It’s tipped to be a big year for abstract modern pop artist Ben Allen, who says that along with an exhibition in London called Dirty, Sexy, Money, we can also expect new work from him (such as the one below) that is even more bigger, bolder and braver than before.

In the first in our series of artist interviews, the self-taught, Brighton-based artist took time out from preparing for his London show to chat with us about his current and future work, as well as what it’s like to have Richard Branson and Jade Jagger listed among his many clients.



Hi Ben, how are you?

Hi HP, fine thanks... Time for coffee and warming up the studio while I sit down and answer your questions.

What are you working on right now?

I am in the middle of creating work for my new solo show, which will be in London in May this year. I am also just finalising some designs for an original and limited edition print I have been asked to do for the launch of the Drive DVD starring Ryan Gosling.

Nice one. We love that film.

Do you remember who or what inspired you to become an artist?

Never wanting to work in an office or for anyone else turned me onto travelling at a young age. It was while travelling in Mexico that I got the inspiration and confidence to become an artist.

How would you describe your work?

My ideas and inspiration are always changing along with my style so it's hard to make it too specific, but I would say abstract, modern pop goes some of the way to describing the style.


Where do you get your inspiration ?

Fashion magazines, films, record covers, tattoos, skateboarding, weathered architecture, comic books, the internet, movements including the punk scene and seventies culture, Dia de Los muerte, other artists including Warhol, Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Shepard Fairey and Faile.

Is it true you’re a self-taught artist?

Yes. I hated school and could not wait to hit the road and travel. Surfing was my inspiration to escape UK life and I headed to Indonesia when I was 17. I travelled to many different countries over the following years taking photos, hanging out and gaining a sense of who I was and what I wanted from life.

After visiting Mexico I stumbled across a tiny local gallery in my home town of Brighton, it was called Studio 113. It's not there anymore but it was because of the gallery and the guy that owned it that I got a studio and started selling my first works. I remember selling my first canvas for £125. It blew my mind that I had the possibility of making a living from doing something I loved. It took another five years of hard graft as a labourer and working nights in bars before I could finally transfer over and just paint. Even that was a difficult transition for a few years but there was no way I was going to turn back.

 

 

How – if at all – does being a self-taught artist affect your work?

It has become the foundations of my work. It's hard to constantly challenge myself to just paint what I feel like against the necessity of making money, but I have to believe that the more I put into my work of myself the more people will get from it.

Can you tell us a little about your creative process? I’ve read you work largely unplanned and spontaneously?

The excitement comes from being as spontaneous as I can in my working methods and if an idea materialises while I am working on something I more often than not just run with it and the piece will end up like nothing I imagined.

Are there any projects that worked great in theory but didn’t turn out that well?

Nothing I can think of! I'm pretty organised especially when working with commercial or private clients. The only project that didn't go to plan was with a company that owned a lot of restaurants that had commissioned several works which i completed but shortly after they went bust and I lost out on three grand.

How long does it usually take for your to complete a piece?

Anywhere from a few days to a month. It depends if you include all the time spent having ideas, doing research and gathering inspiration materials. Then you could say years.

Do you work regular hours – like 9-5 in the studio, for example?

I'm usually in the studio by 10am and work anywhere up to 9-10pm depending on what I'm working on. Most weeks I will do 10am to 7pm Mon to Fri.

Do you listen to music as you work? If so, what sort?

 I share a large industrial space with three others so we have a very open music policy. We listen to all types of music, usually big beats and rock.

Among the many people who have bought your work are celebrities Richard Branson, Stephen Dorff, Jade Jagger and Rob ‘Blasko’ Nicholson – Ozzy Osbourne’s current guitarist and former Rob Zombie guitarist. Who’s the coolest person you’ve met through your work?

I would have to say all the other great artists and gallery owners making it happen that I have had the pleasure of exhibiting with.





Your work has also been printed on iPhone covers, how did that project come about?

Yeah that's been fun and great to see my designs on products. The project happened through a friend who used to share my studio. He knows the guys at Proporta (the case manufacturers) who were aware of my work and put us in touch. They loved the idea and it grew from there. I think they have made them for iPad and iPod Touch now also.

What drives you?

Ambition, the mental necessity to create and how I visualise my future with my family and friends.

Does living in Brighton have an impact on your work?

I was born in Brighton and have lived here most of my life, apart from time spent travelling. Sometimes it can feel like a really tiny town, but it always has something inspiring; usually the street art and the architecture that is decrepit and battered.

What would you say is the most important theme in your work?

Colour and change.

What can we expect in terms of direction for 2012?

Bigger, bolder, braver, skulls, tigers, females, subverted Disney characters, a big solo show in London, t-shirts, new limited editions, plus the unexpected...

Are there any new print releases scheduled in the near future?

There will be several new editions coming out this year. They will be very limited edition screen prints in runs of no more than 35. There will also be editions supporting my solo show in May. Anyone that is interested should sign up to my mailing list via my website for all news and release dates.

Which is your favourite piece from a personal point of view and why?

I would have to say one of the originals created for the upcoming solo. It's a 6ft x 4ft stencil on collage on canvas in black and white. It was super engaging to make and has lots of impact but that's just my opinion, you will have to come to the solo and judge for yourself...



Ben Allen's show Dirty, Sexy, Money will open at Gallery 27, Cork Street on July 16.

Here is Ben's latest and very limited edition print  Hope Series No. 12, which is available to purchase exclusively through us. With only 30 prints in this exclusive edition, you can purchase the print here.