FAD QUESTIONS
1 When did you start to make art?
I started when I was about 5 drawing and copying things I had seen from books, At school art was a way to disguise the fact I was academic, if you were good at art it stopped the others taking the piss out of you for getting good marks.
2 How did you evolve into a professional artist?
I studied at St Martins and I didn’t want to leave the degree with some random project on trees I decided it would be beneficial if I created a job for myself so when I left I had something to do. I created Bert industries as a conceptual subversive art brand and for my final show did a shop fit of the Bert brand with all the products I had made, one thing lead to another and I continued my self-made job into the real world.
3 What drove you to make art as a professional vocation?
I had worked for a range of different artists and designers and found that you were giving your work away for someone else to take credit, so it was my own ego that spurred me to work on my own projects.
4 Explain your inspiration?
The work takes its inspiration from anatomy of the body, hospitals, deformity, ritual, curiosity shops, the beauty of horror and a childlike reinterpretation of pain and trauma into cathartic, installations and products revealing a dark sense of humour.
5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?
It is a subconscious process that I try not to monitor in its early stages
6 From Ideas to production of art – how? And why?
The work takes the form of limited edition collections of hand crafted articles or prints. I come up with a catch phrase and then start drawing and illustrating/researching that particular theme.
7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?
My ideas are already portrayed in a variety of medium soft sculpture, jewellery, photography but I would like to see them in animation and film
8 Which artists would you most like to blatantly rip off?
There are many artists I admire for example Sophie Calle, Louise Bourgeois, The Chapman brothers, Cindy Sherman, David Hockney, I would take elements of what they do as inspiration but after being ripped off myself I wouldn’t want to purposely do it to anyone else.I would however like to rip off an entire museum i.e. something like The Huntarian museum of medical samples or a Victorian curiosity shop
9 Why is your art made?
Its made as a cathartic release for my darkest psyche, I have had some very traumatic experiences and art has given me a way to recode those events into a positive conclusion.
10 What does being an artists mean to you?
It gives me a sense of identity and when I make something it gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction, I never really grew out of show and tell at school.
11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? i.e Are there any trade offs that make life hard?
Life is hard and there are days in which I crave a normal job but they soon pass when I settle down to making some ridiculous object that I have imagined. Mostly what I do makes me laugh and I wouldn’t change that
12 When does your art become successful?
I haven’t worked that out yet, although it is mostly likely when something has been explored to its full potential.
13 What is art?
Something that lifts you out of the banality of day-to-day life and shows you a different way to view something that you have never questioned before.
14 How do you start the process of making work?
See q 19
15 Who prices your work?
And how is the price decided upon? I hate pricing work it is difficult and I would love someone to do it for me.
16 What is your next; move,project,show etc?
Finishing an illustrated story of my evil children, planning the next evil children show and there are some other surprises in store.
17 What are the pros and cons of the art market?
The Cons are that there is a very small percentage of artists that earn a lot of money/success and the pros are if you’re in that percentage.
18 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
I haven’t made them yet, although I am particularly fond of my autopsy doll with removable organs
19 Any routine in making your artwork?
If so what? I always keep a sketchbook that I try to work in every day, it works as a diary, ideas store and most of my shows have started in the book.
20 What has been the biggest break in your career?
It hasn’t happened yet
21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?
At school my art teacher Mrs Montgomery she really fostered my creative growth and understood the twinkle in my eye.
In London my business partner and comedy muse Paul Andrews for his disturbed and twisted sense of humour and belief in my/our work.
22 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?
Many, friends’ family and comedy celebrities