Adrenaline-fuelled, photo-realistic paintings that capture the intensity of mosh pits

Inspired by his own spell as a musician, and realising how much he'd miss the intensity of performing when he returned to making art full time, he decided to create paintings that satisfy the adrenalin and animalistic frenzy he still craved.

In an artist statement, he said: "After photographing in the mosh pits for a while I began to get familiar with patterns in the music. Eventually, it got to the point where I could sense the moment coming when things would really cut loose and go berserk. I had the camera on a pole so I'd hit the timer, count down with the music and lift the camera over the crowd hoping the shutter would click at the optimum moment. It was mostly luck but when I'd nail someone in full barbaric yawp it was as satisfying as performing. And being tossed around in the mosh pit definitely satisfied my need for adrenalin and an art-form that involved risk.

"Another thing I've noticed in my museum and gallery wanderings is that if you watch people, the majority of them spend just a few moments in front of the art. As an artist this is disturbing. And a challenge. I mean, we pour everything into these things, we dedicate our lives to these objects, and it seems sad that our best efforts can divert people's attention for barely a few seconds. And these are people who are motivated to go look at art - what about the rest of the world? I understand that we all have short attention spans and the world is over-saturated with images, but still, as artists, I think the goal has got to be to transcend this benumbed condition and figure out a way to make images that are worthy of your prolonged attention."

Via Pogo Books