Next Unsung Hero

Opal Whiteley (1897 -1992) was a young nature writer and diarist from a logging town in Oregon. Her childhood journal, written with wax crayons on butcher paper, was torn to shreds by her sister Pearl only to be painstakingly re-pieced together and published in 1920 to much acclaim. Its date of creation and authenticity were later disputed, as were Opal's claims to being the illegitimate child of a French Prince. However, Opal's diary remains a unique and precious portrait of the innocence of childhood and the overwhelming importance of the natural world.

Unsung Heroes series

I am currently working on a series of portraits of my Unsung Heroes. There will be 8 paintings in the series which will be available from 19 Karen Gallery. The majority of the artists I'll be portraying have remained below the surface of their genre whilst others they have influenced and inspired have received much critical acclaim. I have therefore decorated the portraits in 'badges' featuring the successors.
Fran Landesman is an American poet and lyrics writer who was highly influential in the beat generation, and she has written songs for a vast array of musicians from Miles Davis and Roberta Flack to Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand. I was lucky enough to meet her and listen to a recital of her poetry at The Angel (she now lives in London and is 82 years old.) I have used her lyrics as starting points for paintings in the past as well as quoting her within my work.
Jeffrey Lee Pierce was an influential American blues musician who bridges the gap between the likes of classic Delta Blues era artists like Son House and Howlin' Wolf, and the modern era White Stripes and Nick Cave. He died on my 15th birthday in 1996 of a brain hemorrhage, and a shoebox of his last recordings was recently found in an attic and made into a record called 'We Are Only Riders', featuring Blondie's Debbie Harry and many of his contemporaries. His music has been my in my studio playlist for some years and his autobiographical book of stories has contributed greatly to my ideas.
The next one I'll be doing will be Opal Whiteley. Jeffrey Lee Pierce is ON RESERVE.

Represented in QLD by 19 Karen Gallery

I am delighted to announce my representation in Queensland by 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace. I am currently part of a group show there containing the last remaining works from my "50 Bucks" series, presented in a new format on a candy store assortment of handpainted wooden frames.

And Another...

Fame (1980), Rome, Josef Marzi, Art Awards and A Hobo.

Another Dream

This one involved a squat party with my old London squatter friends, Johnny Depp buying me cocktails and attempting to seduce me, having extreme tan lines, Elliott Smith playing a gig and my mother feeding people Pepto Bismol. Strange indeed. Dead people are always rocking on in my dreams.

Memories

I am going to be contributing to the wonderful Memories project; a coffee table art book containing 144 artworks by artists worldwide set around the theme of Cancer. All proceeds will go to Maggie's Centres in the UK.

Computer Arts Feature

Computer Arts magazine have published a 3-page interview with me in their June 2010 issue - pics below! The article focuses mainly on my exhibitions and works from YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT.