DALE GRIMSHAW – The lowest of the low

Regarded by his graffiti and street art peers as the lowest of the low – an art school boy with no place on ‘The Street’ – Dale Grimshaw is anything but, as he disproves his naysayers and negative commentators by producing some of the most unique and inspired urban decorations since Banksy first appeared on the art world’s radar.

Originating from the infamous East London scene, Grimshaw’s impressive woodcut prints and paste-ups have gained the attention of graffiti and art commentators worldwide. Formally trained as a fine art painter, Grimshaw was heavily influenced during his tuition by the New York art scene, and as a result developed his now signature graphic style.

His unique technique perfectly transitioned from canvasses to woodcut printed paste-ups, which saw him evolve in reverse to most street artists: from private galleries to public walls. Often focussing on personal or social commentary, each piece has its own clear energy and intent, distributed by his aggressive approach and fractured style that imbues each painting with its own sense of emotion and feeling.


Within his vast portfolio of canvasses and street installations, the level of artistic talent is clear, with a stylistic approach that allows his two usually conflicting worlds to happily co-exist effectively within his creations. The level of detail implemented in his work, usually absent from street art and paste-ups, puts Dale Grimshaw in a league of his own, setting a trend for future, more academic artists and illustrators to bridge the gap between fine and guerilla art.

This potential shift in attitude from the artistic community would create a more diverse pool of street art talent, bringing with it inspiration stemming from a wider variety of areas, with formal procedure and traditional practices – the institution of the art gallery could become obsolete, as artists take it upon themselves to exhibit their work in the public domain.