Inkie curated 'Urban Myth' which is up at Cerasoli Gallery thru August 1st, 2009.  The group exhibit shows off a selection of artists like Zeus, China Mike, and Pure Evil to name a few.  I caught up with the UK based graffiti artist to ask him a few questions...

How did you start doing graffiti on the street and what attracted you to it?

I was heavily into Punk and drawing band logos like the Crass, Flux of Pink Indians, The Clash & Dead Kennedys.  Then I came across Subway art and saw the scale of NY graffiti, which blew me away.  It was like what I had been searching for but hadn't known it... a kind of hybrid typography with an illegal aspect that appealed to my naughty nature.

What style of graffiti influenced you and how were you first exposed to it?
Donid, Seen, Shy 147, Skeme, Gnome, Dero, Bio, T-Kidm Futura & Jean 13 were my main graffiti influences, so heavy New York classic styles.  These needs were met through Subway art, Wildstyle & hip hop history and arena programme on BBC2 and endless rewinds.

What was the Bristol scene like for you in the late 80's, in your early days of being a writer?
It was a very special time, as we were constantly experimenting and trying to develop new styles and techniques.  Working with 3D was a big influence too and he was dropping crazy original letter styles and stunning characters.  I also worked closely with Nick Walker as part of the OGOG & Crime Inc crews.  Also, as it was pre-internet, we had to contact other artists by mail and it made making links more important.  Barton Hill and John Nation were massively influential in this happening as we had a central base for our operations bringing the likes on Vulcan, TATS crew and many more to our city.

What's your experience been like to go from a street artist to a  legit, tax-paying graphic and creative designer?
I have worked for the past 10 years as head of design for SEGA & Xbox in Europe, so with this discipline the step has been very smooth.  I am very fortunate to be in the position to be able treat my illustrative/street art work as my job and graffiti as my passion.

Do you feel like you have a different perspective on making art when it is for sale as opposed to it being outside on a wall? 
Definitely.  I have one style for canvas based works that is more illustrative and heavily female form orientated and for the streets it's pure wildstyle Graffiti, although I have recently started to combine the 2 to great affects.

How did you become so influenced by Art Nouveau illustration style in your "Ink Nouveau" work?  Why the use of the female figure in so much of your work?
I think seeing Alphons Mucha's work was the key and then I started creating my own modern versions - it clicked.  I also take a lot of inspiration from the Arts and Craft movement, William Morris and the Glasgow School of Art in the early 1900's.  I focus on the female form as I am transfixed by the organic movement of hair interacting with flora and architectural borders.  Also the idea of drawing pot bellied men with 5 o'clock shadow doesnt really appeal to me...

Why do you think some people still, after all these years, only see graffiti as a crime instead of as art?
Mainly due to the tagging side of it...true graffiti artists are still heavily focused on bombing and getting up, which outsiders see as mindless vandalism but to writers...it's a necessity.

 Here's his link, if you want an even closer look:  www.inkie.co.uk

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