Artist of the Month: Martin Squires

You've probably walked into our shop and had a browse. We don't just sell clothing at our store, if you look around the cafe at Spoke & Stringer, there's a lot of artwork that hangs up on the walls. Oe of those artists is Martin Squires. We had a chance to catch up with his to talk about his artwork.

Martin Squires

1. How did it all start, your drawings and did you study it?

I've been drawing since I can remember it's something I've done all my life. If I don't draw or paint I don't feel right, it's a major part of my life. As a kid I was into cars and bikes, especially hot rods and motorcross bikes. As a teenager my interests changed until I met my wife. At weekends I would go to her fathers house, he's a motorcycle and three wheeler nut, so books mags and engines on the kitchen table were the order of the day. We would go to car and bike meets and my interest in vintage machinery was rekindled. I studied fine art to degree level where I specalised in painting abstract work influenced by satellite photography. After university I didn't want to get involved with the fine art world and so I got a job in computer games producing artwork. Towards the end of my 9 year stint in the industry I was doing less artwork at work and so I started producing ink painting based on old photographs in my spare time and started showing them at vintage events. Whilst at an event in France with some of my Father in laws Morgan 3 wheelers a now good friend of mine Jean-Marie Guivarc'h sat in front of one of them and sketched it there and then. This was a light bulb moment for me and I started sketching at events more and running displays less. I find sketching at events a more social and educational experience as I get to talk to people and find out about their lives with their machines.

2. Why did you choose to draw motorcycles?

Motorcycles have a raw exposed nature about them especially the early machines. There is something about the intricacies that has got me hooked from a drawing aspect. The motion of bicycles and motorcycles is a really unique thing that has fascinated me since riding push bikes constantly as a kid. Motorcycles attract people from all walks of life and so it's a constantly interesting subject as you never know what you will learn from both machine and owner.

3. What's your favourite thing you've drawn?

It's hard to name just one machine, as I genuinely enjoy the process of sketching something new and finding more out about it as a result. I'm especally interested in early racing history and racing specials as they are authentic built for purpose machines. These feature a lot in a monthly article I write for The Classic Motorcycle.