Alistair is the newest member of ArtWorks. We thought we'd have a little chat and get to know him.
Five words that sum you up.
Lager, music, art, conversing and messy.
What or who inspires you?
My mum because she’s amazing at looking after me and my brother each day. She must be made of steel to put up with us for as long as she has.
Artists wise, it has to be Kid Acne. He inspires me in a sense that his street art is accepted in galleries. I like that his work doesn’t have to be a painting on a canvas to be art. He uses walls, spray cans, doors as his canvas which I like as it makes me think that the world is my canvas.
What’s the most unusual canvas you’ve painted on?
I like to paint on cigarette packets. Either small illustrations or change the design on the packet. I’m currently working on a bowling pin for our exhibition ‘Seeing is Believing’. It’s going to be a mushroom cloud. I’m currently building the pin up using expanding foam which i’m finding interesting to use. Then i’m going to paint it, i've never painted a pin before.
You're favourite style of art?
I like illustrations and fine art, paintings and stuff. I also love using spray paint. You can create a style you cant necessarily achive using other paints.
Favourite artists?
Lucian Freud because all his stuff his honest. One of my favourite paintings is by David Hockney, A Bigger Splash. I just love the colours used. I find it ascetically pleasing.
If you could work with any artist who and why?
Dali because I reckon it would be an insane experience. My favourite piece by him is ‘sleep’. I find it simultaneously interesting and terrifying.
We know you love your music, what are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a band called Ghost of a Thousand. They're a hardcore band from Brighton. It’s really punchy and angry and I really like them. I love discovering new bands and music. I also like ODB from Wu-Tang Clan, he’s an hip hop icon who’s lyrics was as filthy as his teeth.
What band did you last see?
Madball at the Parish in Huddesfield. They're another hardcore band. I go to see bands with my mates and we go all over the country to see our favourite bands. I’m going to see Run the Jewels later this year in Birmingham which i’m looking forward to. I also want to see Queens of the Stone Age and Andrew W K if I can before the end of the year.
Tell us a little bit about the exhibition you are currently working on?
We are currently working on an exhbition for this years Special Olympics called 'Seeing is Believing'. I’m excited it’s going to be in the Millennium Gallery because it means lots of people will see our work. I’m also looking forward to having my work next to artists like Florence Blanchard and Anthony Bennet.