Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

Comet Classics - Ace Café Mural - April 2015

One of the things I like best about working on murals is meeting people. And this was great fun, this one. There was a fellah working there as a sort of 'part-time mechanic'*, working on restoring and refurbishing some of the old bikes as they came up for sale. He was apparently supposed to be at 'work' - wherever that was; and he had loads of great stories about motorbikes, boats, breakers yards and all manner of things. What the truth of any of it was, is irrelevant, but we had a laugh.

The showroom began as the 'hobby'* of two gentlemen, one 'retired'*, the other, the owner of a car paintwork care business. Comet started out as their private classic and vintage motorbike collections, and has steadily grown into a nice little business. Check out the website; Comet Classics.

They'd seen what I'd done at Trojan Cars showroom and wanted something relevant to give some interest to what was otherwise a blank white cube; to add some context to the outstanding machines and automobilia, and evoke something of the halcyon days of the 'ton-up boys', greasy spoons and rock and roll. 

The Ace Café London opened originally in 1938 between Willesden and Sudbury, and is to this day, an iconic (and I don't use this word lightly), place. It has been synonymous with motorbikes and bikers for over fifty years. Sadly, the area where the building stands now is something like an airport carpark to look at. Bland industrial, and out of the way since the North Circular was rebuilt as a modern motorway 200 yards to the east. So we've shifted it a bit, to somewhere slightly more, er - romanticised... 

The owners also wanted themselves included - and I'll be the first to admit, I'm no Rembrandt when it comes to painting a portrait. In fact I'm barely a Francis Bacon or Franz Kline either, but I did my best and breeze block as a surface is very forgiving - hides many sins (but not quite all...)

But for the over all look of the thing, the disparate elements and way it's come together, I'm pleased with it. 

Star Trek and Pirates

Fernhurst Junior School Playground

Mural - Summer 2015

In July, I was asked by Fernhurst Junior School to produce a new mural for the last remaining blank wall in the playground. It is a shared playground space with Devonshire Infants next door. There are a number of painted panels along the wall which were done by students from the University a few years ago. 

All the earlier panels take sports, and the London 2012 Olympics as a theme, so what would be more topical and in keeping than to paint something to celebrate Sir Ben Ainslie's Americas Cup programme. Hence Southsea beach with a [*collective noun for a small fleet of racing yachts*?] of racing yachts scything through choppy Solent waters.

 A gaggle of children from the two schools, in their red and green jumpers, sit in the sunshine on what is recognisably Southsea beach, watching the thrilling spectacle as the 'Formula 1' of World yacht racing speeds by powered by nothing but the wind; the Isle of Wight shimmering in the distance as the carbon fibre 'wings' of the hulls slice through the waves.

 Of course, in their heads, this is all 'Pirates' and magic rather than high technology engineering...

Murals - Trojan Cars, Portsmouth.

Now viewable on Google Maps!! :)

In 2014 I was commissioned by Mark Battye, owner of Trojan Cars on Francis Avenue, Southsea to paint the entire side of his building with a mural to link with the opening of his new Classics showroom. In terms of scale, it's currently the largest commercial mural in Portsmouth - which is nice!

The theme is based around classic sixties automobilia and Americana. Featuring a classic '59 Cadillac, Norton and Lambrettas and archetypal 'Route 66' rock 'n' roll diner! The style is drenched in moody Edward Hopper meets Dennis Hopper atmosphere; the heady days of road tripping across the vast desert landscapes of Arizona and Texas... The character reclining on his scooter with his feet on the bars, enjoying an end of the road cigarette is loosely based on Mark himself...

Once I'd finished the painting, the bones of a narrative linking all the characters together began to emerge, like a drifter wandering in out of the twilight. Who are these guys? Who's the guy staring into his beer at the end of the bar? What's their relationship? Who are these three mysterious riders coming in from the desert? Where have they come from? What are they doing in this place?

Burning Down The House

Back in January 2015, I was asked to contribute a piece of work and deliver a lecture for the 'Menagerie' exhibition at the University of Portsmouth. I thought I would put in a pair of bird sculptures. Making a pair allowed greater scope for a sense of movement and narrative.

I've been making and developing them for a few years now. They are all made from used disposable barbecue grills collected from Southsea common, near my home, over the summer months. Originally I set myself a couple of (entirely arbitrary) rules for making them, very much in the spirit of traditional Japanese origami. They are persuaded into shape almost purely by bending and folding. No cutting, (as far as possible), and no adding material, (except legs - which are made from old bicycle spokes, and wings when necessary). 

These birds have been wonderfully successful for me. The biggest installation of them went to Sant Yago restaurant in Southsea, where they have a flock of 16 raiding the place!

I made another set of four for Upfest in July, more of which later... ;)

I've also developed a smaller, more affordable little pigeon for hanging somewhere (indoors or out) to tease the cat!

If you're interested and want to commission/buy, or know availability check out my Big Cartel site.