A Life in Three Acts
Illustrator · Musician · Artist
From the drawing boards of Hawker Siddeley in England to the studios of Melbourne's underground electronic music scene — a life shaped by precision, creativity, and a restless curiosity about what art can be.
Chapter One
Long before CAD software existed, aircraft were brought to life on paper — precise, hand-drawn technical illustrations that communicated complex engineering to the people who built them.
"Drawing what no camera could capture — the inside of a machine, rendered by hand."
Colin spent years working for Hawker Siddeley in England, one of Britain's great aerospace companies — the same firm behind the legendary Harrier jump jet. His technical drawings documented aircraft systems with the kind of clarity and craftsmanship that defined an era of British engineering.
He later applied that same precision to automotive work — car service manuals and parts diagrams — producing the kind of exploded-view illustrations that technicians depended on.
↳ Colin is archiving his original drawings. This gallery will be updated as works are scanned and added.
Chapter Two
In the late 1970s, Melbourne's underground music scene was alive with a kind of cosmic experimentation rarely heard in Australia. Cybotron were at the centre of it — pioneers of electronic and progressive music at a time when pub rock dominated everything else.
Colin joined the band as drummer, percussionist, and synthesiser player for their landmark 1978 album Colossus. Critics later described it as the band's peak — a record that sold better in Europe and the United States as an import than it did at home.
AllMusic noted that Cybotron had "hit a peak with Colossus, which benefited from the presence of drummer and synth player Colin Butcher." For a moment, it looked like the band might break internationally.
↳ More recordings and personal archive audio coming soon.
Cybotron — Colossus (1978) · Full Album
Cybotron — Colossus · Single Track
Chapter Three
Alongside his work in illustration and music, Colin has painted throughout his life — acrylics and watercolours that reflect the same attention to detail and composition that defined his other disciplines. This gallery is a work in progress, growing as more works are photographed and shared.
