Q: Tell us about your paintings?

In my paintings I attempt to capture movement, energy and emotion. They are always personal and passionate statements. I try to achieve this by using detailed focal points, maybe of a hand or an eye, juxtaposed with fragmented and abstract mark making.

Q: What was first for you the street or Galleries?

I'm not really a street artist so probably gallery. I loved graffiti but more in a political/punk way. When I was younger I was painting huge political slogans in household paint over McDonalds windows etc, and at the same time, doing nice oil painting at home!

Q: I see struggle in your pieces is that true?

My work is concerned with emotional responses, so yes, my paintings sometimes encompasses pain and struggle, along with many other emotions in the spectrum. I tend to gravitate towards darker vibrations in my work at present though.

Q: Where are you from?

I'm from a small place called Accrington in Lancashire, which is in the north west of England. It's known for being at the centre of the cotton and textile industries. Oh the glamour! 

Q: Did you go to art school?

I did initially at Blackburn college. I was in care at the time and was encouraged by the staff to pursue something arty at the local college. I loved the atmosphere and energy of working with other students but I hated being told what to do! I made the very exciting/frightening step of leaving my home town and coming to London to study fine art at Middlesex University.

Q: What do you think art can do for the world?

Art can make sense of things which words have difficulty expressing. It can also make the world a more beautiful and truthful place. What would we be without it?

Q: How do you see the state the world is in today?

I think it's quite easy to be pessimistic, what with the recession and recent press scaremongering about 'terrorism' and swine flu. However, there's loads of positivity and progressive attitudes coming through too. I think the art world is in a very exciting place at the moment, certainly in the UK.

Q: As a graffiti artist did you have trouble finding the right gallery?

I've only really been concentrating on my painting again for three years, after quite a long period off (being a rock star!!) so relatively speaking it's still early days for me. Up to now I've had no trouble with people wanting to show my work.

Q: Have you done any commissions?

A few yes, although the word 'commission' now seems to be used to describe work sold outside of galleries - not a good thing really as I feel it can undermine show sales and prices for an artist of a certain level.

Q: What is your Favorite medium ?

I used acrylic and spray-can but I love oil paint the most. It's a very versatile medium. If you use good quality oil paint then it will have longevity. Will spraypaint or acrylic deteriorate and fall off the canvas in a hundred years time? Eeek! 

Q: Have you shown outside of the UK?

Yes, I was asked to show in New York when I was still at college. Since then, Berlin and Philadelphia.

Q: favorite place you have travelled to and why?

I worked in Egypt when I was about 21 doing murals - that was overwhelming and amazing. Everyone wants cheap flights to the sun but I still love the UK - there's just so many extraordinary places yet to visit. Recently stayed in a wonderful old tower at Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset and loved the jurassic coastline there - formed 155 million years ago!

Q: What are your hopes for the future?

I really want to push the concept and technique in my work and push the boundaries of mark making. Sorry, boring I know. I am also keen to be recognised and appreciated by a wider and wider audience. Ultimately, I'd love to be a celebrity!!!

Q: What do you listen to when you are working?

An eclectic mix really as my tastes are quite wide. Drum and bass, punk, classical etc. I have recently been obsessed with the tunes of a young English musician, Patrick Wolf.

Q: What other artist influence you?

As far as other painters are concerned - I like the painterly quality of Lucian Freud and Jenny Saville. Along with Edward Hopper and bizarrely, the English nineteenth centuary pre-raphaelites. I thought the recent big Francis Bacon show at the Royal Academy in London was very powerful.

Q:Favorite living and deceased artist?

Scottish painter Peter Howson - as he initially inspired my passionate feelings about painting. As for dead artist - Franz Kline. I love those black slashes of unapologetic paint.

Q: Do you go to Museums?

Yes, I feel lucky living so near to places like London's National Gallery where you can see works by Rembrandt, Rubens and all the other big guns for free! I recently saw the Anish Kapoor and JW Waterhouse shows at the Royal Academy in london

Q: Greatest Joy?

My partner and two cats. Friday nights at home too, as it's pizza and margarita time!

Q: Greatest Sadness?

Losing my wonderful and loving mother when I was 19. My father - for being an absent and violent creature.

Q: Does Dale have a dark side?

Yes I do. We all have anger obviously, but I believe people channel it or reveal it in different ways. Feel the darkness and use creatively is my motto.

Q: What would you do if you could not paint?

I think I may be dead if it wasn't for my art. Possibly working with animals. My visual creativity has saved me several times throughout my life. I can't envisage life without painting now.

Q: Any upcoming shows we should look out for ?

I'm doing a figurative show called Represent that kicks off on the 5th November in Hoxton curated by Matt Small. The show also features to work of Swoon, Elbow Toe and Gavin Nolan, to name a few. It's for a charity. Then I'm doing a solo show at Signal Gallery in April 2010 which I'm very excited about.

Q: Do you have prints available of your work?

I haven't released a whole lot of prints (lithograph/giclee etc). I found the whole mass print explosion on the urban/outsider scene a little disheartening. In conjunction with my painting I'm currently doing some large figurative woodcut prints, although these are for pasting up outside and are not for sale. 

 http://www.dalegrimshaw.com/

We would like to thank Dale for taking time out of his busy scheduleto chat with us and share some of his insight on painting and life.

All the best Richard Scarry and the Chipster