Art of England

Wonga, Hamam's and Lost Boys

Apr 1, 2011

It’s been totally mental over here; the studio hasn’t been this busy for years. It seems to me that there are no projects at all then all of a sudden, just like the number 35, loads of them come at once. There’s work to go out to shows in Hong Kong, Germany and Gloucestershire, not to mention three music videos to direct, a couple of bands to look after and a couple of complex collaborations to nail. Plus I've got totally absorbed in printmaking again, with the first result being a humongous print of the Hong Kong Art Fair in a couple of weeks.

Home Alone, Mothers & the Easy Crew

Mar 1, 2011

At the back of my mind I secretly wish cupid would hit me on valentines day, some invisible admirer proving that there's still an iota of interest in me from someone out there somewhere in the world. Like a kid on Christmas morning I lurch for the studio letterbox duping myself into believing that there will actually be a barrage of heart shaped chocolates, velvet red roses and a mound of those little heart shaped balloons on sticks. Alas just the usual pile of bills signalling the latest round of overpriced council tax randomly sandwiched between glossy fliers for all you can eat Chinese buffets and domestic cleaners. Each with all the graphic design flair of a call girls card in a city phonebox.

Robby the Robot, Welly's & Emin's Teeth

Jan 1, 2011

I’m doodling over Roxanne Mesquida and sticking black swarofski on Rhianna’s eyelids. Roxanne's a shoot for a New York magazine and the mission is to teleport her into the future; some paint marker later and I've defaced her enough. Actually I was pretty thrilled to be given the commission, not only is she gorgeous but I really like the fact that she'd rather go back to baby sitting than do a commercial movie just for the cash. And Rhianna? Well she's a big portrait I'm finishing off for my gallery in Hong Kong and, as usual, I'm late. Was it my fault? No! You try getting your paws on two thousand tiny black crystals on Christmas Eve.

Meltdown, Bonkers cat and Icebergs

Dec 1, 2010

I'm sat by the pool overlooking a beautiful bay in Crete, the blue seems to go on forever. London feels like a lifetime away, its another world. The flowers are in full bloom here, it's as if spring has just sprung. Back home the extent of the economic cuts are about to become clear but here none of that matters and what is best is that I've managed to find a little slice of heaven to let the mania of Frieze week fade away.

Transcendental seeds, Shenanigans & OCD

Nov 1, 2010

I’ve been up all night finishing the artwork for this anniversary project for the Futureheads. It came out alright in the end, a sort of post apocalyptic watercolour painting in British wartime tradition of the Munich air disaster which sadly took out a huge chunk of the Manchester united squad. Anyway as 5am stirred and the birds started to ready themselves for the day I dozed off, only to be woken at 8.15 by my mobile phone ringtone which for some reason is stuck on 50 cent’s ‘Disco Inferno’ which really isn’t what you want either in a public place (it’s embarrassing) or at this hour! Either way Apple need to make a manual for this iPhone thing.

MULLET, MR. T AND BALLOONS

Nov 7, 2009

Christmas came and Christmas went, the goose fat was drained, the pudding ignited, the rogue Christmas tree light that temporarily froze the proceedings was replaced. I’ve awoken after dozing off to the Best of River Cottage and I’m back home with little Ari looking at a snowy dusting over everything. His first Christmas was magical.

ASBO, SNOW & NIAGARA

Oct 1, 2009

I politely ask if it’s possible that they could please fix the leak that’s coming in from the flat upstairs. The ting of a tin bucket collecting drips for the last fortnight hasn’t been fun, and whilst some deprived Dickensian artistic garret myth may have worked for Dash Snow, it doesn’t do me any favours.

BUTTERFLIES, SHADOWS AND KRYPTON

Sep 1, 2009

It’s hard to focus on the laptop screen this month to write. I’ve got a pair of the most gorgeous blue eyes by my side. Little Ari is nearly a week old now, and fatherhood still feels abstract. Everyone thinks his or her baby is the most beautiful in the world but I’m convinced mine really is. I’m engrossed by his every movement, twitch and smile. When his eyes open the whole world lights up. This idyllic domestic sanctuary is a far cry from last Sunday night.