Biography

British mixed-media artist Mr. Sly creates bold graphic images offering a contemporary slant on 20th Century popular culture.

Describing himself as an Urban Pop Artist, he is inspired by music, pop songs in particular, and every artwork is directly related to a song, an artist, or both. This relationship is highlighted by the quotations and lyrics he uses within the composition; his narrative voice is strong and his aim is always to tell a story based around those lyrics. Taking iconic figures from the past and placing them front and centre makes him feel, he says, “as if they are living in a new age.”

Keen to experiment and explore a diverse range of materials, Mr. Sly may be spray painting on a skateboard, building a collage or pasting on brickwork, but the result is always thought-provoking and stylish. Having studied Art and Design, Graphic Design and Photo Restoration, he introduces some interesting hidden processes into each composition, restoring and manipulating old photographs, and blending graphic and more traditionally artistic elements to create a homogeneous whole. Each piece has a high gloss finish, sometimes with a touch of sparkle to highlight the glamour of his subjects.