27 years in the paint game!
Brian 'Beej' Curtis has been a professional illustrator for 27 years producing many works of airbrush art for murals, displays, theater design and more recently automotives. 'It's been my dream since 1976 - having seen all those airbrushed vans - to custom paint bikes and cars', says Beej, 'And now, it's my job!'
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 | Awards
Through his unfaultering determination, love of the creative craft (an a little bit of blessed luck) Beej has managed to win himself 3 trophies and many 'Best Paint' awards for the custom jobs he has produced.
Pictured left is the trophy and 3 top of the range airbrushes for 'International Best Paint' where Beej took first place over three other US painters at www.airbrush.com. |
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 Beej was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and is still a 'Northerner' at heart! At 7 he drew his first picture to be hung on a wall and remembers that the teacher pointed it out as being 'very creative!' From an early age Beej has drawn, sketched and painted and believes truly that it is a God-given gift which must be respected and enhanced with constant practice, determination to improve and the willingnes to be bad before you can be good.
At the age of 13 he had an exhibition in his home town's Waterdale Library and by 14 had received commissions from Sir Ian Botham and local folks interested in his growing ability. Beej comments, 'My dad was a driving instructer and he used to take this 'bag' of drawings out with him to show his pupils. Before long, I was getting requests for portraits and I even painted a mural in my bedroom at the age of 14. (Wish I had some pics of that!)'
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Ray Mumford - The UK King of Custom
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| My first big inspiration for airbrush art in the early 70's was a guy from the UK named Ray Mumford. His artwork in magazines like Custom Car knocked me sideways and I knew then, this was what I wanted to do! Check out: Ray Mumford's Website |
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Murals & Sonic!
From the early 80's through to the 90's I worked a fair bit in nightclubs. I painted large-scale backdrops and built stage sets for interior themed projects but also, in 1982, I got my first taste at 'mixing & scratching' listening to Grandmaster Flash and watching the original B-Boy vids and US breakers like the Rock Steady Krew. Remember Buffalo Gals by Malcolm McClaren? 
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 | Do Ya Like Skratchin?
I still have a pair of mint Technics 1210 MK3D decks and a Technics mixer and do a bit of cuttin' now and again to relax. Music is very important to me and I have such a varied taste! If I don't listen to the soundtrack of Fellowship of the Ring at least once a day I go mental! Try cuttin that up over some KRS1 Beats then! |
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Pro Custom Shows
For the second year running my bro and I supported the Pro Custom Bike Show in Doncaster at the St. Ledger Exhibition Centre. We ran a competition giving away free airbrush tuition in our newly converted workshop and pictured is Mellissa G, one of the lucky winners.
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Demmo Painting at the Pro Custom Show 05
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VolksRods UK Club
My bro came down to Salisbury in September to get his Beetle chopped into a 'VolksRod' Rat Bug! Well, here's an opportunity to get our very own Custom Car & Pinstriping Club going we thought! Check out VolksRods.co.uk and tell us what you think of the site.
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So, there's a bit more about me! I'm now 43 years young, I have five fantastic kids from the ages of 18 weeks up to 20 yrs and I have a wonderful soul mate for a wife . . all this AND the chance to paint, pinstripe & airbrush every day - life is sweet. Just make sure you work hard enough to have it the way you would like it, that's what I believe.
My mother was very encouraging and remains to this day as my most prevalant inspiration. She too was a great artist although never had the chances in life to follow it as a career or even a hobby that she could concentrate on.
I miss her greatly but I know she guides me.
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| Click HERE to see Beej's custom latest paint jobs |
