Who is Blim Burns?

Now a reformed character; Blim Burns continues to amaze the public by the speed and versatility with which his artistic creations are given life.

A former inmate of Barlinnie Prison, Convict number 78345 is taking the art world by the balls with his brave new eye.

“Paint what you see, see what you paint…” has become his enduring anthem as public moments are committed to canvas the length and breadth of the country.

“For years I was deprived of a windy in my cell.” says Blim. “It was this desperation for vista that drove me to paint.” At first it was a collection of half used ‘Match-pots’ that allowed Blim to capture his imaginary window and the ever-changing view. “I had a wee bit of fun bringing the seasons to my cell...” he recalls, but it was a further ‘trompe-l'œil’ commission for the Prison Governor’s office depicting Erskine Bridge at dusk on psilocybin; that caught the ever-searching gaze of Rupert le Beurre, an art critic and entrepreneur of great repute. Rupert’s tireless endeavour to find Blim a way out of his cycle of violence, drug enjoyment, and self-abuse resulted in an intense period of work and tutelage with Rose Popay’s ‘Reform’ Project.

With Reform, and an eclectic mix of passionate but hitherto broken souls, Blim found his true salvation – Acrylics!

In the summer of 2007 Rupert and Arrabella O’Shea, another ‘reformer’ delighted in introducing Blim to the Guernsey Art scene, where he immediately set their world alight with a canvas entitled ‘Brewing Storm’, now hanging in one of St.Peter Port’s trendiest eateries.

“I never realized that I could create something that people wanted to buy, wanted to keep, and wanted to admire while chewin’ the cud!” says Blim, almost bashfully. “I canna thank Rupert, Rose, and above all my fellow artists at Reform enough!”

Sadly, Blim was once again to face the four dead walls of his cell at Barlinnie, for having dined that evening in Guernsey at the house of world famous artist and admirer Eric Snell - Blim returned to his accommodation only to set alight to the hotel after an unfortunate incident with an overfilled ‘Bong.’

A year later, and now on day release Blim offered up his new piece ‘Lake’ at the Xtrax Arts Festival in Manchester, but when his back was turned the finished canvas was stolen from the easel, such is the demand for his distinctive work. Blim took it in his stride at first… “It was obviously art-theft to order!” he informed the Press, until an all night session on Skunk and Whisky took it’s inevitable toll and found the lake now overflowing with bruised Mancunians and a couple of armed police-men who should have known better than to intervene.

This year he is at it again. An unstoppable force meeting immovable objects he commits them to canvas, and his work is selling faster than it dries.

His latest offering while on continuous day release was the stunning ‘Sky One’, a simple depiction of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival on a glorious sunny Saturday afternoon, that sold immediately, leaving many hopeful bidders sadly disappointed.

Never fear Blim followers! The Artist will be once again in residence at the Stockton Festival 28^th July to 2^nd August as guest of Fine Artistes, headed up by the resolute Rupert le Beurre, a man with a penchant for the rougher end of society and the broken mores that it brings to life and art.

Come and watch the Artist at work before another oeuvre is snapped up by a canny collector.