Client: Personal Project

This project is not a real-world production. I set the brief to develop and practice the art of graphic research and prop-making under set time constraints.

Project: Bram Stoker's Dracula (Reimagined)

I have taken the script from the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola film Bram Stoker's Dracula and approached it as if it were being produced today.

It is 1890, Count Dracula (Mads Mikkelsen), a 15th-century prince, is condemned to live off the blood of the living for eternity. Young lawyer Jonathan Harker (Timothée Chalamet) is sent to Dracula's castle to finalise a land deal, but when the Count sees a photo of Harker's fiancée, Mina (Freya Allan), the spitting image of his dead wife, he imprisons him and sets off for London to track her down.

The props come from a script breakdown of Jonathan Harker's journey to Romania and his initial meeting with Dracula.

Hero prop - Jonathan Harkers's journal.

1920x1080-scan-of-early-20th-century-diary-pages-with-handwritten-entries-and-illustrations-for-creative-graphic-design-projects.

A set of stylish brown leather notebooks, pen, and notes displayed on a green cutting mat, ideal for graphic design projects, branding, and creative workspace organisation.

High-quality leather notebooks with a pen and paperclip, perfect for graphic designers and creative professionals to organise ideas, sketches, and client notes in a professional manner.

A textured vintage handwritten diary with sketches and notes from the late 1800s, displayed on a green workspace mat, exemplifying graphic design and creative project presentation.

Detailed image of a vintage handwritten diary featuring sketches and handwritten notes from the late 1800s, set against a green cutting mat, highlighting skills in graphic design, illustration, and vintage document styling.

Historical handwritten diary page with sketches and calligraphy, highlighting vintage documentation and classic journal design elements.

A close-up of an old handwritten diary page with elegant cursive script, sketches, and date markings, reflecting historical journaling and vintage design for creative or archival projects.

A personalised handwritten journal, created with expert graphic design skills, includes handwritten notes, sketches, and personal observations, reflecting artistic creativity and attention to detail.

This image captures an open handwritten journal with personal notes and sketches, demonstrating creative graphic design, artistic handwriting, and personalised journal layouts on a green cutting mat background for artistic projects.

A vintage leather-bound journal with a pen, showcasing creative graphic design work and custom branding, positioned on a green cutting mat for visual appeal.

An image of a leather sketchbook or journal with a pen, emphasizing creativity, custom branding, and professional graphic design services offered by Alan Wellburn.

Jonathan Harkers's journal: Jonathan's journal in 'Dracula' emerges as a narrative linchpin, granting readers an intimate, firsthand perspective on the novel's harrowing events. With each page, it intensifies the atmosphere of dread and suspense, unraveling the depths of character and supernatural intrigue. Enriching the experience further, small illustrations, such as the iconic CIWL logo of the Orient Express operator and the emblem of Munich, enhance its visual presence, immersing viewers in the captivating tale of vampiric terror.

Hero letter to Jonathan Harker from D

Vintage handwritten envelope addressed to Jonathan Parker at Golden Pine Hotel, with a circular hotel stamp, illustrating classic graphic design elements.

Hero letter to Jonathan Harker from D: This letter instructs Jonathan to meet Dracula at the eerie Borgo Pass, which bears a reimagined Castle Dracul crest. It depicts a dragon from which 'Dracul' derives his name, the dragon stands on an inverted cross, nodding to occult symbolism. Additionally, a postage frank from the region of Bistrița-Năsăud, Harker's destination, displays a symbolic image from their coat of arms: children suckling on a wolf, a foreshadowing harbinger of Dracula's menacing wolf pack.

Elegant handwritten envelope with calligraphy for business branding, showcasing customised graphic design and stationery services.

A close-up of a vintage-style handwritten envelope featuring custom calligraphy and classic postal stamp for branding and graphic design projects.

A close-up image of a textured personal or business letterhead with a striking red dragon logo, illustrating customised graphic design work by Alan Wellburn for branding and stationery.

High-quality photo of a personalised letterhead with a bold dragon emblem and handwritten signature, representing expert graphic design and branding services offered by Alan Wellburn.

A close-up image of a vintage red wax seal embossed with an intricate emblem, sealing an envelope made of high-quality paper. The image highlights the elegance and craftsmanship of traditional wax sealing, perfect for branding, stationery, or special correspondence.

This photograph showcases a traditional wax seal with a detailed emblem pressed into red wax, affixed to a neatly folded white envelope. The image captures the craftsmanship and classic style of vintage letter sealing, often used for formal invitations, branding, or luxury stationery, emphasizing elegance and authenticity.

Hero painting of Vlad Dracul the III (Mads Mikkelsen)

If you would like to discuss your project requirements, contact me today.

Contact

Right: Orient-Express ticket for Harker from Paris to Budapest.

Below: Orient-Express Dinner Menu.

Passport control ticket for travel validation with detailed notes and instructions on legitimate travel documentation and procedure, vintage transportation document, historical transportation paper, travel compliance form.

Detailed vintage train ticket with elegant typography and historic design elements, perfect for railway branding or nostalgia-themed projects.

A high-quality image of a vintage Orient-Express railway ticket with ornate fonts, classic layout, and nostalgic design details, highlighting expertise in graphic design and branding for transportation.

A classic Hungarian postcard, handwritten letters, and fountain pen arranged on a green cutting mat, emphasizing traditional design and illustration elements.

This image showcases a vintage Hungarian postcard titled "Levelező-Lap" alongside handwritten letters, a fountain pen, and a contrast of historical and artistic design elements, perfect for highlighting graphic design, illustration, and vintage correspondence themes.

A beautifully crafted vintage French train ticket and restaurant menu, illustrating expert graphic design, typography, and print layout skills for branding and visual communication.

This image features a vintage-style French train ticket and a restaurant menu, highlighting high-quality graphic design, typography, and print layout expertise. The seamless design and attention to detail demonstrate professional branding and visual communication services.

Vintage French train ticket and menu showcasing elegant graphic design, typography, and branding for print and stationery, demonstrating creative visual communication.

Stylish calligraphy on stationery for personalised correspondence, highlighting graphic design expertise in elegant, professional letter writing for invitations, cards, or branding.

A close-up of a professionally hand-lettered address card, featuring graceful calligraphy with name and address details, perfect for custom stationery, invitations, or branding by a graphic designer.

Orient-Express ticket: In 1890, the Orient Express was operated by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL). The ticket bears their logo in gold emboss. The spelling 'Pesth' was used by Bram Stoker in his novel, although it is now considered archaic.

Orient-Express Dinner Menu: I created a dinner menu as dressing for Jonathan's journal. It features typical Victorian dishes and is in French, as would be typical for most items on the service.

Budapest Postcard: Jonathan departs the Orient-Express in Budapest before picking up another train to Romania. Jonathan would likely have little time to explore the city but has purchased a postcard depicting the magnificent Budapest Western Railway Station. It is as yet unwritten.

Jonathan Harker Calling Cards: Calling cards were an indispensable accessory to fashionable, upper class life in Britain during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The p.p.c in the corner is added before a long absence (Pour Prendre Congé / Take My Leave).

Hero photoplate of Mina Harker (Freya Allan)

Hero photoplate of Mina Harker: The pivotal photoplate image of Mina is a linchpin in the film's narrative. Its significance lies in the striking resemblance between Mina and Dracula's late wife, a resemblance that ensnares Jonathan as a captive of fate. Crafted with meticulous precision, this image of Fraya Allan has been artfully photoshopped to recreate the enchanting style of Victorian photographic techniques, adding depth and authenticity to the film's plotline.

London Newspaper from April 28, 1890.

Elegant black and white print layout emphasizing classic design skills and attention to detail.

High-quality image of a vintage newspaper with detailed print and layout, illustrating professional graphic design work by Alan Wellburn for print media.

A close-up of a printed newspaper headline about Ukraine, featuring bold typography and detailed article text, illustrating effective graphic design and print layout techniques for editorial media.

Vintage newspaper depicting London skyline and Zanzibar under British protection, with detailed typography, historical context, and classic black and white print style.

Vintage newspaper featuring headlines on British Empire and Africa, showcasing classic journalism design with bold fonts and historical content, emphasizing traditional print media aesthetics for graphic design inspiration.

A black and white vintage newspaper with prominent headlines about the British Empire and African history, illustrating a classic print layout, bold typography, and historical journalism style suitable for graphic design projects or historical research.

London Newspaper from April 28th 1890: Dated just before Harker's arrival in London, it borrows from the period's traditional front-page design but adds a dramatic twist with bold banner headlines. The main story, an homage to the British Empire, anchors us in the film's time frame, while a tale of mysterious disappearances in Eastern Europe ominously foreshadows the unfolding events, adding depth and intrigue to the storyline.

Hero Tapestry - Order of the Dragon

Dark dragon with vivid red eyes and detailed scales, set against a medieval-themed background.

A detailed digital illustration of a medieval knight on horseback, set against a gothic-inspired background with dragons, heraldic shields, and elaborate borders, showcasing medieval and fantasy graphic design elements.

Hero Tapestry: The 'Order of the Dragon' tapestry meticulously designed as a hero prop. This aged and weathered relic showcases Count Dracula astride a steed, spear in hand, surrounded by emblems and Latin inscriptions. Dragons devouring their tails, echoing the Order's original symbology, serve as a striking motif. The Latin inscription, 'O quam misericors est Deus, justus et pius. Societas Draconis' ('O how merciful is God, faithful and just. Society of the Dragonists'), adds an air of authenticity to this captivating glimpse into a world of ancient secracy and devotion.

Indenture hero prop - Carfax estate deed of purchase

Vintage handwritten certificate with calligraphic script and decorative red border, showcasing classic graphic design work and typography for historical or artistic branding.

An aged paper document featuring elegant cursive handwriting and intricate red border lines, illustrating traditional graphic design techniques used in historical certificates, invitations, or artistic prints.

- Beautifully designed vintage marriage certificate with ornate script, red wax seal, and artistic layout, exemplifying traditional certificate graphic design.

- A historical marriage certificate with elegant cursive handwriting, official red wax seal, and layout featuring decorative elements, created by Alan Wellburn Graphic Design.

A vintage legal document featuring intricate handwritten text, red wax seal, and a detailed graphic illustration, highlighting classic legal design elements and historical printing techniques.

This image shows an old legal deed or certificate with precise handwriting, a red embossed seal, and a printed graphic of a coast or map, reflecting traditional document design and historical legal practices.

Elegant vintage document with handwritten script and red wax seal, demonstrating high-quality graphic design and printing solutions for official or archival purposes.

A detailed shot of an antique document featuring handwritten text, red seal, and paper texture, highlighting the importance of professional graphic design for historical and official documents.

Land deed document featuring handwritten script, property diagram, red seals, and decorative calligraphy, highlighting historical land ownership and legal documentation in graphic design.

A historic land deed with elegant handwritten text, a property layout illustration, red embossed seals, and ornate typography, illustrating traditional legal and graphical elements in archival documents.

Carfax estate deed of purchase: An Indenture Document dated 1890, representing the sale of Carfax Abbey in Purfleet, London, recreated on vellum-type paper. The aged vellum texture, ornate 1890s calligraphy, and an embossed seal imbue the document with historical weight. Legal language, stamps, and elaborate borders contribute to its authenticity, offering an immersive glimpse into the era.