An Interview with Cornish filmmaker, Animator and Artist, Daryl Waller AKA Swiftie.

Name: Daryl Waller.

Age: 27

Location: London stroke Cornwall

Profession: Visual Artist

What did you want to be at school?
I remember wanting to be an archaeologist because I was quite into Dinosaurs, Then I realized it wasn’t all Indiana Jones excitement in The Temple of Doom. Later people thought I was dumb so when they asked me what I wanted to be when I ‘grew up’ I told them ‘a bin-man working o­n the Dust Cart in the Malabar Estate’. I figured it was a way to get them off my back.
To be honest when I was younger I didn’t give any thoughts about my future or being an adult, when I look back to how much freer I was then; living for the moment I get kinda jealous of myself. I think the problem is that some adults can’t think of anything to say to children so they end up something stupid like “what do you want to be when you grow up?” suddenly the child has to think about it because they think its important, it isn’t.

How did you start out?
Fluked my way into art school, stumbled along the path that seemed right using gut feelings to find my way.

What professional training or education did you receive?
GNVQ Art & Design and A’ level photography at Truro College.
Illustration degree at Hereford College Art & Design.
M.A in Communication Art & Design at The Royal College of Art in London.

What or who were your main inspirations?
Music mostly, bands like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Sebadoh and loads more.
Artists, Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Tomi Unger, Spike Milligan to name a few. Comic art.
Also relationships, love, hate, pathos, anger… emotions and ideas. Life I guess.

What achievement are you most proud of?
Winning the Swimming Gala in primary school in 1987.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Not sure if its my most embarrassing, but o­ne that springs to mind is my Dad playing ‘I want your sex’ by George Michael o­n the record player over and over and over again in 1887.

What are your main ambitions for the future?
Doing an album cover for J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr is my o­nly ambition in life.

One piece of advice for young people?
Endeavour to be free

Professional credits...

Clients include:-

• Channel Four animation called ‘Dark Horse’ (due to be screened soon)
• Plan B magazine
• Amp Magazine
• Marmalade Magazine
• Frieze Magazine
• Kneehigh Theatre
• o-region film & Theatre group
• Designing and editing Second Woods Magazine for o-region.

For more information and artwork go to www.winterdrawings.com.