MIKE BELL MAPS - CREATOR OF MUSIC MAPS & MORE
The Designer Behind the Maps: Mike Bell
"It’s not just an art print; it’s a verified history of the art we love."
I’ve spent the better part of my life reading liner notes, tracing session credits, and following the threads of creative history. As a kid, I watched credits roll on the films on TV and looked out for names I had seen before, and as a teenager, I devoured the pattern of credits on the album sleeve notes. What started as a personal fascination with the interconnected world of music and film has evolved into a meticulous design project: Mike Bell Maps.
Based in the UK, I research and design every single map in this collection. My goal is to transform complex, decades-long creative journeys into clear, navigable, and beautiful "topographies of the familiar."
The Research-Led Process
Every "station" on my maps represents a verified studio album or film scene. Every "line" is a human connection, a band member, a session musician, or a character.
- Primary Source Research: I don't rely on generic databases. I cross-reference official liner notes, session archives, musician interviews, and fan-led historical databases.
- The "Living" Map: These aren't static designs. Because I value accuracy above all else, I frequently update my work based on new information and feedback from a global community of collectors.
- Design Integrity: By using the iconic underground transit style, I strip away the noise and focus on the structure of a career.
Watch me being interviewed by Sam Knowles on his Data Malarkey podcast - my story, my background, and my design processes.
Trusted by the Industry
Authority isn't just claimed; it’s recognised. I am incredibly proud that my work has been vetted and praised by some of the very people who shaped these histories:
- "BRILLIANT IDEA" Billy Bragg
- "VERY COOL AND SMART" Dr Susan Rogers (Producer for Prince, Sign o' the Times)
- "AWESOME!!" Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
- "TRULY AMAZING” The Bruce Springsteen Archive
My Commitment to Quality & Sustainability
Trust is built through transparency. I don't just care about the design; I care about the physical object that hangs on your wall.
- Archival Standards: I use 302 gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, a museum-grade, acid-free cotton rag that ensures your map won't yellow or fade for over 100 years.
- Local Production: To reduce the carbon footprint, I print as close to you as possible through a global network of carbon-neutral partners.
- Direct Contact: I am an independent artist, not a faceless corporation. If you spot an obscure session credit I missed or have a question about a specific frame, you can contact me directly.
ABOUT MIKE BELL - TUBE MAP DESIGNER
Mike Bell Maps is my growing collection of tube map art prints that reimagine music, movies, and history through the visual language of underground maps.
Each detailed design presents albums in order, film plots, and complex creative histories as clear, engaging tube-style timelines created for fans who value depth and research in their favourite subjects.
RESEARCH-LED DESIGN
Every artwork is built on original research and careful verification. Albums become stations. Musicians, characters, and ideas form connecting lines. This approach turns detailed information into visual storytelling, creating art prints that bring clarity and meaning to subjects people already care about.
MY STORY
My background is rooted in live sound and large-scale show design, working across music and cultural events for many years. That experience shaped how I understand collaboration, creative evolution, and structure. During lockdown, I applied that knowledge to mapping music and films, developing underground maps that balance accuracy, design, and narrative.
THE ARTWORK
Each print is produced to archival standards and designed to last. These are not novelty posters. They are considered art prints created for people who value music history, film structure, and informed design. They make thoughtful gifts for fans who want something personal, researched, and meaningful.
Mike Bell Maps is where research-led tube maps become art prints, and where stories worth knowing are mapped clearly, carefully, and beautifully.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are Mike Bell’s tube map art prints?
A: My prints utilise an advanced visual language based on the logic of underground maps to organise complex histories. By moving beyond basic cartography, I transform albums into "stations" and musicians or themes into "connecting lines." This allows fans to explore hundreds of data points - from session musician credits to chronological collaborations - within a single, intuitive visual system.
Q: How do these maps differ from standard music or tube posters?
A: The primary difference is information density and quality. While standard posters are often low-resolution decorative pieces on thin paper (135-170gsm), my prints are research-led discographies printed on archival-grade, 305gsm+ heavyweight giclée paper. They are designed to be "read" like a book, rewarding deep curiosity with discoveries not found in mass-produced merchandise.
Q: How is the accuracy of the research verified?
A: Accuracy is the core of my design process. Every map is synthesised from primary sources, including official liner notes, session archives, musician interviews, and verified fan databases. By incorporating musician inputs and fact-checking against trusted archives, I ensure that each map is a historically accurate record of the subject’s career.
Q: What subjects are available in the collection?
A: The collection spans a wide range of cultural histories, including music discographies, film plots, politics, and Formula One. Each map focuses on a single narrative, presenting the whole "story" of a subject - such as the evolution of a band or the timeline of a sport- in a clear, high-density visual format.
Q: Are these prints produced sustainably?
A: Yes. I prioritise a carbon-neutral workflow by producing prints locally to the buyer to reduce the shipping footprint. I use sustainable wood frames and archival materials designed for 100+ years of colour stability, ensuring the art is a lasting investment rather than disposable décor.
Q: Why do these maps make the best gifts for music and film fans?
A: Unlike generic posters, these are bespoke cultural maps that celebrate a fan's deep knowledge. Because they are research-led and visually unique (featuring narratives not seen elsewhere), they offer a sophisticated, gallery-quality alternative for those who value the "deep dive" into their favourite artist or film.