Buy Pez art : www.pezlondon.com
April 2020 : Title – Energy – Bounce
Acrylic and spray paint on recycled board 100 x 60 x 10cm
It was after painting a couple of more complex pieces that I needed a change. I wanted to experience the freedom of less serious work and to enjoy the process. I decided to paint the excited bouncing particles.
They represent the energy of life which permeates everything, from mysterious particles in the quantum realm to the trillions of cells that need it to create us. Beyond this, to the wider universe and the chain reaction hydrogen nuclei go through to create stars and the life that surrounds them. All this comes from simply getting excited.
They are inspired by a series of characters I first created in 1990. They are shown here as stage sets for Raindance 1991 and again in 2009. The characters are a bit of fun and are a departure from my usual more detailed artworks. The world of pez includes crazy clocks, bouncing balls of energy, smiling sunflowers, wobbly woofers, happy houses and cheeky spiders.
January 2020 : Title – Pezman 1990 – 2020 – A social comment
Acrylic ink on canvas 100cm x 100cm
A character created in 1990 capturing a crazy period in time now revisited for 2020.
The full story is explained on instagram @pezlondon
December 2019 : Title – Raindance 30
Acrylic ink on Bristol board, plus integrated digital artwork.
A digital collaboration to produce an authentic looking Pez flyer design but with a contemporary finish. I worked with friend and design partner in crime Jad based in Hawaii. An interesting collaboration over time zones but he understood what I was trying to achieve and had the patience to work it through to the conclusion. Below is the finished product and assets involved. I wanted pieces of my work on the faces of a Rubik cube floating in a Pez world. It was a tongue in cheek reference to the eighties children that created the scene.
For the final finish and to have control of the reverse which never happened I turned to fellow cult to culture curator at discordo studios to create a reverse that would compliment the cover art. It was important on a personal level too as the venue for the 30th Birthday party was Heaven. This was the hub of the London party scene and I used it as a pop up office every Thursday at ‘Rage’
November 2019 : Title – The Reintegration of Memory
Curated by Artistic-uk.org for @backontrackcharity
An amazing event curated by Artistic UK and hosted by Back on Track Charity. The event was a dinner and dance to raise money for veterans returning from conflict with physical or mental scars. An art exhibition and auction raised additional funds for the charity. This piece was painted specifically for this event and aimed to capture the internal journey back from the horrors of conflict.
September 2019 : Worlds Largest Flyer Mural By @pad303
I was approached by London based Graffiti Artist Pad303, he had this crazy idea to recreate a huge version of The World Dance flyer from 1992. ( 24 x 24 ft ) Pride of place on a wall in The Stockwell Hall of Fame.
I had an amazing and a little surreal day hanging out and essentially revisiting my roots and the reason I became an artist – ‘Graffiti’. I salute you Pad303 on a job very well executed and thank you for letting me be a small part of painting the worlds largest flyer.
I am humbled today by the level of skill and creativity in modern graffiti and murals, a far cry from my pieces in the 1980’s !!
August 2019 : Saatchi Gallery Exhibition – Sweet Harmony
In association with https://www.saatchigallery.com/art/sweet_harmony.php
Sweet Harmony ‘Rave Today’ Exhibition a six week exploration of photography, artwork, music, installations and comment from the Dance Music Cultural Explosion of the late 1980’s and early 90’s. I was fortunate enough to have a considerable amount of my Flyer and Poster artwork on display here courtesy of Chelsea Berlin.
May 2019 : Coach Project – https://uk.coach.com
In association with https://waveygarms.com
Following an introduction to Coach by Waveygarms, thank you Andreas.
I embarked on creating a classic looking piece of flyer artwork Coach style. A flyer artwork for an imaginary ‘Coach Party’ that would feature on billboards across London and elsewhere. There was also the added bonus of being featured as a double front cover including A3 Pez Poster for the Evening Standard Magazine. Happy Bank Holiday weekend.
Below shows initial sketch ideas and the two versions of the artwork.
March 2019 : Speyeder – The London Eye
Acrylic on canvas 100cm x 100cm
February 2019 : Acid 87 – T-shirt Collaboration
Ibiza based clothing company collaboration featuring retro Pez sunrise image. Thank you https://acid87.co.uk looking forward to an Ibiza visit!!
January 2019 : Unif Clothing USA – Pezman Collaboration
U.S.A based clothing brand Unif discovered the Pezman and wanted an Americas focused globe version for a garment release. It is fantastic to think Pezman is out there worldwide on great quality edgy fashion. Thank you https://www.unifclothing.com we salute you!!
January 2019 : Tree of Life
Private commission
Acrylic on Canvas 120cm x 100cm
December 2018 : Liz
Exhibition ‘Black’ – The Crypt Gallery, St. Pancras. London
In partnership with https://www.artistic-uk.org
September 2018 : Jigsaw canvas
A canvas piece for EP release four images representing each track
August 2018 : Softcore Collaboration
www.softcoreldn.com
Photoshoot to promote the launch of a superb collection of cushions featuring Pez flyer artwork with Software London.
August 2018 : Exhibition 50/50
The Crows Nest Gallery, Crowthorne Road, London. W10 6RP
In partnership with https://www.artistic-uk.org
Private viewing 03.08.18 – Open to view 04.08.18 – 23.08.18 – Closing party 23.08.18
Here is a sneak peak of my submissions for 50/50 50% Pez 50% recycled..!
Also the two main canvases at 5ft x 4ft Angelic and Teardrop.
May 2018 : Thumbnail Nolias Gallery, 60 Great Suffolk St. SE1
In partnership with https://www.artistic-uk.org
The brief was to submit work 1.5cm x 2cm max. I was away at the time visiting a friend in Hawaii. The first time I was there 30 years ago I decided to become an artist so it seemed only fitting to reproduce one of the images I painted on to surfboards 30 years previous the Title: Eyeland a palm tree within an eye, tricky when you are away from home and the studio and a magnifying glass!
April 2018 : Pieces a Jigsaw story
I first painted this image in 1995 for “six years of house” at the time we were looking back over a long period of time in house music telling this long story/history of house, little did we know it was still just the beginning.
Later the same image was used to promote and appeared as a piece at Art Core an exhibition and auction at Selfridges, London 2009 hosted by Dreweatts as well as Raindance Festival London. These are a reworking of the original. Hand embellished make-up turning into tears bringing her to life and is probably what was missing from this image all along…
April 2018 : Fivers 4 Artistic
I was approached along with many other artists to produce a piece of art on an old £5 note. So having a sense of humour, I produced a note that gave a nod to the Acid House era which helped me earn a living as an aspiring artist. The queen is the smiley face, the icon of a generation whether you like it or not. Pezman a character which has enjoyed a long life span had to appear on the back. The idea of art Pez money makes me smile just thinking about the mischief you can have. The best part about the whole project is it is a charitable event and raises money for a fantastic cause.
January 2018 : Koko
Canvas study 900 x 900mm acrylic and ink. Jamie-Lee, friend and DJ.
January 2018 : London Aquarium Exhibition “The Rave Story”
This three day exhibition is a retrospective featuring a back catalogue of works from the creation of dance music in the late 1980’s up to around early 2005. The exhibition features seminars that allow you to explore the dance music culture and meet the artists and protagonists involved. This year featured artworks on display from myself, Junior Tomlin and Kaos with a collaboration between myself and Mr. Tomlin each taking half a canvas which was then sold off for the charity Centre point. A trip back to my teenage years too watching Paul Ibiza hanging an original backdrop I painted for his party way back when. The design was in fact the same as my first ever flyer also for him.
September 2017 : The making of Arabella
Whilst working on “No Angel” I had the added distraction of Arabella showing me a photograph or ‘selfie’ she had taken using her iPhone, I was so impressed with the image that I promised to paint it for her. Executed over two evenings I really enjoyed producing this very personal monochrome piece.
September 2017 : No Angel 17
Working on “No Angel” a face I have painted previously but this time I wanted to incorporate it into a geometric crucifix for a larger 5ft canvas. I decided to practice the features on a smaller 900mm x 900mm and have fun with it first..
July 2017 : Title: Faith
5ft x 3.3 ft canvas previous title Angelic geometric crucifixion… Faith is a little less cumbersome. I wanted to create an angelic cross using a different colour palette to the ones I am usually drawn too ‘Teal’ was the starting point. Geometric shapes make up the body of the cross with the face in the centre. The shapes to me seem to be fluid, moving, as if this were a single frame in an animation.
August 2017 : Tattoo for KOKO
A close friend of mine showed me a design for a tattoo she was about to have. I had to object to the design and offered to design her a tattoo based on iconography that meant something personal to her, after all she would have to live with it every day and I felt that it should at least reflect what she truly wanted. I have never designed a tattoo and probably will not again… but never say never…
January 28 2017 : Teardrop Study Gold
This is a preliminary study for a 5ft x 4ft canvas. The hair will be a waterfall pouring into a floating lake. This however I really like as the monochromatic effect is hypnotic.
October 2016
Started working on a project – “The Gigi Series” loosely based on the iconic model “Gigi Hadid”
Humanity is obsessed with image “Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat….” Image used to be managed, presented and advertised to the public sphere. Now images are sent raw directly to the viewer, group or follower without needing to be in the public sphere, once viral or a meme then the image is in the sphere. People now have direct access to present themselves to their own audience or even the whole world.
The recent rise of Gigi in celebrity culture, an icon, an A lister, A model, A Victoria Secret Angel …. An angelic close up instagram image was the inspiration for the series. I had found the modern icon I was looking for to fit into the ideas I wanted to convey.
Some of the canvases are me exploring new techniques (for me) practicing ideas and just letting go, but most of all enjoying painting. Nearly all of my work over the years has been commissioned, so its crazy for me to just paint. Its great, the highs and the lows of pushing away from what you are comfortable doing to try something else…
Gigi Hadid Icon
The Image that inspired the series of canvases all linked by a common theme of Globalisation Part I and Part II.
Acrylic on Canvas 5ft x 4ft.
Gigi Hadid Icon
work in the studio
September 2016 – Studio Relaunch
It had been a long time since I had picked up a paint brush, my daughter inspired me to start again after discovering my previous work. I set out to paint a canvas of Charlotte & Arabella (my daughters) to place in my home. The flame reignited I set up a new studio.