In early 2000 I suggested to UK newspaper The Independent the idea of featuring up-and-coming street artist Banksy. I arranged to meet Banksy in a pub and recorded the interview, his first ever. The Independent published a double-page feature containing several Banksy images and a small part of the interview in its Saturday magazine in May 2000. I deleted the recording. The large majority (around ninety percent) of the 3700-word interview has never been published.

It's a fascinating piece historically as it represents a snapshot of Banksy’s development at a pivotal moment in his career. He had just left Bristol (where I lived) and moved to London. In it he talks about 11 specific pieces of his work - including Attack of the Badly Drawn Boy, The Clown, Pest Control and why/how he made them.

He also talks about his motivation, anxieties and his history. Quotes include:

I was shit at art in school, I got an E.

Making a stencil...splitting everything into black and white and eliminating all grey areas, which is a very good way to live your entire life in fact.

Sometimes I paint just because I've got nothing and I just want to kick the city up the arse.

I am considering releasing this interview. Contact me via the contact page.