Converting White Cube Space Into Prison

Following on from my fascination with prisons, I was given the chance by Peter Walland, Head of Fine Art, to change a white cube into a prison cell which I thoroughly

enjoyed the challenge of creating.

As you can see above, I created the open prison door using plumbers' drainage pipes purchased from B & Q.

This shows how I started using the 'Trompe l'oeil style

The quote above was given to me by a dear friend, Harry Lister. He saw this when he walked into Durham Prison. It had been written by one of the young inmates. It was intentioned for the wardens.

As you can see the effect is working well. In this space, I wanted to show how prisoners become so institutionalised that they often want to get back because it feels safer, and they get three meals a day.

Here are a couple of local men, who came to visit my cell, who are ex-cons. Whilst there, they shared a few stories about their time in prison. They wrote remarks on the wall at my request to make it more authentic.

This is a painting that I did on board and then transferred to the ceiling in the style of Michael Angelo's Sistine Chapel. Michael Angelo's work has inspired me but my work is in a different style. As you can see Salvador Dali and Charles Salvador, who have also influenced my work, appear in this installation.