Back in November 2022, I had a meeting that would eventually lead to one of the most significant exhibitions of my career.
But to understand how it all began, we need to go back a little further — to September 2020.
A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
In September 2020, my brother-in-law happened to be in a shop in Peterborough at the exact moment a conversation was taking place.
They were looking for a local artist to exhibit alongside an upcoming ‘Urban’ exhibition featuring works by Banksy, Ben Eine, Connor Brothers and Damien Hirst, among others.
Fortunately, my brother-in-law isn’t shy. He suggested they take a look at my website.
The following day, I received a phone call from someone at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery asking if I’d be interested.
I obviously said yes.
The exhibition ran from November 2020 through to May 2021 under the title Something’s Wrong, displaying a number of works I had in storage.
I felt incredibly honoured to have my work shown alongside such iconic artists — and very grateful for that moment of chance.
The Journey to 'PAINtings'
Fast forward to November 2022.
Following the success of Something’s Wrong, you can view my previous exhibitions here, the museum offered me another solo exhibition — this time in their main gallery space.
Again, I said yes. But this time, it felt different.
The gallery is vast, made up of three large rooms. The idea of filling that space was both exciting and intimidating.
The opening was set for April 2024. Plenty of time… or so I thought.
From that moment, I started thinking about what I actually wanted the exhibition to be.
My earlier work had focused on social commentary — themes like inequality, politics, and environmental issues.
But this time, I wanted to go deeper.
A Year of Dedication and Discovery
By January 2023, I had a plan.
I wasn’t abandoning my previous ideas — I was turning them inward.
The focus became the human experience: frustration, pressure, uncertainty… but also resilience and hope.
That’s when the title came to me: PAINtings.
I even searched to see if it already existed. It didn’t.
From that point on, I painted constantly.
Days, evenings, weekends — everything went into it.
At the same time, I was still figuring out how these paintings should be made.
For a long time, I believed artists shouldn’t be confined to a single style — and that’s still true.
But I also began to understand something important:
If you want to be recognised — by galleries, collectors, or anyone — your work needs a visual identity.
So instead of forcing it, I let it emerge naturally.
I painted, experimented, refined — and gradually, something consistent began to take shape.
This shift in direction continues to influence much of my current work, which you can view here.
Bringing the Exhibition Together
By April 2024, I had created over 100 original works, along with a series of limited edition prints.
The collection included:
- canvas works
- cardboard pieces
- large plywood panels
- even painted skateboard decks
Everything was ready.
A week before the opening, I loaded everything into a van and took it to the museum.
I’d already decided to display the work chronologically — showing the progression over the previous 12 months.
Seeing it all installed was overwhelming.
What had existed as an idea was now real.
Some of the works created during this period are still available, and you can explore selected pieces here.
More Than Just an Exhibition
Once the show opened, a new set of questions took over:
- Would people come?
- Would they connect with it?
- Would anything sell?
I decided to be present every single day the exhibition was open.
And not just present — I painted in the space too, so visitors could see the process.
Some days were quiet. Some were better.
But almost every day, there was at least one conversation that made it all worthwhile.
What I hadn’t expected was what the work would create.
People didn’t just look at the paintings — they opened up.
They spoke about stress, loss, anxiety, pressure… things they were dealing with in their own lives.
Without planning it, the exhibition had become a space where people felt able to talk.
That was something I had never considered.
And it was incredibly humbling.
Art as Connection
Looking back, the impact of the exhibition went far beyond simply showing the work.
Yes, seeing it in that space was a milestone.
But the real significance was in the connections it created.
The conversations. The shared experiences. The sense that, despite everything, we’re all navigating similar struggles in our own way.
That’s what made it meaningful.
It reinforced something I now strongly believe:
Art isn’t just about expression.
It’s about connection.
Thank you
As the exhibition came to an end, I realised it had done more than I expected.
It clarified my direction.
It opened new opportunities.
And it deepened my understanding of what I want my work to do.
To everyone who visited, supported the show, or shared their story — thank you.
If you’d like to explore more of my work, you can view available artworks here.
This is just the beginning.
