I struggle with addiction. Recovery was never a straight line, but I always found the strength to battle my demons and my art was always some kind of therapy for me. It helps me to focus on what’s important in life and always brought me back on the right track.
I was born and raised in Weston-super-Mare, UK. My creativity showed from an early age on, with the drawing techniques my father taught me, I impressed all my teachers in school. After I went to college to study graphic design, sadly the government stopped support, so I couldn’t afford it any longer.
When I was 19, two of my friends were murdered in separate events only 6 months apart. I began to drown my grief in alcohol, which led quickly to heavy drug abuse and homelessness. In 2009, a friend managed to awaken my interest in stencil art.
Seeing how stencil artists can apply for full-size works so fast to a wall, made me realize how I’d thrown away my own life and what disgrace I became over the years. I turned my life around and started to create my first artworks. With time, my equipment and my skills improved and my art got more known. In 2016 I met Steffi, I moved to Germany and we married in 2018.
2. What inspired you to pursue graffiti art?
In 2010 I stood on the edge of an abandoned hotel roof. It was the place where I’d been sleeping at the time. I was seriously considering jumping and joining my fallen friends, but I decided to do the hardest thing and beat my addiction and become a successful artist. In addition to that vow I made, I simply love the feeling of delivering new work to my fans and the reaction of people seeing my work.
3. What kind of themes inspires you and how would you define your art style?
I’d say I have a unique style, ranging from pop culture and lifelike horror movie characters over wordplay and clever placement to lifesize dinosaurs and tiny micro stencils.
I only paint things I like, I try to avoid politics or world problems. My art is meant to bring joy to people, not reminding them of things they see all day in the news anyway.
4. What are the struggles of your career as an artist and how did you overcome them?
As mentioned above, I struggle with addiction. Recovery was never a straight line, but I always found the strength to battle my demons and my art was always some kind of therapy for me. It helps me to focus on what’s important in life and always brought me back on the right track.
5. Do you believe that graffiti speaks stronger than any other art style?
Yes in respect of the fact that it can be chucked in front of a viewer's eyes without an option.
6. What message would you give to budding artists?
If the intention of doing art is financial, then there are many easier ways to make money. But if it’s a genuine love of art and urges to create then success is likely to occur.
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
When I was young, my favorite book was a book about M.C. Escher. He was a big influence on me, I loved his geometric and illustrative styles.
Interviewed By - Anshika Maurya
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