Personal best – Neal Murren
Another entry in the series where we ask Breed artists to select a piece or project of their own that holds a special meaning for them. It may not necessarily be the most successful or even their favourite, simply one that stands out for them as important in some way. We’re intrigued to see the choices made and the stories they may lead to.
This time we ask our questions of Neal Murren. Up in the Highlands of Scotland, Neal creates his incredibly intricate, detailed pieces, often inspired by worlds of fantasy and fairytale. He’s equally adept with pen, pencil, paint and Photoshop, using a variety of techniques that has attracted clients as diverse as Harry Potter, Smirnoff, New York Times, Harrods and Pop magazine. Time to find out what his personal favourite might be:
What piece have you chosen?
Through the bars.
Why is it special to you?
It wasn’t a well thought out or complicated piece of personal work, but was pretty rushed. The reason why it’s special to me is because it was reflective of how I felt at the time and I still come back to this piece and find some solace in it.
What’s the story behind it?
I remember producing this piece of work in the depths of winter. At the time it was reflective of a situation that I had no control over and had to accept as it was, to try to make the best of the time that remains. The child in the drawing can only produce artwork when the light comes in through the bars for a few hours a day and tried to create a positive environment within the darkness. When the light between the bars diminished and the room becomes dark the child finds some solace in the drawings on the walls.
How did you come to create this piece?
Watercolours, pencils, pens.