My new series of paintings is influenced by my urban environment. Ten years of living in London seems to have shifted my style as the 'sophistication' and 'glamour' of my previous portraits have made way for a more raw style and content. Furthermore, the unfriendliness of big cities such as London, the gang culture, the graffiti, the violence, the dirt, the noise etc. have somewhat overwhelmed my senses.

In this series, I wish to visually translate what I feel when I think of London, New-York or Paris. I have always loved street art, pop-art, street dance, 70s & 80s films and music, so this new series is a mix of everything. The Paris underground, a street dancer, a tower block... all in bright and bold colours... is how I see the world I inhabit: dark but bright, unfriendly but exciting, unsafe but challenging.

I think there is more 'art in the street' than in museums and art galleries (what I call 'art in a box'). In other words, life is outside, not inside. There are some talented and creative people out there and they are not always listened to or looked at. It is happening in front of your eyes, it breaks boundaries, it speaks clearly and it stands proud. I wish to celebrate it in my own way...

There are still more paintings to come so please do visit again.