It’s Only Paper - Dealer`s in Art
Forget the "never working a day in your life" clichés. That’s corporate talk. For me, it was an obsession that finally outran the rat race.
It’s Only Paper started in 2007. I walked away from a City career to care for a loved one and, in the process, found my way back to the subversion that first hooked me: the raw punk imagery of Jamie Reid and the conceptual chaos of The KLF. Following the trail blazed by James Cauty and Bill Drummond led me directly to the uncompromising spirit of the L-13 Light Industrial Workshop and the prolific, raw world of Billy Childish.
That compass eventually pointed toward the stencil pioneers—Blek le Rat, Banksy, and eventually into the tunnels under Waterloo for the work of our favorite Essex resident, The Dotmasters.
"I don’t just source art; I was there when the rules were being rewritten."
My 15 minutes of fame came in 2008 at Banksy’s Cans Festival, where my photography caught the eye of the Evening Standard for their official coverage. Today, I apply that same 'on-the-ground' perspective to Its Only Paper, curating a collection of investment-grade prints and rare posters from icons like Jamie Reid, The Dotmaster, and Blek le Rat.
From the City to the studio, I deal in the authentic energy of the street.
“Boxes of spray paint. A peek behind the curtain Banksy`s Cans Festival 2008 - Art by Pure Evil - picture courtesty Paul Donnelly
Driven by passion
"I curate for collectors who recognize the historical weight of the underground. My collection is anchored by the definitive voices of the movement—from the raw, prolific expressionism of Billy Childish to the punk legacy of Jamie Reid and the conceptual subversion of James Cauty. These are the icons, alongside the stencil mastery of Blek le Rat and Banksy, who transitioned the street into a serious contemporary dialogue.
Having navigated this scene since the 2008 tunnel era, I source works that maintain a certain uncompromising spirit. My focus remains on artists like fellow Essex resident The Dotmaster`s ensuring every piece carries a clear lineage of the DIY ethos. It may be paper, but within this context, it is a preserved history of the modern avant-garde."