Prolific London street artist Inkfetish (real name Tom Blackford) has decorated walls all over the capital, from Stockwell to Shoreditch. You'll probably recognise a few of his pieces from the gallery above. We put a few questions to the chap.
How did you come-up with the name Inkfetish?
I used to self publish my own comics predominately working in pen and ink. An illustrator at the time, I thought I needed a name to distinguish my personal work from commercial jobs and so the name was born. As it turned out, the majority of work I produce now doesn't have that much to do with ink but the name has stuck with me.
How would you describe your style?
I'd say it was a hybrid of a bunch of my interests, from comics, anime and horror movies to Japanese culture and graffiti, etc.
How long have you been a graffiti artist?
I've been an artist my whole life, but as far as graffiti goes, I was messing around with spray paint throughout my teen years but only started to really push myself into the more creative side of the art form about 7 years ago.
Why do you like painting here?
I don't have an option right now as this is where my work comes from. A warmer climate and a scene with a little more open-mindedness from people would help push things forward, saying that, I think a lot of people have stepped up their game this year.
Why do you think a lot of the top graffiti artists come from London?
It's a big city with a big history but I feel we're still behind a few other European cities in terms of style evolution.
Is there wall in London you would like to design a piece for?
There are a few but I won't give any locations away in case it gives someone else a bright idea!
What's next for Inkfetish?
I'll be really annoyed with myself if I don't get to visit Tokyo soon...that's been a long time on the cards. We'll see....
By Helen Soteriou
