Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Art

Street Art: For Brian Akpah, drawing is all about the clouds of chalk dust

The Big Issue's Street Art page gives talented, marginalised individuals an outlet for creative expression

Skull Duggery

By Brian Akpah

Brian was born in London in 1973, and grew up with foster parents. He submits his artworks via London homeless charity the 240 Project. “Drawing elates me,” he says, “I’m selfish, do what I want to do, draw from my head, from my imagination, using strong colours – red, yellow, blue. Once I start that’s it, no break, got to work, work, work. I enjoy the mess, the clouds of chalk dust, the pastels crumbling on the paper, it makes me happy.”

Brian-Akpah-Skullduggery1

For an interactive, augmented reality Street Art gallery, make sure to pick up this week’s special edition of The Big Issue

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Do you know how Big Issue 'really' works?

Watch this simple explanation.

Recommended for you

View all
Artist Philip Colbert: 'There’s a fascism of seriousness'
Thirty giant, surrealist lobsters interact with the Roman ruins at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii
Art

Artist Philip Colbert: 'There’s a fascism of seriousness'

Bradley Foxwell: the homeless artist showing off his work on the side of canal boats
Canal Boat Contemporary uses London's network of waterways to bring the art to the people
Art

Bradley Foxwell: the homeless artist showing off his work on the side of canal boats

10Foot: 'All the disasters of this country are entirely predictable, preventable and intentional'
10Foot sculpture Faerie Newbuild
Museum of Homelessness

10Foot: 'All the disasters of this country are entirely predictable, preventable and intentional'

‘The people made me a star’: On her 100th birthday, why Marilyn Monroe still matters
Photography

‘The people made me a star’: On her 100th birthday, why Marilyn Monroe still matters