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I was born on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, two degrees south of the equator. We lived there until I was three, in
a house on stilts that would rock with the earthquakes, the beaches
were volcanic black sand, and when my parents were at work the local
villagers would look after us. My parents met in Zambia three years
earlier, where my sister was born. We spent many years living in the
Middle Eastern states of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman. When I was eight I
came to the UK to be schooled.
After A-levels I studied Mechanical Engineering for a year, and then
Geography & Geology for a year. I could’nt see myself pursuing
careers in either one of these disciplines and so decided to
pursue an artistic and creative career of my own making. Both these
courses were in Birmingham and so I found myself living there for the
next 5yrs as I developed my artistic skills and built up a strong
portfolio of work. |
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I spent my time skateboarding, sketching, painting,
and learning. From a very early age I loved drawing, and during this
time in Birmingham I spent a huge amount of time doing very detailed drawings, mainly from imagination. I truly believed that this was the most truthful form my art could take, I
mean it could not be any more direct….pencil, paper, mind. Having built
up a collection of drawings I then needed a medium by which I could
paint on the scale that I wanted. My friend, a local graffiti artist,
lent me an airbrush and compressor; I took to it quickly and naturally,
and started work on my first large scale acrylic paintings.
In the summer of 1996, some friends set up a groundbreaking street art
exhibition. It was an ambitious event and was planned alongside “Ideal
Skateboards” 5th anniversary birthday bash. In all 13 of the finest
graffiti artists from around the UK showed their work….and me my
airbrushed pieces. The Custard factory fountain was drained and a mini
ramp built in it, the finest skaters from across the UK were invited to
style their skills. Bands and DJ’s played on three different stages,
the beer flowed, the ladies danced and a great time was had by the 500
or so strong crowd who attended. There was huge interest in my work.
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Over the following weekend the party continued, there was live break
dancing, DJ’s LTJ Bukem, Sneaker Pimps, New Flesh for Old, and
other celebrated musicians played in the exhibition space. The show did
much to bring Street Art and it’s culture to a wider audience. I was
interviewed by Carlton TV for the local evening news, which at the
time was a nerve wracking experience.
On the second weekend of the show I had an accident in the exhibition
space that left me needing surgery on my right arm. At
the time the consultant thought it unlikely I would regain movement
in the fingers and wrist of my right hand. I might never paint again.
Whilst in Hospital Uri Geller rang me, I thought it was a friend playing
a practical joke at first, but sure enough it was he of spoon bending
fame. Uri had chanced on the exhibition and was interested in buying all
6 of my paintings. My joy was over shadowed by the very real
possibility that I might not be able to paint any others. Never the
less Uri bought my paintings. I recovered and was soon creating again. Uri acted as my agent for the next two years, securing commissions
with British Airways, introducing me to influential people and
setting up a show in New York. It was a fruitful period of artistic
development, and an exciting time.
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In 1998 I decided to go it alone and since then have established a successful creative career for myself. As well as selling my paintings
and prints, I have been commissioned to work as a mural artist on a variety of different
projects from Cable cars in the French Alps (see mural
collection) to Jeans for Levi’s (London fashion week photo shoot), to bars, clubs and restaurants. You
can see it all in the different galleries of this site.
I now live near the North Devon coastal village of Croyde.
If you happen to be in Croyde, a selection of my work can be seen in "Blue Groove" a restaurant in the center of the village. Click here to view the interior.
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