Val Denham is a visual and recording artist from Yorkshire. She has illustrated many classic album covers by, among others, Marc Almond, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and Cyclobe. She was once described by abstract artist Patrick Heron as “One of the greatest colourists” he had ever encountered.
1.) WHICH RECORD HAS HAD THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON YOU?
The Residents -“Third Reich ‘n’ Roll” – 1974.
2.) HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SPEND A WEEK RECORDING/PLAYING/CREATING?
Hard to say, as I do tend to go through manic phases where I can’t stop. I usually clean the house in the mornings, have lunch and then paint or record. I stop from exhaustion around 5 pm when I drink to excess. So I never create in the evenings. Actually that’s not entirely true, sometimes I write poetry when I’m drunk.
3.) WHICH OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
A book of paintings and drawings with handwritten text called “Obsession”.
4.) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?
Not changing my gender when I was younger.
5.) WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?
Booze! Telly, dancing, mad discussions with my wife. The walking machine exercise thing is good for calming me down.
6.) OTHER THAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION?
My vast collection of vintage monster/horror film magazines.
7.) TELL ME THREE OF YOUR HEROES/HEROINES?
Pierre Molinier, Julie Newmar as Catwoman and Charlie Chaplin.
8.) WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
This house.
9.) IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE YOUR ART WHAT OCCUPATION DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?
I’d be a cleaner or a dominatrix that humiliates fat old men.
10.) IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU HAVE NEVER CONVEYED IN AN INTERVIEW BEFORE WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
That I have 2 security blankets. These must be with me when I go to bed, otherwise I will panic.