Refuge is a vital charity that helps victims of domestic abuse. On any given day they support more than 6,000 clients, helping them rebuild their lives and overcome violence and abuse.

Built on the insight that broken relationships don’t start that way. At some point, they turn sour. These ‘reversible’ poems capture that turning point. I can’t take credit for the writing, I wish I could. But the writing presented me with a problem: when it was of such astounding quality, it put enormous pressure on the art direction to be equally as good. However, when the idea resisted all attempts at any kind of flourish, the art direction became a lesson in restraint.

(Writer: Zane Radcliffe.)

Some time ago, a young man entered my office. To my eternal shame I no longer remember his name. I do remember he was a recently hired junior creative. He asked me if I was the art director on the Diamond White cinema ad. I answered, yes. And then he proceeded to tell me that the ad was the single reason he wanted a career in advertising. It won a gong, but this was a far more valuable accolade.

(Director: David Macdonald)
(Music: Malcolm McLaren)

May 2017 and Prime Minister Theresa May was accused of wholeheartedly adopting the UKIPs model of Brexit, expounded by Nigel Farage for twenty years. This is the Liberal Democrats’ take on it.

The Motability scheme helps people with disabilities get mobile by exchanging their higher rate mobility allowance to lease a new, affordable vehicle. Vauxhall has been a founding partner since the scheme began. Featuring a cast of people with physical or cognitive disabilities, this ad is a joyous, unadulterated celebration of the freedom that the scheme affords.

(Director: Nick Jones)

Does this turn the novelty dancing flower world up to 11?

(Photography: Chris Clor)

Shortly after the ads ran, I received a letter in the post. It was from one Terry Lovelock. If your memory needs refreshing, he was the author of the line, ‘Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach’, and creator of some of the best ads in the history of advertising. Yes, from him. He congratulated me on the ads and intimated that the Tennents campaign was the best campaign he’d seen since his own. I’m not sure he said that explicitly. Perhaps he stopped short, as the Tennents ads were good, but not that good.

(Director: Graham Rose.)

Meantime, In a field somewhere in England…

(Photographer: Chris Clor)

Hoverspeed makes the trip from Dover to Calais in 35 minutes, which is ferry, ferry fast. C’mon, you can allow me that.

Another great cause, Shelter is a housing and homelessness charity. BM Solutions is an independent mortgage provider and has been raising money for Shelter since 2005.

Adam is a compact Supermini from Vauxhall. It offers a huge amount of variants and endless possibilities for personalisation. No two are the same, meaning every one is an original.

(Photographer: Andy Glass)

I think the poster speaks for itself.

(Photographer: Andy Green)

Simplyhealth believe that we can come together to improve health and wellbeing for all. The ad tells the story of a community coming together to do just that. From winning the pitch to airing, the ad took just six weeks. This, during the most difficult time we’ve ever faced with Covid 19. It was a monumental effort, from a great many talented people for a terrific company. And I’m very proud of it.

(Director: Joanna Bailey.)

A lifestyle clothing and accessories company based in Tewkesbury. I ask you, what was I supposed to do with a brand with such a name? The inspiration for the ads was based on the delightfully dark works of the German artist, Michael Sowa.

I’m proud to say that this was the very first ad for P&G to get into D&Ad.

Who’d have thought that each of the leading bookies would have a word that highlights the perils of excessive betting inherent in their name? Changes, a Bristol charity that helps people with betting addictions, couldn’t resist pointing this out.

Take a look at the case study.

‘A picture’s worth a thousand words’ we’re told. Well, in this instance the picture is a thousand words. It’s actually less than that, but let’s not quibble.

(Writer: Zane Radcliffe.)

In a major departure for the insurance company, the Admiral is now an animated character in the distinctive seaside town of Admouth. She and her trusty canine side-kick, Alfie, demonstrate how Admiral products makes consumers lives easier with simple solutions in a complex world.

(Director: Steve Small)
(Production Company: Studio AKA)

A poster that ran and ran.

In 2002 the government launched this £4 million campaign to curb the rise in sexually transmitted infections. With posters, scratchcards and radio ads, people were invited to play the Sex Lottery to see if they had one.

Do you enjoy those upbeat drinking occasions with friends? Or those quiet occasions that are just for you. It’s all a matter of perspective.

(Director: Paige Fiddes)
(Photography: Paige Fiddes)

You can’t please everyone in this business. ‘Ah’, my creative director said on seeing this ad, ‘a two-headed giraffe’. The two-headed giraffe won at D&Ad.

(Illustrator: Simon Spilsbury)

Cathay Pacific is the Official Airline of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby event. A poster to kick it off.

Watch these fun ads... if you've got the urge.

A Bermondsey brewery that uses a unique numbering system to indicate the Style and Recipe of their beers, according to a super-secret code. Each numbered beer has a character all of its own, which is playfully brought to life in this campaign.