Warren Draper is a self-educated artist/photographer from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He loves all things derelict, decrepit & decayed and sees them as being naturally "reclaimed".

Warren Draper is a self-educated artist/photographer from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He is co-founder of the WC Galleries initiative, which involves, as their slogan - "Art at your convenience!" - suggests, exhibiting works of art in public lavatories. He loves all things derelict, decrepit & decayed and sees them as being naturally "reclaimed". He says...

"The real beauty of decay and dilapidation is that it reminds us of our own mortality. If we are familiar and comfortable with the knowledge that our universe is transient then the stresses and strains of our modern material life become somewhat more tolerable. This is not a negative concept; not some hopeless surrender to fatalism. I think there is something very positive, even spiritualistic in recognising that this life is ephemeral and that we are no more than farts on the wind. The Buddhists understand this, as did the ancient philosophers. Inspired by the 16th Century philosopher & essayist Michel de Montaigne, who covered the rafters of his home with philosophical quotes, I have created a series of posters. Many of them incorporate my favourite kind of image, the aforementioned abandonment and decay. All of them, I hope, help to illustrate the musings of the ancient Graeco/Roman philosophers who so inspired de Montaigne. In his honour I call them 'Montaigneographs' and, as such, I believe myself to be the world's first & only Montaigneographer. Therefore, through fear of loneliness, I humbly invite people to join me in my quest and pursue the fine art of Montaigneography!"

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