Repton prayer, which Ray recites in the video. At that time I had just gone through a marriage breakdown and I think Ryan really picked up on something and I just felt the belief and support connection.
The Repton Prayer
When things go wrong, as they some times will
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
When you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must but don’t you quit
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
That many a failure turns about
When he might have won
If he stuck it out
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit
There’s always history when you’re working with genuine people and fighters. I’ve always been training, hanging with, or found myself sharing my life with fighters, for example Mark Hobbs at KFA, we go back 25 years nearly.
Q. Repton is all about family and community – how about 12X3?
So true. Really important too in E. London with so many changes going on.
Within this small circle of Darren and Ryan and myself working on these images, brand statements and fantastic meaningful messages, there’s a real story going on, deeper in there, like you look at them and they got this reel going on that’s motivated them all their lives.
There’s real emotions in there, some unpacked (expressed in the ring), localised social disadvantage, poverty, loss, grief, hardships, socio cultural, racism, daily challenges and the fight to succeed, the fight to overcome, the fight to get strong, become independent and win again.
But it was just always the case that I felt there was a big team and family thing going on around them, a lot of support… oh, and that was something that I was missing at the time, finding myself alone, living in bed and breakfast, losing my home in Italy, losing my family, my kids, friends, sleeping on the floor of my studio. 2018: I’m at that moment, just dedicating myself to the work, which was my ring – I was in the gym every day, every night, keeping my shit together, fighting to survive: to stay successful.
And I was in the right company, even though so much was said without words: it was just a kind, brotherly vibe.
Q. Design power of Marc Thorpe?
Marc did a great job. So when we came back and did some nice big stripes across the walls with Seraina, that was a good chunk of new, different work. Ryan seemed to have turned another, focused page.
Ryan was alongside, guiding his design and yep, he’s one pretty tasty designer let me tell you, everything that goes down in his gym, comes from him, his heart. He produced some sketches and revealed his own hidden artwork/creative/drawing side. About the only time I’d seen him scared!
For me it didn’t surprise – in Chinese culture martial arts and art were always essentially connected. Always together: Even Bruce Lee was a great drawer too.
Q. You then found the Repton moment..
We did. This amazing Repton ring paint job came up, where he organized us to go in after a Sunday training session, and paint the big Repton logo across the hallowed training ring canvas, and there we all were, Ryan and his family, in that temple of London boxing, a world renowned gym and home for many.
‘’I’ve had to stay safe and sleep in here at times in my life Nick.’’
Q. You train for your QOL?
Quality of Life is so important yep.
I asked Ryan for a training session as I really wanted to experience his training: I love getting back into the combat gym and do some fight training, but only the ‘right’ one.
We had an hour session where he worked me around the solid basics, always on point, it was the business end of training: smooth, true, simple. I’ve been lucky enough to train with some great fighters in UK Australia and China and working that hour with Ryan was the cream.
Just the approach he brings, because it’s super simple, technically pinpointed, focused and bang on the money.
I remember he said ‘’You’re gonna feel like you’ve been hit by a train tomorrow’’.
The next day at home in Margate, I just felt super smooth no aches, nothing, it was a quite a good workout and just for people out there wanting to do something like this, do it – but do it with the best, otherwise you’ll learn bad habits and you’ll risk feeling unsettled, mind-setting in a bad way, and disillusionment.
Living way off makes training at 12X3 just out of reach – but I actively work out every week. Sign painting needs good body conditioning. And yes I am thinking about getting my ass close to 12X3! It gnaws….
Q. How does it rank?
No 1.
Closely followed by Nilly’s, Fred Perry and Berry Bros.
Q. Wow! … so any words for sharing the Gym?
Try it. Boxing is so freeing, liberating… it’s incredible. I wouldn’t go anywhere else to box in UK. Honestly don’t kid yourself it’s really important – you can get hurt in the wrong gym – not just a boxing gym.
At 21 one Monday evening, I walked into Brixton ABA and asked to join. The head coach said I was too old. That’s never going to happen in 12X3 – because they love it when someone shows up willing to learn. They’re open minded, having worked with so many champions, overcoming so many disadvantages. I think had I walked into Repton that night, they would have laughed at me and said ”Fair play, let’s see what you can do…”
Q. Do you think people still recognise ‘authentic’ today?
I think ultimately it’s a karma thing but my own views on Karma is it’s only about giving: like attracts like, but all one needs to be active with, is the process of giveness.
So yes there is always a special place for special ones because of the amount of work it takes… a lot of fields to be ploughed.
I’ve trained in a couple of great places and a few bad ones: Shaolin Temple China, Long Gi Wing Chun club Foshan China, Mark Hobbs KFA and Roger Smart Wing Chun school Perth.
When it’s slightly off, I’ll usually walk up to the coach and talk to them about it privately, then leave. That way it allows reflection, and lessens the risk of training errors happening to others. 12X3 is out there on its own.
Boxing breaks you through pretty quick, just look at these boys’ creds to know you’re in the right place: World champion, Capt. of Olympic team. But that said being a great coach comes from a different place other than just being a great fighter, there’s generosity involved. I mean Tyson has gone on to inspire so many, but I’m not sure he’d make it as a coach up close… who knows but it glows in 12X3.
The thing with Ryan and all his coaches, you never feel that anything is off track – because it isn’t. He’ll just trim you in. And when you work with the best like this, that headspace is everything: trust, respect, always in the room and on point.
Being ‘present’ and pushing yourself harder, in order to do the business, better than yesterday.
And if you can’t make it, rest and reflect – just don’t quit.
And as time goes on for me, this project is the one.
NG
”Nick is easy to work with. Total professional” Ryan Pickard 12X3
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12X3 LONDON SMALLPRINT
THE FOUNDERS OF 12X3 DARREN BARKER AND RYAN PICKARD ARE BOTH CHAMPION FIGHTERS. THEY WANTED A BRAND EXPERIENCE THAT FELT CONTEMPORARY WHILE PAYING HOMAGE TO THE REPTON CLUB, BRITAIN’S OLDEST BOXING CLUB, AND THEIR ROOTS.
MARC THORPE DESIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH SAATCHI & SAATCHI APPROACHED THE VISUAL IDENTITY WITH GRITTY PHOTOGRAPHY, URBAN REFERENCES, EMBELISHED WITH EAST END BLOCK PRINT TYPOGRAPHY IN A SPACE THAT FEELS PREMIUM AND AUTHENTIC.
THE BRAND FONT ‘REPTON’, WAS INSPIRED BY ORIGINAL ‘FOUND’ LETTER FORMS ON A 1960’S POSTER, STILL HANGING IN THE HALLOWED SIDE TRAINING ROOM AT THE REPTON CLUB.
”Nick always captured our vision. Total professional”
Ryan Pickard 12×3 Boxing Gym Signage NGS
One of 3 energy vibe wall murals designed by Ryan and put together by NGS, and the mantra wall | 12×3 Boxing Gym Signage NGS
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