"My work always has me beavering away in the background, putting creative people together so they can make incredible music.  This picture captures that perfectly with me sat behind Steve who is the man behind Mike Oldfield, getting the best performances out of him on his new record.  I always feel that the best visual artists exist as if they were not there - observing the world unnoticed.   When I was a kid I loved the idea of being invisible and this drawing captures an element of that."

---

Mike Smith is the President of Music at Mercury Records UK, music man and illustrator.

 
The Manifesto asked him to collaborate on a sketch series, asking the question -  What is your manifesto?

@65mikesmith
 

001

Johnny Borrell from Razorlight playing a solo show at The 100 Club.  London.

002

Lunch with Mikill Pane, an MC with a social conscience from Hackney.London.

003

The Strypes. Glastonbury. 2013.
 Playing to 12,000 people packed into the tent with more outside, one of the performances of the festival.

004

Mr Brightside
Saturday night out with another old friend John. We were talent scouts together back in the day; here he is capturing The Killers playing at Wembley Arena in London.

005

Watching the Kings
Alex and Graham from Blur watching Kings of Leon at Werchter Festival.

006

Steve Lipson in the studio working on the Mike Oldfield record.