See Twiggy artist’s new body of work

Ant, aged 23, who grew up in Deanshanger and attended Akeley Wood School, now lives and works in London.

His passion for street art expressed itself early on in the form of graffiti.

His Twiggy portrait on the Deanshanger bridge, painted when he was 19 or 20, remains a local landmark.

After going on to obtain a fine art degree from Oxford Brookes University, Ant is now building a reputation as a legitmate artist.

He combines the influence of street art with more traditional painting techniques and works predominantly in oil and spray paint.

His work often incorporates the use of portraiture, created in a bold, graphic style.

An exhibition of his new work is taking place at the offices of Tearle & Carver, at Chandos House, School Lane, Buckingham, on Saturday and Sunday.

Ant’s father, Andrew, a director of the chartered accountancy firm, said a previous pop-up exhibtion earlier this year was a runaway success, with Ant selling 20 paintings and receiving a number of commissions.

Mr Carver said: “We had a good 200 or 300 people. People said they saw the piece in the Advertiser and wanted to see the person behind the Twiggy on the bridge.”

That infamous portrait earned Ant a police caution.

Mr Carver said: “He was quite grown-up about it.

“He saw it as an occupational hazard and he spent the night in a police cell. I can’t really approve but it is still there.

“I suppose it’s the issue of street art. Some people think it’s vandalism, some people think it’s art. It’s almost become part of the art scene.

“It’s a very fine line between people doing it where they should and doing it where they shouldn’t.”

As a result of the previous exhibition, Ant has been able to spend time putting together a new body of work. He was also invited to further his career as a street artist in London by painting a shop front and a wall on Great Eastern Street.

He was then one of only 130 artists selected by a panel of art experts to exhibit at The Other Art Fair on Brick Lane in London in October, with every artist selected by art experts including Tracey Emin.

Ant’s new body of work on display at the exhibition will range from small stencils at £80 to oil paintings that sell for up to £1,000.

The exhibition is from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

See www.antcarver.com