A new exhibition of Gavin Watson photographs opens in Brighton tonight. It features classic shots from Skins plus extra, never-seen-before stuff. The show is being held in a tattoo parlour on Upper North Street. It's Gavin's first ever show in Brighton even though it's his hometown, as told us when we caught up with him recently…How has this past year treated you?
It's been fucking amazing. It started with a phone call from Andy Capper around this time last year. He asked me to do a few shots for Vice and everything fucking exploded. I've had three exhibitions in London, a tour of Scandinavia and the book re-issued to such a fantastic reception. Such amazing press coverage is very rare for a re-release. None of it I saw coming. The release of This Is England helped too.What's new on the horizon?
I'm doing talks and exhibitions around UK. I'm also doing new book with Vice and exhibitions worldwide.How do you feel about this show in Brighton?
Some of the photos in the book are in Brighton. Some of my old skinhead friends in the book now live in Brighton. I've nearly had a few shows there but they never came off. One gallery turned their nose up at my pictures and told me that it wasn't their sort of stuff - even though their walls were covered with Terry Richardson photos alongside some dude who took black and white pictures of teens in America in the 1970s. Wankers! But I'm excited about finally getting a show down there.What song do you want played at the opening?
4-Skins - "Wonderful World"
It's been fucking amazing. It started with a phone call from Andy Capper around this time last year. He asked me to do a few shots for Vice and everything fucking exploded. I've had three exhibitions in London, a tour of Scandinavia and the book re-issued to such a fantastic reception. Such amazing press coverage is very rare for a re-release. None of it I saw coming. The release of This Is England helped too.What's new on the horizon?
I'm doing talks and exhibitions around UK. I'm also doing new book with Vice and exhibitions worldwide.How do you feel about this show in Brighton?
Some of the photos in the book are in Brighton. Some of my old skinhead friends in the book now live in Brighton. I've nearly had a few shows there but they never came off. One gallery turned their nose up at my pictures and told me that it wasn't their sort of stuff - even though their walls were covered with Terry Richardson photos alongside some dude who took black and white pictures of teens in America in the 1970s. Wankers! But I'm excited about finally getting a show down there.What song do you want played at the opening?
4-Skins - "Wonderful World"