About Spiral scratch

Spiral Scratch is the title of one of the first independent 7” records to be released in the UK, by the Buzzcocks in 1977, of course.

I made this drawing as a small homage to that independent spirit, in which the artists really did, for a very short while, seem to take over the means of production, and also as a kind of palimpsest for the thrill of watching a single’s label spin from stationery to 45rpm before you dropped your stylus into the groove, in excited anticipation of the sounds to come.

I’m not sure Spotify can ever really match the thrill of unpacking a new record and putting it on your deck, although the offer of having access to almost every piece of music ever recorded does go some considerable way towards compensating for that loss of course.

I made the clipped kandy variant first, intrigued by the idea of spinning each individual component in towards the centre, whilst simultaneously allowing for the whole to spin outwards towards the edge. In a sense therefore, the drawing is both pulling in and pushing out at the same time, a kind of visual oscillation.

For the crimson underglaze version I used a kind of shadowy understorey to add an extra layer of detail to the work, which creates a kind of deeper, more textured feel to the piece, as well as imposing a map like grid of contours across the image.

Spiral in situ

Price and dimensions

Spiral scratch / clipped kandy is a metallic Lambda photographic print, optionally mounted to Plexiglass and Dibond, and fitted with a hidden subframe, ready to install. The edition may also be fitted with a bespoke, laser cut, Opal 30 Perspex frame.

Work can be supplied unmounted and ready to frame if you’d prefer.

The work is individually signed and numbered verso, with both a unique catalogue raisonné number and the edition number for guaranteed authenticity.

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From an edition of 12
Image size ⋅ 74cm H x 74cm W
Artwork only, ready to frame ⋅ £1,280
Mounted behind Plexiglass and fitted with a hidden subframe ⋅ £1,600
Mounted behind Plexiglass and fitted with a laser cut Perspex frame ⋅ £1,800

Purchase this work ⟶

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Dimensions and framing specs can be varied on request, to suit your space.
Please do get in touch here if you’d like to discuss possibilities ⟶

Publications /

12, an overview of twelve years in the studio

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Link here to view the catalogue ⟶

Associated works