About Us - How it all began
Spike and Co is an independent, creative agency specialising in the one-stop servicing and account management for a wide range of clients, globally. Established by Spike Watson in 1985, following a hugely successful freelance career, Spike and Co is a modern, proactive agency which meets the client brief with a unique, personal touch.
With more than ten busy photographers on the books, a Cape Town Office and growing international presence, we have produced and shot hundreds of advertising campaigns for the world’s top ranking companies such as Exon Mobile, BP, Aviva, France Telecom, Sony, Procter & Gamble and Nestle. Our team can plan, organise and deliver billboard quality advertising and corporate photography at competitive rates to any client brief. Since 2007 daughter, Spikes’ daughter Angel Watson has taken up the challenge of developing a new and exciting branch of Spike and Co. and opened the books to makeup artists and stylist offering clients access to a range of top-quality creative minds to work alongside or independently from our field of photographers. This has further strengthened the Spike and Co offering and makes Spike and Co the agency of choice for our wide range of loyal clients.
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Spike’s photography career began in 1981 working for London Daily News and local newspapers covering stories with a keen eye and sense of perspective. A prized job on “That's Life" in the BBC's News and Current Affairs Department followed, and Spike worked as the show’s official photographer for three years under the critical eye of Ester Rantzen. Ester proved to be a tough teacher in photojournalism. During the months ‘off-air’ Spike was employed by the BBC's Stills Department in TV Centre, White City, covering many of the most popular shows of the day, such as Dispatches, Arena, Panorama, Eastenders and the iconic Top of the Pops.
Spike shot stills on her first TV commercial in 1988 for BP Oil, directed by Peter Levelle and lit by Adrian Biddle (Alien, Thelma & Louise) and over the past 25 years has been fortunate to work with some of the most talented Film Directors and DOP's on over 1000 commercials worldwide and Feature Films.
Since 1997 Spike has gained several Silver and Bronze awards and in 2007 a Gold award for Best print from Ads of the World.
The London international Silver award for Best Outdoor print campaign (1997) and a silver for Best print for public services/social welfare campaign. In 2008 The Creative circle honours for Best Photography and Best Charity Advertisement. In 2002 Eurobest Advertising for an Outdoor print campaign and 2007 a Bronze for Best Print in Public health and safety.
More recently Spike has been working with Cancer Research UK ( www.cancerresearchuk.org ) on their media campaigns.
Digital Photography is now firmly established and the Advertising industry is changing rapidly. The entire media world is on the edge of far reaching developments as new platforms and delivery modes develop and converge, replacing the traditional methods of sales and distributions. Spike & Co can now rapidly produce Corporate and Advertising photography and media packages that include Direct Marketing, Online/Point of Sale and Press including billboard quality images.
For more information on prices please contact Spike on +44 (0) 7976 237717 or Angel on +44 (0) 7738 983521. Alternatively send us an email at info@spikeandco.co