Al Warner is a visual artist from London now living and working on the sunny UK South Coast,

Al describes himself as an ever so slightly eclectic fine & graphic artist, muralist, art tutor and art demonstrator with a dollop of signature wibbly wobbly landscapes and whimsical animals.

Al’s art career has not been without its challenges. Below is a recent interview that he had with Southampton Hospitals Charity ahead of the Light the South Art Trail

Southampton Hospitals Charity Q&A interview with Al Warner aka Al’s Creative Juice.

Tell us a bit about yourself and why you became an artist?

Becoming an artist wasn’t a choice I consciously made; it’s something I’ve always been.

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve felt drawn to artistic expression, however, it took me some time to fully embrace this calling. Initially, I struggled with self-doubt, which led me to pursue other career paths like building and lorry driving. But deep down, I knew that art was where my heart truly lay.

Eventually, the pull to live life as an artist became too strong to ignore, and I made the decision to fully commit to my passion. Now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!

Why did I have to retrain as an artist?

My journey as an artist hasn’t been without its challenges. I had been a professional artist for around 12 years before a virus affected my nervous system, which impacted both my motor and cognitive abilities. I couldn’t hold a pencil for longer than a few minutes or remember how to mix colours.

Afterwards, I started retraining my brain, but was then diagnosed with T4/T2 neck cancer. A gruelling treatment regimen began, which included surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The intense treatment took a toll on both my physical and mental wellbeing.

The cancer had begun to spread so I was on the maximum dosage of both chemo and radiotherapy, all while dealing with a six week daily 40 mile round trip to hospital, twice nearly losing the battle with the cancer in the end due to neutropenic sepsis.

However, these adversities only fuelled my determination to continue pursuing my passion for art. Despite the hardships, I saw this as an opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to my craft and embrace a new chapter in my artistic journey.

I relaunched my artistic career on 2nd February 2022 or 02/02/2022 as my second chance! Trading under the name Al’s Creative Juice with my passion for art returned and my creative juices flowing freely again.

What advice do I have for new artists?

To aspiring artists, I would say this: trust in your creative instincts and embrace your unique artistic voice. Art isn’t just about technical skill; it’s about cultivating confidence in your abilities and staying true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as they often lead to the most significant breakthroughs.

And above all else, remember that art is subjective, and there’s no such thing as perfection. Stay true to your vision, and keep pushing the boundaries, no matter which art form you choose to work with.

A self taught artist Al’s work has sold locally, nationally and internationally and has been featured in publications such as the Artist and Illustrators magazine. Since returning to the art world in 2022 Al has exhibited work in numerous solo and group exhibitions selling out at his first Titchfield Show. He was longlisted for the Chaiya Art Awards, painted on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year , created work for the Southampton Hospitals Charity and painted at the LookUp Portsmouth Street Art Festival two years running. Al is also a media volunteer for Cancer Research UK.