Ben Yates

'78, London. I was brought up in Devon, went to Oxford Brookes to study engineering, went on to Central School to do a Musical Theatre course, spent three years as a professional actor, and completely by accident found a niche in the art world.

My work is based around photography, in that I take photographs, but then I mount them 3-dimensionally. These can be mosaic style multiple photos moving through a range of colours, or a single picture disintegrated and given depth.

I also have an interest in using recycled materials in sculptures, particularly circuit boards and other wasted electronic and mechanical components with which I put together sprawling cities lit with fairy lights.

These cityscapes can conjure an image of a parallel society built from what we throw away. Utopian or dystopian, the "˜Electri-Cities' remain a feast for the eyes and the mind.

As well as being an intriguing artwork, the Electri-Cities are encased in acrylic and glass coffee tables, making them practical pieces of furniture.

I try to re-use as much of the wasted components as possible - screws taken out of computers are sometimes used to secure the city's buildings down to the ground, and I now have use for the plastic or metal oute...

Doddescombeleigh Art Show Doddescombeleigh School, Devon. October 2005 (Photo-Sculptures)
Photo-Sculpture (solo exhib.) Birdwood House, Totnes, Devon. January 2006 (Photo-Sculptures)
T.R.A.I.L. (Teignbridge Art Fest.) Teignmouth Sea Front (sculpture from found objects)
Tomorrows Teignmouth (Photo-Sculptures) August 2006
Nine Days of Art (Teignbridge Art Fest.) Mallands Barn, Newton Abbot, Devon. (Photo-Sculptures)
Haldon Forest, Devon. (Tree-Mural) September 2006
Dialogue (joint exhib.) Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Rd, London. (Photo-Sculptures) October 2006
The Creative Store (craft markt.) Torquay (photo-sculptures) Dec 2006
Photographic Extrusion (solo) Harbour Gallery, Jersey (photo-sculptures/photo-mosaics) April 2007
Photography of the Anti-Flat (solo) Birdwood House, Totnes (Photo-sculptures) May 2007
T.R.A.I.L. (Teignbridge Art Fest.) Shaldon Front (Photo-sculpture from Found Objects) July 2007
Tomorrows Teignmouth (Photo-sculptures from recycled materials)
Devon Art Works (County open studios trail) Mallands, Ingsdon, Newton Abbot (photo-sculptures,
Large sculptures, photographic installations) September 2007
Photographic Sculpture (solo) Chelston Gallery, Torquay (photo-...