With blatant disregard for your retinas, Scot Fraser Gray is an artist with a penchant for visuals that kick your eyes around like a grimy old football. His large-scale mural works combine photo realism with surrealist narrative, and quite literally explode from their canvas, whatever form that takes. Original, fresh, uncompromising… Gray’s works are seemingly informed as much by classic fine art as they are graffiti traditions, his Dali-esque scenarios littered with nods to modern culture, creating a unique surrealism that captivates whatever size they appear.

We caught up with Fraser for an in-depth discussion about British creativity, politics, pole vault and fancy beers…

Where’s your hometown, and where are you based now?

I’m originally from Dundee Scotland. I grew up there, and I have spent most of my life there. I stayed to study Fine Art, as I was quite lucky that they had a great art school there. I moved to Edinburgh to do a MFA in Contemporary Art Practice, which I’m halfway through at the moment.

Do you think location affects creativity?

Yeah hugely. Personally, I need to feel comfortable to be my most creative, and location is a big part of that. I think a lot of creatives play down the significance of familiarity. Even just knowing where to pick up materials can be incredibly important to keep the creative energies flowing. It’s personal though and depends on your craft. I think ‘inspiration’ however can be a separate thing, and should be sought out wherever it takes you.

Is Britain’s creative industry too London-centric?

I think the creative industries are yeah, but creative individuals are certainly more widely spread. I think cities like Glasgow are beginning to really compete, especially when it comes to contemporary visual art, but London is still unavoidable for anyone working in the arts. There is always something exciting to be had in the ‘discovery’, and different places can offer a fresh perspective. In cities like Dundee creatives don’t have to conform to already established structures and institutions (often because there aren’t many), instead they can carve out their own path. Personally, don’t think I would be able to create things of the same scale and ambition if I was paying London rates.

How would you describe British creativity?

Carefully balanced on the edge of tradition and aggression.

What do you thinking the rest of the world’s view of British creativity is?

It’s a hard thing to describe as a British citizen as it’s hard to get the distance, but I think they would see British creatives as hard working, self enterprising and not afraid to take chances. We seem particularly good at inventing and reinventing/recycling. We are certainly punching above our weight with creative exports considering the size of our country.

The Swinging ’60s, punk, Hacienda-era Manchester… is there one period of intense British creativity that you’d like to have been a part of, and why?

I think punk must have been and incredibly exciting time to be an artist. Art and politics were mixed up with enough youthful rebellion to take on the austerity and conservatism of even the most established institutions. They really managed to create something incredibly new and exciting out of the cracks in society, that actively engaged people whether they wanted to be or not.

With the recession and the position many creatives now find themselves, I think we could find more artworks becoming politicized. To me that can only be a good thing (especially within contemporary art) as it can engage with wider audiences more directly.

Are there any quintessential British traditions that inform your work?

In Scottish cities it wouldn’t be uncommon to see massive murals depicting scenes of working life on Gabel ends of buildings. This may have not be a uniquely British practice, but the content of each painting was, with each one being made for the community and focusing on a particular place or event. Some of them still remain like relics of the past, but new ones certainly aren’t being commissioned.

I would like to see their return, the visual language may change but the sentiment remains. Maybe graffiti and street art goes some way to fill the void, but there should still be a place for publicly sanctioned murals. I still find it strange considering the history of the practice in the UK that barely any cities have an operating mural programme.

Where in Britain do you feel most inspired?

I probably have most of my ideas for my own works in my flat, boring but true. So… Leith! Anywhere really around friends and other creative individuals but the east coast of Scotland has a special place in my heart. It could be anywhere though. Standing in front of a big blank wall is usually enough to get the brain going.

Will you be watching the Olympics?

Yeah most likely. A lot of people I know are cursing the 5 rings for the impact it could have on arts funding, but that’s all done now and they’re happening. It’s a massive event and it will be on the TV so will be hard to miss. I’ll no doubt get caught up in the drama of it all, I’m sure. It would have been great to be there.

Which sport would you like to compete in at London 2012?

I’m not much of a sportsman, which probably has a lot to do with why I went to art school. I think it would have to be the pole vault, because it looks like so much fun, and there is a bloody massive mat to land on. Probably the biggest of the mats so harder to miss.

You couldn’t live without…

Other than my friends and family it would probably be my laptop. I seem to be more and more drawn into ‘machine’ living. I’m also a bit obsessional about guitar pedals. They might just win.

What makes you smile?

Bloody massive walls that I can paint. The sun when he/she/it shows up.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever been given…

Can’t remember who said it, but “You can only truly be good at the things that really excite you”.

We’re going to the pub and we’re buying, what are you drinking?

Thanks! I’ll have that 7.4% rum cask aged Innes and Gunn please. Or a Guinness if they haven’t got it.

What’s next for you?



I’ve been really trying to push the visuals of my work recently, so got a few walls and a series of canvases to complete that are more intense than usual! Fingers crossed.