Vermin currently is about experimenting with different styles and having fun. But that may evolve in the future. I picked the name because I’ve studied and work with animals and wanted something to reflect that primary interest. It also fits the whole idea of being a shady little deviant going around dingy back alleys. The MCR part is the initials for Manchester, the city I’m born and bred. Not an ode to My Chemical Romance as some people have thought, haha.

I started late 2019. I wanted a form of self-expression and a new hobby to keep me engaged, making stickers was the first one I tried and it stuck.

I’ve been collecting stickers for years and would buy all the Stickerbomb books. I started to notice more cool designs around Manchester and thought “why don’t I try making my own”.

I was pasting down a grimey alley and met an upper class dominatrix who finished doing some weird alien themed shoot. She was saying how she’s raking in the money during lockdown from CEO’s being bored, haha. She then left and came back to warn me about some police around the corner. That was the most random encounter.

I think it’s a subculture within streetart. The community is one of the best things about doing this, I’ve met some lovely and talented people. So many have been generous to me, giving advice or sending over packs.

I consider it art, art is subjective and shouldn’t be gatekeeped by people. Art isn’t exclusive to galleries so making stickers, by my definition, can be considered art. It’s just an abstract label though I guess.

I’ve recently got my first A1 and A0 prints for pasting so definitely will be doing bigger pasteups more and I want to start doing stencils. I’ll probably make some more random merch too.

The furthest would be Australia, New Zealand and different spots in America. I want to be put up in Japan and Brazil. Once lockdown ends I’ll do some travelling and cross off more countries.

Just practice and connect with people on Instagram, create whatever you want, try not to get sucked into grind culture and obsessing about follows and likes etc. Have fun with it. Also, put a bit of effort into taking pictures of your work to share.

There’s so many accounts I enjoy, streetart and non-street art (traditional, digital, 3D, tatooists, clothing brands, music etc). Some non-streetart would be @mcbess, @fuckyoubaker, @godmachine @grindesign_tattoo, @mxdvs, @reyunsung. And to name a few streetart ones: @bentoghoul, @shallowlagoon, @dmstff, @blck.beast, @thain_ssosva, @herr.eifel, @remous1991, @skamsticker.

I’m nominating @spookymushroom because the guy has one of the sickest styles and is constantly making amazing pieces, hand drawns and now recently digitals!

Cheers to everyone who’s supported me and my pieces since I started, everyone who’s sent me a pack you da best! Shoutouts to everyone in @noxiousbastards (check em out!), all the Manchester lot and people who go round sharing all our work