The Studio monthly 1

Graphic designs, urban art and surreal illustrations can be downloaded to your PlayStation 3 and PSP courtesy of The Studio.

The Studio opens its doors

Curated by London design agency Studio Output, cutting-edge digital art landed on PlayStation Store in April. The Studio is an exciting range of themes and dynamic themes by the best artists from around the world for you to download to your PlayStation 3 and PSP.

Whether you're a street art aficionado or simply looking to give your PS3 or PSP XMB™(XrossMediaBar) Menu a fresh new look, there's something in The Studio to brighten up your day. Arguably the brightest of this month's themes goes by the name of Happy Lovers Town, and comprises quirky, colourful doodles from emerging talent Jonathan Calugi.

LittleBigPlanet fans might recognise the surreal shapes of Eyelevator, described by its creator as "a floating collection of visions from a place I call the Orb of Dreamers". That man is Rex Crowle – or Rexbox – one of the designers behind Sackboy's first adventure.

Lake of Sorrows is the beguiling image created by Jasper Goodall, famed for his striking cover designs for UK band Muse, while Anthony Burrill shares his upbeat Blocks and A World of Moving Shapes and Colours themes. All three pieces will lend your XMB Menu a startlingly different look.

Spanish studio Serial Cut combines old-school electronics with humble garden vegetables, Plant-Station being the wonderfully bizarre result. Meanwhile, best-selling print "Charlie does a Kickflip" is re-imagined for the digital world in Charlie's Awfully Big Adventure by Mr Bingo.

Later in the month eBoy brings us its buzzing, intriguing and incredibly intricate Night Alarm, a midnight scene of a city populated by robots, toys of the past and retro electronics.

Exclusive to PlayStation Plus members

Get your limited static theme, The Studio by Studio Output, at no additional cost. Just make sure you download it form PlayStation Store before 27 April 2011 to give your PS3 or PSP a uniquely vibrant makeover.

As a PlayStation Plus member, you'll also get six free themes a year, and a fantastic 20 per cent off all themes in The Studio. Find out more about signing up to PlayStation Plus at eu.playstation.com/playstationplus-subscribe.

One more thing...

Enhance your PlayStation Home character's wardrobe with a snappy The Studio T-shirt at no extra cost when you purchase any theme from The Studio before 11 May 2011, and be sure to take in The Studio in PlayStation Home. Immerse yourself in a circular gallery, and if you like what you see you can purchase themes there and then.

Your own, exclusive digital art gallery is there for the making courtesy of The Studio, with over 20 themes in this first month and much more to follow. Visit it now on PlayStation Store.

Check eu.playstation.com/thestudio for all The Studio news, and we'll see you in May 2011 with the latest batch of The Studio updates.