Illustration for a poster for “Or,” by Liz Duffy Adams at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Directed by Allison Narver.

“Or,” is a neo-Restoration comedy set during one night in the life of Aphra Behn, poet, spy and soon to be the first professional female playwright. As the play begins, she has just been sprung from debtors’ prison and has one night to complete her play, launch her career and get out of the spy trade - despite romantic entanglements from actress Nell Gwynne, King Charles II and ex-love, double-agent William Scott.

With the backdrop of a long, drawn-out war, free love, cross-dressing and pastoral lyricism, the 1660s look very much like the 1960s, something reflected in my painting style, for which I took inspiration from vintage movie posters and paperbacks of the era. The illustration was painted in acrylic, and I also designed the title text.