DAMIAN FULTON. Damian grew up in Orange County, L.A., and spent a load of time as a kid on the beach. “It was a special place – elusive in a way – my friends and I would spend whole days down there, get sunburned and salt-encrusted, hack our way back home on our bikes through the traffic and Mexican gangs and then repeat it the next day; it represented freedom.” He loved the whole scene – “there was a real vibe then; the beach was where the hot rodders, bikers and hippies all got together, and of course the surfers – they got the hottest girls.” He went to California State University Fullerton to study art, but found the traditional courses tedious and worked off his frustrations goofing around on a single-speed BMX on Newport Beach. After graduating Damian got involved creating posters for various surf events, created comic strips for Surf publications, and then “| got involved directing a bunch of commercials for a toy company that had licensed the classic Disney characters…working with some old Disney artists creating hand-drawn animation.” Whilst working nonstop for clients, and during a stint at Marvel Comics, Damian was creating his own art, a reflection of his experience of Southern California – a mix of intense urbanization and the freedom of beach and surf. He held his first solo show at Gasoline Gallery and never looked back. His list of influences is long, but includes “in no particular order: Norman Rockwell, Mad Magazine, Batman, N.C. Wyeth, L.A. gestalt, Ed Roth, California cars and Jesus Christ.”