***I’m a big believer in crediting your influences and mentors. Here’s some of mine in graff (more below).*** @saidokins, @lunarsolitude @birritz @SkoolYDS @smole.smolito @drugs @venam @rastaboyssp, @triloucoslu, @ooopior @sum_wunn @paradox.paradise @cema @judit.sweetcrime @Dkae

Once you’re tuned in to the public yet secret world of graff - REALLY tuned in - you’ll open up a whole new layer of perception that’s impossible to un-see.

You’ll find yourself constantly looking up in awe. Trying to work out how these writers reached those mad spots. Calculating the time and risks they’ve taken to get their their name up.

Keeping up with illegal graff is like keeping up with your favourite sport - seeing who’s names are up, what’s new, what’s been buffed… who’s having beef!

The loud colours, styles and cartoons will brighten up your day. It’s a constant source of inspiration on every street corner, train or bus ride.

It turns the concrete jungle into an ever-changing, de-institutionalised exhibition. It gives a voice to anyone who dares take a pen or can of paint to the streets.

If like me you’re learning to paint, it’ll open up your appreciation for the technical skills required too. You’ll realise how hard it is. How much practise and patience it takes.

*When I was 2 months in & went straight for the crown before I knew what it meant* 🤣

*Last week I was asked to paint* *AAJA* *Deptford’s new smoking area. It’s a community record label, radio station bar and now club. Big shout out to* *Sam Everson* *for believing in me!*

You can make your appreciation get even deeper too. I like to take pictures of what I see on the street when I like the styles, colourways and fills, storing them in a folder on my phone, meaning I’m in engaging with the culture more actively than ever.

***More graff influences and mentors:*** @smole.smolito, @fuse @judit.sweetcrime @decibella @ebot, @ingoh @shanehuss @zonk @birritz, @ling @ermsy @birritz @killakela @rahael @ink @enyo @bloke @newboyssp @chrisdexta @fatcapsprays

By opening your eyes to this world you’ll find your favourite subcultures within it. Insta has helped me find a whole network of women in South America who nail that cute, colourful bubble style I love so much - they’re a constant source of inspiration. Or calligraffiti artists in the Middle East. Or having been to São Paulo and seen it with my own eyes, Brazilian Pixação writers. They abseil down tall buildings and climb up tower blocks on each other’s shoulders to spray their sick pointy handstyles in protest to their government.

Must-watch documentary on the world of Sao Paulo Pixação

The best part is, you don’t even have to be partaking in the illegal activity to enjoy it - unless you want to of course. As you may know I’m not writing illegal graff. I’m not about to get put in court, prison or get arrested - like a few good people I know, who unfortunately have been.

And anyway, while I’ve met so many lovely writers who are friends and mentors, I don’t even want to get too deeply involved in the wider scene. It can be full of toxic masculinity and intolerance. So I keep well away from that side and just spectate by watching the wars play out on the London shutters instead. 🤣

For me - I’ve made graff culture my own. I’m more about painting with good people. Making a day out of it. I started learning pretty much by myself, but since getting my girls involved it’s been huge. We’ve learnt so much from each other and we love to encourage and cheer each other on.

But still. I’ll ALWAYS respect illegal graff because that’s what the spirit of it truly is.

Even if some writers don’t like to call their work ‘art’ - they call it vandalism - to me it definitely still is art. And an extreme sport too. One that can and never will be stopped!

Why tuning into graff culture will bring more colour to your daily life

But still. I’ll ALWAYS respect illegal graff because that’s what the spirit of it truly is.