This drawing was of great personal significance to the artist. He wrote that ‘There have been several self-taught men and women in my own family. They fascinated me as a boy, but it’s only now I realise their significance. They were determined to educate themselves, not as a way of bettering their lot in life, but as a vehicle of expression for their communities. I was impressed by the dedication and commitment required for working-class people to learn about the world around them and fight ignorance. ‘Union is strength, knowledge is power’ – this was the legend on their banners. It was an acknowledgement that wasn’t necessarily political, but, rather, encyclopaedic – a global knowledge ranging from science to engineering, from history to philosophy. Even today the working class has to struggle for the vital power that comes through this knowledge. I hope my drawing reflects this struggle’.

Cries & Whispers New Works for the British Council Collection 1988