Reading born, Poole raised, Bristol art-schooled, and London based artist Keira Rathbone has been messing around on old manual typewriters, making art for a long time. Since around 2003 she has typed landscapes, portraits, nature, and everyday objects using typewriter characters to represent or translate the shape, texture and tone in what she sees into original ‘typics’.

Keira draws ‘always directly from life, where possible’. When street-typing, Keira’s niche artform appeals to and attracts comment and conversation from people of all ages and walks of life. She says, ‘it’s half the reason I’m still exploring it sixteen years on – the contact with strangers!’ Keira has appeared on various TV and BBC radio shows in the UK and worldwide, most recently a heat on Sky Landscape Artist of the Year (2018) and she has since been busy with commissions, exhibitions, and her second baby. If you have an idea for a commission, Keira is always excited to hear from you and discuss ideas.

△ KEIRA RATHBONE  A selection of typewriter art from the artist’s portfolio: (top) a Cornish coast commission, (left) portrait of Teju Cole for Wired Magazine, and (right) ‘typicting’ the Tower Bridge, London. (All images courtesy of the artist, photograph by Alex Griffiths)

The Boston Typewriter Orchestra is a collective endeavour that engages in rhythmic typewriter manipulation combined with elements of performance, comedy, and satire. BTO uses the office setting as an overarching theme for live performances and ‘aims to entertain the masses while providing an outlet for the creative urges of its members’.

The ‘typing pool’ (usually numbering between four and eight people: Alex, Jay, Giordana, Brendan, Jeff, Derrik, Chris) perform wearing white shirts and ties, engage in typical workplace banter, and write office-themed lyrics to satirical or comedic effect. The typewriters are utilized in a rhythmic fashion while melodic elements are supplied by the vocalists. The group uses several varieties of manual typewriters from such manufacturers as Underwood, Smith Corona, Hermes, Remington, and Royal. BTO began performing at house parties, eventually expanding venues to clubs, arts festivals, and museums. Local and national media appearances soon followed. The group appears in the documentary California typewriter and their song ‘Entropy begins at the office’ was used in promotional ads for the film The Post.

A discussion on BBC Radio 3 Arts and Ideas programme Free Thinking, ‘What we cherish and what we give away’. What objects do we value most and what do we give away to charity shops? Matthew Sweet talks to researchers whose work is being featured in the Being Human Festival that takes place in November across a series of UK universities. His guests are anthropologist and soprano Jennifer Cearns from UCL, George Gosling, a historian at the University of Wolverhampton, and Georgina Brewis, of University College London, at the Institute of Education. Plus Vaibhav Singh from the University of Reading shares his research into typewriters.

Listen on BBC Sounds » BBC Radio 3 • Free Thinking