Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?
When I’m creating a piece of work I feel the composition flows from the pen or spray can and is rarely something I have visualised before the pen touches the paper. I have recently been trying to add more stories and themes to my work, so I will often start with objects or shapes that reflect the theme and build the composition around it. Again, I’m not really visualising what I’m doing but just letting it happen and flow naturally in the moment. Even if I’m painting a large wall the initial sketch on paper will have been created in this freeform manner.
You have a background as an architectural technician. What influence has that had in developing your work?
Working as an architectural technician played a big role in developing my style/approach; the aim of an architectural drawing is to present information in the simplest and clearest way possible, often reducing a complex object to a few simple lines. This really changed my way of thinking about drawing. During my time in this profession I made a conscious decision to make my work 2D with strong line work. My aim is to convey my ideas and compositions in a simple but visually pleasing manner.
“I feel the composition flows from the pen or spray can and is rarely something I have visualised before the pen touches the paper”
What is the biggest challenge you find creating in a large-scale format?
The main problems I face aren’t really related to scale but more to do with working outside, with the weather being the biggest issue. If you look at the largest paintings I’ve created (walls that require scissor lifts/cherry pickers etc) the biggest problem I face is not being able to paint them on a regular basis, due to the time and cost involved they aren’t something I can’t paint as often as I would like.
You can see real vibrancy in your colour pallets. Do you have any tips about being brave with colour?
I think the biggest tip would be don’t be afraid to break the rules. Recently I have been using a lot of clashing colours and I’ve really been enjoying exploring colour and taking a lot more risks with the colours I use. This is something that is particularly good about working with spray paint and was something that happened frequently when I first started painting, as you can’t mix the colours and are often stuck with the paint you have or what is available in a shop. It means you are often forced to experiment with new colour palettes and combinations which you may not have otherwise tried.
“I think the biggest tip would be don’t be afraid to break the rules.”
What do you enjoy about the Sheffield art scene?
I think the Sheffield art scene has always been really vibrant, and I suppose I view it from a more street art/graffiti standpoint rather than a traditional one, but we have some really good artists working on some really cool projects.
Any big projects you can tell us about?
I have a few exciting projects that I’m working on at the moment. I have a t-shirt out on 3 March, which is the first self-released tee I’ve done in a while. I also have a zine I’m working on that is still in the early stages of development. This year I’m really trying to make time for self-initiated projects I’ve been planning for a while and actually getting them done and out there. I also have a really cool clothing collaboration with a company based in Manchester, and I’m doing collaboration with a uni course finder website. I can’t give too many details about those but they’ll both be out very soon.
