How did you get into art?

I've always doodled since I can remember, started putting it to some good use whilst at design college in 1998 then really knuckled down when when I got a job as a junior web designer at a local design agency of my home town of Leicester.

I started doing lots of art and design in my own time, making lots of mistakes but learning alot too. After 4 years at the agency I left and started up on my own, with my own company 'JamFactory' - nearly 3 years later, I'm still here!

How do you get inspiration for the work you produce?

It comes from everywhere man! From just seeing a nice piece of packaging to a well shot advert on TV! Generally it's other artists work - painters, illustrators, designers, musicians - anyone creative inspires me!

Just talking the brief through with a client gets me stoked, I get excited to create something new and fresh, hopefully impressing the kind person commissioning me to make pretty things!

What has been your best creation to date?

Oh man, that's a hard one. I think it has to be illustrating the cover and feature of .net magazine - it just meant so much to me to be asked to do that, It really was like a dream come true for me, I'm always so grateful that I can do this for a living!

How did you feel when you realised that art could make you some money?

I always remember working at this design agency in Leicester, looking upto the guy who owned it, thinking "how the hell do you get to own your own design firm, doing your own thing?" ~ It stil feels like it all happened in a bit of a blur.

I was really lucky to receive a break from Casino, the skateshop in Leicester that snowballed most of my other early clients.

I still sit here sometimes and think "Sweet! This is it, this is what I do for a living - rad!"

How much do you think hype affects the public perception of what good art is?

I dont think it tends to happen too much in the "street" art sector (I hate that term man, but 'street' art seems to be the only way to describe non-modern art crap).

People throw names around alot like Banksy, D*Face etc etc but the hype is always worthy of the talent, I think people who are into that sort of art are clued up to whether it's good or not.

Not like Modern Art though... me and my girlfriend went to see the "British Artshow 6" in Bristol afew weeks ago... one of the exhibits was a huge empty space with some carpet fluff piled up into a mountain...

I'm sorry but that's just freakin' insulting to good artists!

Last CD you bought/downloaded/shoplifted?

I'm a bit of a music freak, forever swapping albums on iChat and buying them from the iTunes store,

'Ipecac Neat' by P.O.S. was my last purchase.

What is your most prized possesion?

Probably my japanese-import Pete Fowler 'Boris' toy my girly bought me and my huge Mr Jago canvas hanging on my wall. Oh and my DVD collection!

What make you happy?

Girlfriend, Family, Friends, Love, Art, Design, passion, dedication.

What makes you sad?

I don't really get sad with things, I do have a 'hate' list though:

~ Charity workers in the street who dont accept no for an answer and dance about to get your attention
~ PayPal
~ Purple
~ 'Reese' from Hollyoaks
~ Cables (Puppet strings of Satan)
~ Daddy Long Legs
~ The Bush Administration

Sex, drugs or rock n roll?

None of the above thanks! I don't drink or smoke and I'm probably the least rock n roll person you'll ever meet. You're more likely to find me glued a Mac screen on a Friday night rather than getting wasted in a club somewhere!

God I'm a bit boring.

Last book you read?

Lullaby by Chuck Palahnuick.

I am SO crap at reading, I'm super slow and rarely read so it takes me a while!

Tell us a joke?

What do you call a French man who wears flip flops? Phillipe Flop!

Whats your favourite soup?

Tomato. I'm super fussy and it's the only one I like!

What else do like other than art?

Lots! Music, Movies, games, skateboarding, filming, editing, painting, photography

Any regrets?

Yep, just one.

(Ask yourself (and answer) a question!)

What do you prefer Gavin, Lorries or Cheese?

Cheese.

Final thoughts...

It's time for tea. I love tea.

Interview - Mr. Burrows 27/09/06