the moss garden

Most of my old paintings used as record sleeves have been in storage since 2002, they’re free now and I think they need to get out and about.

This painting was used for the sleeve art for Haven’s 2nd release, Beautiful Thing.July 2021. Tar paint and emulsion on paper, started 1998, it’s still breathing and moving.

https://www.discogs.com/master/135209-Haven-Beautiful-Thing

The vibe with the original haven art was a DIY feel, an organic process and a product that looked different from the formulaic approach. We wanted something people would like to hold and feel and get lost in. The vinyl releases were produced on thick,high quality paper, the heavy lacquer discs pressed in the Czech Republic which was the only place to get them done at that weight at the time.

From this painter’s viewpoint it was a win to take the art off the walls and put it into people’s hands, to see them used in promotional posters around the cities , on advertisements in the press, on tour and even on Top of the Pops decorating the bands onstage amp cases. At the time many artists were saying painting is dead but, as I said at the time, you can’t kill paint.

This from the first Haven Release, Til The End e.p. Tar paint, Oil Paint, coal dust.

This was used on the Til The End single release of the E.P. version. Tar paint, Oil paint, emulsion.

Some of the hand painted typography, oil paint ,biro and lacquer.

The original painting of the official logo, Oil paint, biro and lacquer

Haven, sketched rehearsing upstairs at Night and Day 2001. oil paint, ink.