A little introduction to artistic beginnings.

AnthonyHodgsonArt initially grew out of the biro doodlings in the margins of exercise books whilst in Whitby School, a secondary school in Whitby, North Yorkshire, which, for those of you unfamiliar with the UK, is in northern England. It was fed by everything from Dungeons & Dragons to Dr Who - the Sci-Fi and fantasy books, comics, TV and films of the 1970’s and 80’s. This hobby continued and matured as I moved first from the village of Sleights to the industrial city of Leeds to study History with Primary Education (this changed to Public Media after a year), then London and abroad to Le Mans, France, before returning to London in the mid-90’s.

Throughout all this time the doodles evolved. Life experiences - the interior and exterior - all provided material for the creations. Marriage, children, good and bad relationships, jobs in the Care and Education sectors, health struggles, changes in society, culture, the arts, history...everything played its part.

2012 was a pivotal year. Having been an English teacher to international students for 5 years , I was struck down with a relatively unknown illness called CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). At the same time I felt called to pursue my art, music and poetry. So I left a full-time job as an English teacher in order to pursue my creative side.

This is when the art really took off and over the following year I created more artwork than I had in the previous 20 years. My first exhibition was ‘Husk’ at the Departure Gallery in Limehouse, East London in July 2014. Since then I have exhibited in London and nationally, selling work both in the UK and abroad.

I continue to create art in my studio at our London home whilst being a regular trader at the bi-annual Whitby Steampunk and Whitby Gothic Weekends in my home town, as well as various cultural events around the country.