The Guardian Print Shop presents a curated selection of works from This is how we do it – the infamous Saturday column where couples share the naked truth about their sex lives.
The Brighton-based illustrator Ryan Gillett creates hand-drawn, textured illustrations full of warmth and charm for each column. His signature characters reveal human foibles with humour and depth, while his imaginative approach brings playful, unexpected twists that highlight the delight and complexity of human nature. Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘Having threesomes has totally transformed us – in and out of bed’
Gillett: “I wanted to give a subtle nod to the threesome aspect of the article. After exploring a few more peculiar sketches such as a two-faced woman kissing two men or a woman’s legs juggling two tiny men, we ultimately landed on this image, with two sets of hands resting on the woman’s back.” Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘I worried about his kinks, but I’m learning to relax and be playful’
“I tend to approach these articles with a sense of surrealism. Because the article touches on the use of sex toys, it felt fitting to reimagine the man as a sex toy himself. The added humour of the woman laughing helps take the edge off and lightens the tone.” Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘We were evicted from our home due to noisy sex. We call it our bang to rights moment’
“Probably my favourite from this series of illustrations. I explored a lot of strange ways of turning the couple into musical instruments, such as the guy playing her leg like an electric guitar, the two of them forming the kick of a bass drum, and even sketches of them with megaphone heads making out. I can practically hear the plastic clashing together now.” Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘A three-month break from sex gave us the reset we needed’
“Occasionally, the subject matter of the article calls for a softer touch, and the humour naturally falls away. For this piece, the early sketches revolved around hands – large and small – gently caressing one another. I did attempt to sneak in a couple with hands for heads, touching and caressing but it ultimately wasn’t selected.” Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘We live in a tiny flat with our kids, so we have sex in the woods at night’
“The initial sketches explored several directions – an owl flying through a woman’s leg akimbo, a bemused deer with pants draped over its antlers, and the couple’s legs reimagined as a tree trunk crowned with foliage. Ultimately, this image proved to be the most successful.” Buy your print here
This is how we do it: ‘After mutual cancer diagnoses we didn’t have sex for five years. Then we discovered toys …’
“The article for this one was naturally one that had to be handled with sensitivity and kindness. I liked the idea of the couple hauling a kids’ toy cart filled with sex toys. I also experimented with several sketches of a vibrating older couple. Humour must always remain light, and never mocking.” Buy your print here
Prices (exclusive of taxes and shipping):
A4 unframed; C-type matte fine art paper; £50
Small unframed (28 x 35cm); Hahnemühle Photorag paper; £90
Small framed (28 x 35cm); Hahnemühle Photorag paper; £140
Medium unframed (40 x 50cm); Hahnemühle Photorag paper; £130
Medium framed, black (40 x 50cm); Hahnemühle Photorag paper; £200
Global express shipping
£8.50 United Kingdom
£13.15 Europe
£15 US & Canada
£39 Rest of World
Prints
Prints are presented on museum-grade, fine-art paper stocks, with archival standards guaranteeing quality for 100-plus years. All editions are printed and quality checked by experts at theprintspace, the UK’s leading photo and fine art print provider.
Delivery
Carbon-neutral, sustainable production, packaging and shipping. Global delivery with tracked and insured shipping. Theprintspace takes great care in packaging your artwork, with a no-quibble satisfaction guarantee should you be unhappy in any way.
Contact
guardianprintsales@theprintspace.co.uk