A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything

In September 2020, my brother in law happened to be in a shop in Peterborough at the precise moment a conversation was taking place. The conversation in question was regarding looking for a local artist to exhibit alongside an upcoming ‘Urban’ exhibition featuring works by Banksy, Ben Eine, Connor Brothers and Damien Hirst amongst many others.

Fortunately for me, my brother in law isn’t shy and immediately suggested they take a look at my website.

The following day I received a phone call from someone at Peterborough Museum where the exhibition was taking place to see if I would be interested… I obviously said yes.

The exhibition opened in November 2020 through to May 2021 displaying a number of works I had in storage under the title ‘Something’s Wrong’.  I felt incredibly honoured to have my work sitting next door to icons of the artworld and very grateful to my brother in law for butting in on a private conversation.

Let’s fast forward to November 2022…

The Journey to ‘PAINtings’

Due to the success of my ‘Something’s Wrong’ show, Peterborough Museum were now interested in offering me another solo show, but this time, in their ‘proper’ gallery space where the ‘Urban’ exhibition had taken place. Again, I immediately said yes. But, this time, things felt different. The art gallery at Peterborough Museum is huge, consisting of 3 large rooms. The idea of filling this intimidating space filled me with excitement and trepidation in equal measures. Fortunately the opening date was pencilled in for April 2024 giving me plenty of time (or so I thought) to ensure I had enough work to fill this glorious space.

From the moment I agreed, my brain began firing on all cylinders as I tried to pin down exactly what I wanted to achieve from the exhibition.

My previous work could be described as social commentary, discussing topics such as the rich/poor divide, global warming, politics and mental health… should I continue this train of thought? Should I do something completely new? Should I include sculptural aspects to the show? I honestly was very unsure which direction to go in, but I knew I needed to make a decision and run with it asap so I could get on with actually creating artworks.

A Year of Dedication and Discovery

By January 2023, I had a plan, giving me just over 12 months to complete everything I needed to. My plan was to not deviate from my previous works but to essentially flip it 180 degrees by creating portraits that, for me, reflected and explored the human psyche revealing not only the frustration, distress and despair but also the hope we all carry that things are going to improve.

I also had the perfect title for the exhibition – PAINtings. In fact I did a google search for the name convinced someone else must have thought of it. Fortunately I found nothing.

Over the following 12 months I did nothing but paint. From dawn till dusk including most weekends I painted. I was determined to make sure I had enough that I could choose which ones made the cut.

At this point, I feel I need to point out that, although I had a plan, I wasn’t 100% sure exactly how these expressive portraits would be painted. Over the previous years I’ve held the belief that as artists we shouldn’t be put in boxes, that we should be allowed to express ourselves as we see fit. If we want to use watercolours today and spray paint the next, we can. If we want to do a seascape then a political commentary piece then who’s to stop us.

Now, whilst this is absolutely true, we can do what we want, the other side of the coin is if you want to be taken seriously by galleries and collectors then you do need to have a ‘style’. This doesn’t mean doing the same thing over and over again (although there are many artists who do exactly that), just something that makes people recognise your work… and this is something I felt I’ve never had.

So, I made a decision. I decided to just simply paint and see what happens. Not push or force anything, simply paint and see where I end up.

By April 2024 I had over 100 original artworks plus limited edition prints ready to display. I had works on cardboard, canvasses, large plywood panels and skateboard decks. I had promotional posters, flyers and a press release… I was ready!

The Exhibition Experience: More Than Just Art

A week before the exhibition was due to open, I hired a van and loaded everything into it to for the short journey to the museum. After emptying the van it was time to decide where everything was going to go. I’d made the decision whilst painting that it made sense for the art work to be displayed chronologically. I felt that displaying it this way would show visitors the visual journey I’d been on over the last 12 or so months.

Once everything had been placed in the correct order I then had the luxury of leaving it to experts to hang the works. On returning to the museum I was genuinely overwhelmed to see it all hung; to see what I’d envisioned months ago, now a reality, gave a huge sense of pride… and relief. Having said that, the relief was quickly replaced with the realisation that all that was left was for the show to actually open. Now my head was full of questions; will people visit the exhibition? Will they appreciate it? Will I sell anything? After all I’d spent over a year preparing for it and put all my eggs into one proverbial basket.

My hope was that of course people would come and they would appreciate it and they would buy something but it was also more than that. I hoped that other opportunities would come from the show. Maybe an offer of another show somewhere, or an opportunity to sell work through a gallery. That this exhibition would be a springboard for further artistic ventures.

The show ran from April through to end of mid June with an amazing opening night to kick things off. I’d made the decision to be present every day my exhibition was open. I wanted to be able to meet visitors, answer any questions they may have and see firsthand people’s reactions to my work. I also figured if I’m going to be there every day I might as well take my paints and a canvas so visitors could see how I create my paintings.

Now I could lie and say every day was packed and every day sales were made but that’s just not true and that’s not really how reality is. But, what I can say is I’m glad I was there every day because although some days were quieter than others, there was always one person I spoke to that made everything worthwhile.

Not only were visitors incredibly impressed by my work but due to the nature of the paintings I’d inadvertently created a safe space where visitors opened up about their mental struggles.

This is something I’d never considered.

It was honestly humbling that complete strangers opened up to me, explaining of all the things they’ve gone through and dealt with. It also made me realise just how linked we all are, no matter what our background. We all deal with loss, heartbreak, stress and anxiety in various ways and it was genuinely incredible that visitors felt so moved by my work.

Art can be a powerful connection

As the exhibition came to an end, I took time to reflect on what had been an intense, emotional, and rewarding experience. Seeing my work displayed in such a prestigious space was a personal milestone, but the real impact went beyond that. It wasn’t just about showing my art—it was about the conversations it sparked, the emotions it evoked, and the connections it forged.

While I set out to create an exhibition that explored the depths of human emotion, I hadn’t expected it to become a space for others to share their own struggles and experiences. That, more than anything, made this exhibition truly meaningful. It reinforced my belief in the power of art—not just as a form of self-expression, but as a bridge between people, experiences, and emotions.

So, what’s next? This exhibition has opened new doors, given me fresh perspectives, and solidified my artistic direction. I’m excited to see where this journey leads, and I’m more motivated than ever to continue creating work that resonates, challenges, and connects.

To those who visited, shared their stories, and supported my work—thank you. This is just the beginning.