I was raised the son of a preacher in the idyllic English village. At the age of 18 I went to Art college in Edinburgh, this is when the vicar's son turned into something else. I learned that I had a lot to say!
I’ve been making work ever since. After graduating I moved to London, then back to Scotland, now I’m on my way back to London - this time for good!
Primarily I am a sculptor, however I now design t-shirts and jewelry as well as work on art direction projects. My brother, Adam, is now a designer for Paul Smith, he was a big influence growing up. Also my mother is a primary school teacher, so we we’re always crafting and making things at The Vicarage. Being from a family that is quite connected to the church has provided a lot of themes within my work.
In my final year at college two other artists and I were approached by Armani to create an installation at a series of empty shops on the same street, to act as a collection launch. It was certainly the most high profile thing I had ever done, I had a big budget and a lavish opening to distract me. The resulting work was a dystopian vision of glamour turned feral, I recreated the designer handbag store that had once stood there, but planted the seeds of exotic plants in the handbags and created a neon garden of cactuses and a black glossy babbling brook. It wasn’t my strongest work but a great experience. The show was so glamorous that I left college in the following months on such a high, I felt like I had already made it, when really the hard work was just beginning.