|
We speak English
The title alludes to signs on bars on the Spanish costas that proudly proclaim this fact; they might as well add that they don't speak any Spanish.
The Brits abroad are not a pretty sight, shaven headed, pink, fat blokes in their England strips, looking for all the world like giant babies and their loud Wrinklefagskin women smoking Superkings. They settle on the coast of Spain in their thousands, there solely for the climate and the cheap booze; they have absolutely no intention of integrating with the Spanish at all. I hate them, and feel deeply ashamed as one of their countrymen when I have to be among them; they're loud, thick and aggressive.
In inviting this tidal wave of immigration into Spain the Spanish started to do a bit of soul-searching when, amongst all the other bad apples a real minger settled in their midst. I'm talking of Tony Alexander King, the Holloway strangler. He was responsible for the rape and murder of at least two young women on the Costa del Sol .
I've picked two such delightful specimens in an English bar jokingly accusing each other of the crime. There is always a not-so-subtle undercurrent of violence around these drunken pigs which I've chosen to allegorise through the murderous intent of the two bull terriers that they are holding.
The seated protagonist is modelled directly on the butcher in Hogarth's Beer Street ; that knowing leer of the cockney geezer has been around a long time. |
We speak English
27x39cm, Edition of 20
£145 |
|
Nazarenos
I can't resist the spectacle of Semana Santa in Cordoba . “It's just a bit of spectacle” people will say. I wonder if you could dismiss the Nuremberg rallies in the same way.
|
Nazarenos
23x32cm, Edition of 20
£145 |
|
La siesta de Narizota
This translates as “Big nose's siesta”. Silver tongued cavalier that I am, that's a nick name I had for my girlfriend Betty. The etching was done in Barcelona and evokes the cavernous darkness of the ancient houses on the barrio gotico.
|
la siesta de Narizota
20x18cm, Edition of 20
£120 |
|
Spider naevus
An alcoholic in Glasgow 's famous Saracens Head where they used to serve wine by the pint.
|
Spider Naevus
24x24cm Edition of 10
£75 |
|
Castilnuevo
A castle in the middle of nowhere, a common thing to find in Aragon . I worked in situ on this one, drawing directly onto a grounded plate.
|
Castilnuevo
19x27cm, Edition of 15
£145 |
|
Calvito
Calvito was my nick name for Calvin Russel. A weak pun on his name and the fact that he's bald. This is him working in his studio on Southgate road.
|
Calvito
22x16cm, Edition of 20
£95 |
|
Funky Vernon
Funky Vernon was the chef at the Rosemary Branch. He got the sack in the end, either for serving chicken to a group of vegetarians, or for inviting theatre goers to watch him wash his penis in the theatre toilet, I forget which.
|
Funky Vernon
22x16cm, Edition of 20
£95 |
|
Sex Puppy
A very rare drypoint, done just before leaving Exeter for good.
|
Sex Puppy
22x18cm unique
POA |
|
Eyeing up the talent
Bart's Tavern in Exeter . Tables are set up the length of the skittle alley, at the end of that are the gents toilet. Connoisseurs of the male form could position themselves her to view the selection as every man must at some point go to the toilet.
|
Eyeing up the talent
12x17cm, Edition of 15
£85 |
|
Lovell's Wharf
As seen from a riverside pub in Greenwich .
|
Lovell's Wharf
10x18cm, Edition of 20
£45 |
|
Mice |
Mice
25x15cm, Unique
£150 |
