For almost 15 years I have been a self-employed graffiti artist working under the name of Olas Art, which comes from my name Nick Halahan (Nicholas - I thought it was about time I used the Olas part!) I do commissioned artwork for people and businesses, while delivering graffiti art workshops for young people and community groups. I have painted murals all over the UK, from Edinburgh to Exeter, and internationally from Mexico to Spain. I am now based in Bristol, UK after many years working in and around West Yorkshire.
Whether I am painting for myself, or for someone else, my artwork often includes bright colours and some kind of movement flowing through. This was something I picked up when painting a lot of graffiti letters, where my aim was to bring the letters to life bending them into satisfying shapes and giving them a character of their own.
I started delivering graffiti workshops for young people when I was volunteering at a youth centre in Leeds, where I was the Regional winner for Yorkshire & Humber Vinspired National Awards 2009, and national nominee for Most Inspirational Volunteer. Since then I have taught in schools, children homes, HMP Eastwood Park in South Gloucestershire and secure units including the Atkinson Unit, Vinny Green and Adel Beck Secure Children's Home.
I have delivered graffiti art workshops in NHS mental health institutions such as the Roycroft Forensic Unit in Newcastle, Fromeside adults ward in Bristol and Lavender Walk in Kensington. A career highlight has been working with Leeds GATE (Gypsy And Traveller Exchange) on and off over the last 8 years, and delivering art workshops to Irish traveller sites across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and more recently Bristol.
I am currently doing a lot of graffti workshops across the whole of Bristol, particularly in St Pauls, Hartcliffe and Knowle West with youth groups like CYN, LPW and Young Bristol.
Akumal Arts Festival 2018, Mexico
Click here to hear the full story.