Wigan-born Brian Cannon awarded honorary doctorate for a career that shaped British music imagery
Wigan-born designer, photographer and creative director Brian Cannon has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the West of Scotland for his services to graphic design and British culture.
The founder of Microdot Creative received the honour at a ceremony at Paisley Abbey this week, recognising a career that has helped create some of the most recognisable imagery in British music.
Sharing the news on Facebook, Brian wrote: “The Doctor will see you now…” as he announced the award, describing it as an incredible day and thanking everyone who made the occasion special.
Brian is best known to many music fans for his work with Oasis, where he played a major role in developing the visual identity of one of Britain’s biggest bands. However, his career stretches far beyond Oasis. Through Microdot Creative, Brian created artwork, photography and design for some of the most influential bands of the 1990s, including The Verve.
His story is one of a Wigan creative whose work reached a worldwide audience.
Brian’s connection with Oasis goes far beyond one album cover – he helped create much of the visual identity that surrounded the band during their rise to global success, working on album artwork, single sleeves, photography and promotional material across their most important years.
The cover of Definitely Maybe remains one of his best-known pieces of work, with Brian’s own handwriting featuring on the sleeve and adding a personal touch to one of the most recognisable album covers in British music history.
And, in 1997, Brian brought Oasis to Wigan for the shoot connected with the artwork for the single D’You Know What I Mean?.
At that point Oasis were already a global phenomenon, following the success of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and the build-up to Be Here Now. The decision to shoot in Wigan came from Brian’s own way of working. His photography and artwork often used people from his own life, including friends and family, rather than creating something artificial with hired models in unfamiliar locations.
Bringing Oasis to Wigan made sense because it was the environment Brian knew. Instead of taking everyone somewhere else to create a setting, he brought one of the biggest bands in the world into his own surroundings. The shoot at the Blind Steps just off Darlington Street East heading out of Wigan towards Ince, was deliberately kept quiet to avoid the type of media attention that would happen today through social media. There was no online build-up or instant worldwide coverage, but hundreds of people still turned up.
Brian’s work with The Verve is equally important, particularly because of the band’s own connection to Wigan.
Formed at Winstanley College in Wigan in 1990, The Verve became one of the defining British bands of the 90s. Led by Richard Ashcroft, they went from their early psychedelic sound to worldwide success with Urban Hymns in 1997.
Brian was central to The Verve’s visual identity, creating artwork and imagery for several of the band’s major releases, including A Storm in Heaven, A Northern Soul and Urban Hymns, creating designs that matched the atmosphere and ambition of their music.
He also designed the artwork and promotional material for their legendary Haigh Hall concert in 1998.
However, his influence on British music went far beyond Oasis and The Verve. Through Microdot Creative, he worked with a wide range of artists including Ash, Suede, Super Furry Animals, Inspiral Carpets and Cast.
At a time when record sleeves, posters and photography played a major role in how audiences discovered bands, Brian helped create the imagery that surrounded some of the most important artists of the era. His work was never just about designing a cover. It was about creating a visual world around the music and the people making it.
And, this honorary doctorate recognises the impact Brian Cannon has had, and continues to have on British culture.
From Wigan to working with some of the biggest names in British music, his career shows the lasting impact that creativity, originality and a strong sense of place can have.
