I am an artist, therefore I am.... I use paint, cameras, metal, found objects and all manner of materials in between. For money I work for an outdoor arts event company in Manchester who produce small or huge artistic events such as capital of culture opening ceremonies. Most of that work is in the last six months of the year, so from January I am largely free to indulge in my more esoteric artistic journeys. Over the past few years I have completed several commissions that have taken me right out of my comfort zone and stretched my technical abilities and artistic language. Like many people I spend a lot of my time working, and it took me a long time to get a balance between my self expression as an artist and doing a job that employs my talents with people I consider friends. I'm still working on being able to sell a painting for 20 grand to Mick Jagger though, keep on trying. I feel most alive when I'm zoned in to the creative process and everything seems in tune. Not very good at marketing or getting work out of my studio, which is another reason I'm interested in artistic milieus in other cities. I have every understanding that Amsterdam and Berlin are kick ass. I don't want to be somebody who talks about stuff they are going to do but never does it. Talking destroys the magic, creativity has to gestate largely in secret. So I would say I am an observant and contemplative person who likes to analysis and think things through, but I also love the spontaneous, the action, the thrill, I like to party with the best of them. I love the rock n roll and to shake my thang all night long, but I like to know when to stop and pick up my brushes. I live in Hulme, Manchester with my girlfriend and dog most of the year but we top up our tans gardening in Portugal as often as possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

This February I want to travel to Amsterdam, then Berlin, then maybe Dresden, Leipzig and Prague depending on time. I have never been to Germany yet have long been very interested in it. I basically want to visit galleries and museums along the way and gauge the artistic life. I don't want to feel like I'm in total isolation for the time I am travelling so couch surfing seems like a good way to meet people along the way. We host on Airbnb in Manchester so I'd like to experience staying as a guest. I am a very mindful, independent person. I'd really like to be introduced into great stuff that's going on in these amazing cities by cool people with local knowledge. That's why I'm trying couch surfing.

Interests

Art, culture, music, politics, life philosophy, yoga, psychedelic cosmic stuff, maintaining a happy relationship with reality. Being involved in projects, transformations, creating something good that didn't exist previously. Eco living/issues, permaculture. Cooking, travel reading, making freaky groovy noise out of a bass guitar. Walking up hills, going to places on maps, life.

• dogs
• arts
• culture
• cooking
• yoga
• working out
• walking
• partying
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• magic
• music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• surfing
• scuba diving
• cartography
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I like all sorts of films except rom come and gore porn. I love westerns, war movies, adventure movies, space movies, challenging movies. Personal favourites are A Matter of Life and Death, Naked by Mike Leigh, Sergio Leone westerns, Alien and Aliens, Fight Club, Evil Dead trilogy etc, etc. I love and lament David Bowie, Janes Addiction have been a love for time, Sisters of Mercy, Talking Heads, Bauhaus, The Cure, The Smiths, Squarepusher, Sabbath, The Cosmic Dead and Vessels are current faves. I just love interesting music with balls I'm an old goth, techno, punk, bass loving psychenaut. Fave books are Lauren Lee's trilogy, the Sotweed factor, Ringolevio, hobbit and Lord of the rings. Many books by Auldous Huxley, Henry Miller, jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck etc

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've travelled half way around the world, trekked around the Himalayas, scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, driven across the USA and many years ago I managed to drop out of mainstream nonsense by buying land in Portugal and living off grid close to nature in a yurt, forming a relationship with the cosmos that seems unattainable in cities. I would recommend everybody to it.

Teach, Learn, Share

Yes as much as possible.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I guess that depends, but I'll share what I can. If that's just conversation or making a cup of tea then that's great. But I'll bring enthusiasm, my own point of view, and humour. I'm very easy going and don't like to impose on people. I'm a pretty good cook though so am always up to wield a hot pan

Countries I’ve Visited

American Samoa, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Portugal, United Kingdom