Paul Smith Collaboration

The latest in Dillwyn's collaboration has seen him work with Paul Smith on a pair of trainers: The limited edition trainers will be in Paul Smith stores from November 2009.

The Art of Intention

The space of terror and healing – beautiful Imbunches for a troubled time

These new works of Dillwyn Smith’s were sewn together, piece by piece, bit by bit, one after the other. When they start to work on our eyes, the first question that springs to mind is: has all the colour gone out of their world?

A Dillwyn Smith show a quarter of a century ago was all about performing colour. With a brush in his hand Dillwyn, with his perfect touch, was a master of colouristic paradox. The surfaces were impossible - wet and dry, soft and hard, shallow and deep, clean and dirty, screaming and silent, these works could make colour contradict itself. Surfaces possessed secrets passed on from the tactile mysteries of Turner at his most greasy, and Gainsborough at his most slippery... read more

Maggie Maggie Maggie

It is 30 years ago this weekend that Margaret Thatcher came to power.

I found these two mono-types recently, in the bottom of a plan chest. I recalled putting them in there many years ago, I was going to rip them up as unsuccessful but didn't, they are the only remaining images made this way in 1984/5 when I was at the Royal College of Art, the Miners strike was on and it was an attempt to have a visual placard like the Coal on Dole ones that we carried on the marches.

I was on one of the marches in London, taking time out of college, which was a big thing for me to do. After the march moved into Whitehall it stopped at the end of Downing Street, we were blocked in by police at both ends who then let horses into the middle of the crowd. The imagery was reminiscent of what we have been seeing in recent days.

The Miners strike, the politicalisation of the police and the abuse of power during the strike were inspiration, for work made, for the duration of my 3 year course...

I can go on and on about this work I hated Thatcher and used her image / hairstyle in paintings. The inversion of the face is inspired by the tarot devil. She was responsible as head of state, and as heads of state had historical works made of themselves, I used her. I believed time would tell and she would be found out. The easing of restrictions in the financial markets that Thatcher and Reagan( President not Exorcist) planned and oversaw have led to the recent collapse of the world economy, driven by greed anger and stupidity. Recent actions have brought her philosophy into question.

The day she took office she stood outside 10 Downing Street and what she said perplexed and angered me, It still does:

"Very excited, very aware of the responsibilities. Her Majesty The Queen has asked me to form a new administration and I have accepted. It is, of course, the greatest honour that can come to any citizen in a democracy. (Cheering) I know full well the responsibilities that await me as I enter the door of No. 10 and I'll strive unceasingly to try to fulfil the trust and confidence that the British people have placed in me and the things in which I believe. And I would just like to remember some words of St. Francis of Assisi which I think are really just particularly apt at the moment. Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope .[fo 1] . and to all the British peoplehowsoever they voted may I say this. Now that the Election is over, may we get together and strive to serve and strengthen the country of which we're so proud to be a part. [Interruption "Prime Minister ."] And finally, one last thing: in the words of Airey Neave whom we had hoped to bring here with us, There is now work to be done."

Exhibition details

Maggie Maggie Maggie 84-09 (vertical)	94.5 x 70 cm
Maggie Maggie Maggie 84-09 (horizontal)	70 x 94.5 cm
Both prints : Giclee print - printed on Hahnemuhle Photo rag on Epson 9800/9880 Pro using Epson Ultra-chrome colour