CRYSTAL PARIS (2020–2023)

“Graffiti is like boxing.

The people who do it “professionally” tend to go round in circles pulling the same old moves all the time.

The real entertainment takes place on Amateurs’ night. That’s when you get to watch the bitter and twisted unleash all their pent up frustrations on an unsuspecting public in a desperate attempt to make some kind of point before collapsing under a cloud of their own bloodied spit.”

I moved to Crystal Palace, South London, in 2012. At the time, the whole area seemed a bit neglected—Crystal Palace Park especially. I didn’t see many Dr Who episodes as a young child, but one sticks in my memory: of Daleks attempting a futile chase across some rocky waste ground. The atmosphere was grey and tense. The park made me think of that scene—and more vividly every time I took the children out in their buggy over the next 5 or so years. (Daleks and temperamental children in buggies are not so dissimilar.) As you might expect from such a place, there’s plenty of scope for people to dream of different worlds. I’ve tried to capture some of those dreams.

Limited edition Giclée prints made on Hahnemüle Fine Art Baryta 325gsm paper are available from my shop.