Anthony Valentine

I was born in Dublin in 1968 and apart from one year in the late 80s when I lived in London have been here all my life. I have always been interested in art. I would say my main influences amongst other painters and artists would be Francis Bacon, Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. I am also very interested in movements such as the abstract expressionists and surrealism but find as much inspiration in music, literature, theatre and cinema as I do in visual art.
I have had no formal training as such but have taking many online courses in art history and some practical courses in drawing and color theory. Their are no end of free online courses worth taking and YouTube is also a fantastic resource for those who are interested. They have been a real eye opener for me.
Up until 2 years ago I worked in customer service but after a long illness I was advised to take some time off. This allowed me to fully throw myself into my studies and it is only now I have found the confidence to show my work.
In my drawings paintings and college it is my aim to communicate a state of mind a feeling or emotion, Those fleeting moments between waking and sleep or a scent in the air that suddenly brings us back to childhood, memories jus...