Smash Hits

"The Turner Prize winner leads a visual tour through his life in six artworks - from college days to knighthood." — Telegraph
Grayson Perry is one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists and cultural figures. This book, which includes first sight of new and previously unpublished works, is published to accompany the largest-ever retrospective of Perry’s art. It offers a vibrant insight into his life and work, from his youth in rural Essex to sell-out stage shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

Grayson Perry vividly reflects on his art, life and career, remembering the sources of inspiration and influences along the way. Victoria Coren Mitchell’s thought-provoking contribution considers the role of humour in Perry’s art, highlighting the often-underestimated effort involved in being at once a serious artist and a lovable character. Patrick Elliott provides an illuminating biographical essay of the artist. The reader is also given a fascinating glimpse into the technique and process behind Perry’s prints, pots and tapestries.

Showcasing 75 exhibited works, the book covers the full range and breadth of his astonishing career.

Grayson Perry lives and works in London, UK. He has presented important solo exhibitions at the British Museum, London, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, La Monnaie de Paris and The National Museum, Oslo, among others. As well as contributing to numerous exhibition catalogues, he is the author of The Descent of Man, Playing to the Gallery and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl (with Wendy Jones).

Victoria Coren Mitchell is a writer, broadcaster, newspaper columnist and international poker player. She has published three books, including the memoir For Richer, For Poorer: Confessions of a Player, and is the host of Only Connect on BBC Two.

Patrick Elliott is Chief Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland. He is the author of True to Life: British Realist Painting in the 1920s & 1930s, Joan Eardley: Land & Sea – A Life in Catterline and Cut and Paste: 400 Years of Collage.

Tor Scott is a Collection & Research Assistant at the National Galleries of Scotland. She is undertaking an AHRC-funded doctorate at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the Surrealist artist Edith Rimmington. She has published and lectured on British Surrealism.