The Alreans discovered them during the Argonaute celebration, the weekend of November 10, in Auray. Léonard Dupond, 33, and Roxane Campoy, 31, installed their drawing boxes there a month earlier. He is an illustrator, she is an illustrator and director of animated films. Their style gives pride of place to colorful, imaginary or more realistic worlds. A talent that they honed at the École de Condé in Paris, where they met ten years earlier.
Animated films, books, board games…
The couple quickly left the capital for Lille, but kept an important network there. Each is represented by an agent. Roxane Campoy worked on the artistic direction of Chanel. She has directed several animated films for France Télévision, including one, “La bicyclette bleue”, soon to be broadcast, and is currently working for the Christmas campaign for a French perfume brand. His illustrations are sold in Marseille, Angoulême… Or London.
Léonard Dupond was spotted by Éditions du Seuil Jeunesse after leaving school, with whom he published his first two albums. The thirty-year-old, who is interested in scientific mediation, has exhibited at the Natural History Museum of Nantes and is currently working with Editions du Grand Palais, when he is not collaborating with the cream of French board games.
“We couldn’t see ourselves working at home”
The couple, who have a 2-year-old boy, chose Auray, “which ticked all the boxes” in part for the richness of its associative territory and its cultural attractiveness. Before packing their bags, they come twice in winter, “so as not to have a fantasized idea”. Their discovery of the Argonaute made their project a reality. In Lille, they founded a workshop on the associative model with three other members. “We couldn’t see ourselves working at home. The joint workshop allows us to create social bonds, especially in a very solitary profession,” explains Roxane Campoy.
Luckily, a place is vacant at the Argonaute. At the same time, the duo found a house in the city center. “We signed this summer, and we moved in at the beginning of the fall.”
“We want to participate in cultural life”
Once the excitement of the installation has passed, the couple slowly catch their breath. Even if they keep one foot in the capital, they project themselves into this city that they want to make their own. “When we arrive here, we necessarily want to participate in local life, particularly cultural life,” emphasizes Roxane Campoy. She, who has just published a children’s book with Delcourt, would like to offer to exhibit her original illustrations at the media library. “If they are interested…” The thirty-year-old is also thinking of collaborations with local artisans.
Léonard Dupond, who was targeting Auray in particular for its proximity to the sea, wanted to develop exterior designs. “I would like to create boat posters… One of my dreams when I moved here would be to create the poster for a major sailing event, like Gulf Week.” A bottle is thrown into the sea…
