SLART | OUTSIDER ART
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF RAW EXPRESSIONIST ART
SLART: “I’m a self-taught Outsider Artist from Swindon who creates raw, expressive art. My work focuses on people – their stories and struggles, with a touch of nostalgia – through both canvas pieces and street murals. I never went to art school, which probably explains my unconventional style. Hence the term Outsider Art.
Art has been my constant companion since childhood. I’d spend hours drawing animals from books and copying cartoons (A child creates naive art but then they’re told to learn how to create art). Then life happened – a 20-year break where art took a backseat. But in 2019, at age 37, I picked up a pen and ink after reading an article that inspired me to take action. The writer posed three questions, he said:
Ask yourself:
- What did I want to become when I was a child?
- What was I obsessed with as a child?
- What did people tell me I was good at as a child?
Drawing and Video Games, drawing and Video Games, drawing and Video Games.
These days, I create expressionist art focused on people – their stories, struggles, and quirks fascinate me, much of this is biographical yet universal. Every person has a story, and that’s what I try to capture in my work. Coming back to art after such a long break taught me something important: it’s never too late to reconnect with what you love. Also, life is a great teacher and it gives you plenty to paint about!
OUTSIDER ART INFLUENCES & MISSION
My art draws inspiration from three Art World Outsiders:
ART BRUT: LEARNING FROM JEAN DUBUFFET
Dubuffet showed me it’s okay to break the rules and start art later in life. He never cared about doing things the ‘proper’ way, and neither do I. Jean Dubuffet and his raw, honest approach taught me to trust my instincts rather than worry about formal training.
RANDOM HUMOUR: INSPIRED BY DAVID SHRIGLEY
Shrigley’s down-to-earth, honest approach to art reminds me to stay true to my naive art style. His work shows that art can be profound, playful and piss-funny, encouraging me to infuse humour and authenticity into my art, and remind myself not to take it all too seriously! David Shrigley put his sculpture of a hand doing a thumbs up (with a giant, long thumb!) in Trafalgar Square FFS! That’s not standard art. That’s the work of an outsider artist!
STREET ART LEGACY: MOVED BY KEITH HARING
Haring’s ‘Art is for everyone’ philosophy drives my passion for creating accessible, public art. His naive art influence inspires my large-scale murals and street art, helping me bring art directly to communities and break down barriers between high art and street culture. Like my other influences, Haring unapologetically stayed true to his distinct style. It’s tempting to create art you think you should make, rather than art that authentically comes from within – Haring taught me the importance of staying genuine. As I write this, I just remembered that Dubuffet and the Art Brut movement became a huge form of inspiration for Keith Haring.
Together, these artists shape my mission: creating authentic, accessible art that challenges conventions while remaining true to my outsider art roots. I aim to be a role model to younger generations and old to start creating, as it’s never too late.
