Marti Stelling

A former drug dealer from Leeds who taught himself to paint in prison has opened his first solo exhibition at Leadenhall Market.

Kevin Devonport, who grew up in Swarcliffe and Seacroft, explores themes of consumerism, materiality and identity through 12 paintings in his exhibition called Nothing Ordinary Here.

The award-winning artist, who is a resident at Assembly House art studio in Leeds, has exhibited his work across the UK and Europe.

He said: “My artwork is inspired by my own life journey. I like my art to tell a story like a visual book.”

Kevin left school with no qualifications and got his first criminal conviction for shoplifting aged 15. He joined the army aged 17 and served on active duty in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

He started taking heroin after leaving the forces aged 21 and soon started drug dealing to fund his addiction.  This led to a four-year prison sentence in 1996 followed by a two-and-a-half-year sentence in 2003. In 2008 he was jailed for a fourth time with a 13-and-a-half-year sentence for his part in a conspiracy to supply heroin.

Kevin attended forum sessions at the prison organised by Care after Combat where he found his talent for painting.

He said: “When I started painting it was simply to pass the time while I was in prison. But it opened up a lot of doors for me and I am living proof that you can turn your life around.

“Initially I really struggled to turn my back on my criminal past because it was a part of my identity. When I left that world I was coming into a place where I wasn’t accepted as much. But being an artist gave me a sense of who I was.”

While he was in prison Kevin was awarded a national Koestler Award for his art. The Koestler Awards provide feedback and encouragement to entrants of all abilities in visual art, design, writing and music. The award started in 1962 and each year more than 3,500 people take part.

Following his release Kevin has achieved a host of other awards including The Olympic Art Prize, the Leonardo Da Vinci International Award and the Caravaggio Master Artist Award.

In January next year the Art of Protest Gallery in York will also feature Kevin’s work in a month-long exhibition.

Kevin said: “I always tell people to enjoy the process of painting and getting better will come with time. I wouldn’t say I was a great artist when I started but I kept with it and now I have been professionally recognised!”

He works for a charity called Changing Lives and offers free art classes in the community as well as working very closely with Care After Combat which supports veterans in the justice system and helped him discover his artistic talent while he was incarcerated.

He said: “The amount of support I have had through the veterans community is beyond belief and I want to bring that forward to others.”

Kevin’s exhibition, Nothing Ordinary Here, will be available to view at Brokers Wine Bar in Leadenhall Market, London, until the end of November.

Published for The Yorkshire Post.