Les Camille

Les Camille trained in Fine Art at Midland TAFE in Perth, Western Australia, before leaving early when Rafiki Art began tugging at his sleeve like a mischievous spirit determined to take over his life. In 1994, he officially registered the name *Rafiki Art*—years before the now‑famous character of the same name appeared on stage and screen—and opened a small shop at the Malaga Markets. That stall, filled with original paintings, hand‑painted T‑shirts, and imported African art, became his first headquarters as the self‑appointed **Head Chaos Monkey** of this colourful enterprise.

In 1998, Camille travelled through East Africa and established a studio in Tanga, Tanzania. It became his creative base for years as he painted, travelled, and exhibited across Africa and Europe. He would disappear to Brighton or Köln for exhibitions, then boomerang back to Tanga covered in paint and questionable decisions.

Career highlights from this period include a solo exhibition at *The Pub With No Name* in Queen’s Park, Brighton; an invitation to exhibit at **George Street Gallery** in 2000; participation in the **Brighton Arts Festival** in 2001 and 2002; and the selection of his painting *Sax Man* for the official **Brighton Festival Magazine**. H...

Across his years working between Tanzania and Europe, Camille built a vivid and unconventional exhibition history. His first UK solo exhibition took place in 1999 at The Pub With No Name in Queen’s Park, Brighton, introducing his bold, colour‑driven style to the local arts scene. In 2000, he was invited to exhibit at George Street Gallery, then Brighton’s oldest gallery, marking a significant early milestone in his international career. He went on to exhibit in Köln, Germany, and returned to the UK for the Brighton Arts Festival in both 2001 and 2002. During the 2002 festival he presented a solo Fringe exhibition in the North Laine district, a show that coincided with his painting Sax Man being selected for the official Brighton Festival Magazine—a feature that cemented his connection to the city’s creative community. Later, in Dar es Salaam, he held a solo exhibition at the 420 Hotel in Msasani, where he was commissioned to create a large mural for the hotel’s bar and reception.