Dave Martin, Tesco Express, Hammersmith: ‘So many people are missing me. It’s really sweet’

Dave Martin’s most loyal customers have been asking after him. It’s been two weeks in the hospital, and he has been busy recovering. If there’s one thing that he wants people to be aware of – it’s to check your sugar levels, ease up on the drinking and “all that smoking”. “Get rid of that,” he says.

Because of an infection and bad blood circulation, doctors said he would lose two of his toes. “It’s not an easy thing to find out,” he says. “On the bright side, I can walk. I’ve still got three toes left.”

Dave has been a Big Issue vendor for 16 years. He shared his pitch with Prince William in 2022 and again in 2023. Over the years his artwork has featured in exhibitions  and magazines, and sold online. At the moment, he’s itching to get back to his pitch in Hammersmith, West London, which he says will be in a few weeks’ time. “So many people are missing me. It’s really sweet knowing that people care about you and still think of you, as I do too.”

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “Prince William was sorry to hear Dave has been unwell, but glad to hear he is on the mend.”

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Now that he has quit alcohol, he says, “I’m going to be a lot healthier. I might even walk the marathon for Big Issue, you never know.”

As for smoking, he says that being in hospital has helped because he can’t get out for a cigarette. He says it’s important to get out of your regular surroundings, especially when these habits are often built into the environment around you.

After a decade of creating art, Dave is ready to return with works that are “bigger, brighter, bolder”. He considers his art a “marrying of things”, which he suspects began from tracing the squares and triangles on his grandmother’s old tea mats. 

In 2024 his work was displayed at the Saatchi Gallery’s Homelessness: Reframed exhibition. It was a show launched by Prince William’s Homewards programme, for which Dave had created a collage inspired by his experience of homelessness, combining imagery of church windows, doorways and rooftops, a departure from his usual art style.

He is looking for more opportunities to showcase his talent. But for now, he remains dedicated to his geometric shapes, although he says, “I might be looking to develop it more.”

The best part is seeing his art in the hands of his customers.

“When they get it and take it out of the padded envelope, you want to see the look on their face. It’s like Christmas and birthdays have all come at once. The expression on their faces, it always gets me.”

Dave’s geometric prints have travelled with customers all the way to France, Italy, Morocco, Germany and America. “Quite international,” he quips. 

With new supplies on the way to him from Big Issue – a pen, pad and rulers to get his art up and running again, he says, “You just need motivation, and I’ve had a lot of motivation through Big Issue.”

“I always tell people, someone out there will like your work. Get your work out there and carry on creating.”

Interview: Larissa Steel; photos: Juliette Pedram

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Tesco Express, London, UK