Yesterday was a great day. A day that had been planned for some time and yet, serendipitously, ended up being even better than I ever thought… let me explain.

As an artist, I have many artist “friends” on social media. I use the term friends loosely because many of them I’ve never met in real life — and yet we chat, exchange thoughts, and share works regularly across the various digital platforms.

One thing I love about being part of the art world today is that these connections can begin online, but still become something real over time. As a contemporary abstract portrait artist, I’m always paying attention to days like this — the ones that refill the creative tank.

One such person is the outstanding artist Anna Schellberg, based in Germany. Through Anna, I was invited to exhibit some of my work within her husband’s art gallery AntiKult in Hamburg. It’s one of those opportunities that starts with a conversation, turns into mutual support, and suddenly you’re part of something bigger than your own studio walls.

At the beginning of October, I received a message that both Anna and her husband Axel were visiting the UK for a few days, and would I like to meet them in London?

I of course jumped at the chance.

Meeting online “friends” in real life

I also thought it would be a nice idea to invite my good friend Nathan Jones along for a fun day out in London.

Nathan was the driving force — along with his son Noah — behind the hugely successful Background Bob Project. It’s something both Anna and I had taken part in, and it’s how I first got to know Nathan and his wonderful family in the first place.

As the arranged day got closer, I started looking to see if there was anything art-related happening in London. I always do this when I’ve got a day planned in the city — partly out of curiosity, and partly because exhibitions have a way of resetting your creative brain.

During my research I found out that there was an exhibition opening at Newport Street Gallery titled ‘Triple Trouble’ featuring works by Damien Hirst, Shepard Fairey and Invader.

That was it. The day had a plan.

Liverpool Street to the London Eye (and an important first stop)

I met Nathan at Liverpool Street Station, and then we headed over to the London Eye, where we’d arranged to meet Anna and Axel.

And from there we first visited the pub (very important).

It was genuinely so nice to meet them. The whole thing felt relaxed — like we’d known them for years rather than only through messages and posts online.

We talked about art, Axel’s new gallery space, Background Bob, and a load of other art-related topics that I can’t fully remember in order… but I do remember thinking how good it felt to be in the company of people who just get it.

The graffiti tunnel at Waterloo: a living, breathing gallery

Because of our location (and because we had a few hours to spare before the exhibition opened), we decided to visit the graffiti tunnel at Waterloo.

Nathan and I have been before, but since we’re all street art fans we thought Anna and Axel would enjoy the experience too.

There’s always a vibe in the tunnel.

The smell of spray paint wafts through the air and somebody is always creating something down there. The tunnel is constantly evolving as works get replaced with fresh pieces, and even if you’ve visited recently, it never feels like the same place twice.

It’s chaotic, raw, and alive — and in a strange way it’s one of the most honest art spaces in London because nothing pretends to be permanent.

Newport Street Gallery and the reality of a huge queue

We then headed over to Newport Street Gallery to check out Triple Trouble.

The queue was enormous. We most definitely underestimated how popular the show was going to be.

Eventually we arrived at the door, and once inside we headed straight to the free bar for a well-deserved drink.

(Also very important.)

Triple Trouble: the exhibition that surprised me

The show itself was amazing.

To be honest, heading there I wasn’t particularly excited by it. I think Shepard Fairey is great. I love Invader’s work. But I’m not a huge Damien Hirst fan, and I couldn’t see how the works were going to fit together.

I’m happy to admit I was wrong.

What I didn’t realise is that this wasn’t an exhibition of three artists’ work sitting side by side with each other — it was more of a collaborative exhibition, where the three artists had worked together to create new works.

That made all the difference.

Instead of feeling like three separate voices competing for attention, it felt like a conversation. The works were bold, playful, and unexpectedly cohesive. Even if you have your own opinions on each artist individually, the show itself works because it’s not trying to force you to pick sides — it’s showing you what happens when different styles collide.

The gallery itself is also a stunning space: classic large white walls, proper scale, and enough room for the work to breathe.

Bumping into familiar faces

One of the things I love about days like this is the way the art world overlaps in the most random places.

It was lovely to bump into other artists I knew, including Tim Fowler and Mason Storm.

Those moments always make me smile because they remind me that even though so much of art life happens alone — in studios, in your own head — there’s still a community running underneath it all.

A highlight I didn’t expect: meeting Shepard Fairey

A highlight for me was actually getting to meet Shepard Fairey.

I didn’t think for one second he’d be there, so getting my picture with him was a genuinely surreal moment — one of those things you’d never plan for, but you’ll remember because it happened in the middle of an already great day.

What I’m taking from yesterday

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience — but the best part was getting to spend the day with like-minded people who clearly love art as much as I do.

Exhibitions are great. Seeing big names in big spaces is great. But the thing I’m thinking about today — the day after — isn’t just the artwork.

It’s the feeling of connection.

It’s the reminder that the art world isn’t only made up of finished paintings and polished gallery walls. It’s made up of conversations, shared enthusiasm, unexpected meetups, and that little spark you get when you’re around people who are just as obsessed with making and seeing art as you are.

Yesterday was a great day.

And today I feel grateful for it.

Want to see my work?

If you’re new here, I’m Paul Kneen — a contemporary abstract portrait artist. I create bold acrylic portrait paintings exploring modern life, mental noise, and the human experience through abstraction.

You can explore my latest originals and prints via my shop.