Artist and illustrator, Gregory Daines works form his studio, Circa1990 Ltd in Ashford, Kent. His practice explores the relationship between the everyday visual language that surrounds us, like architecture and advertising and works with illustration, print making, sculpture and 3D/2D digital. He delights in the familiar yet overlooked, then meticulously constructing detailed explorations of wonder in the moment.
His work draws on the visual vocabulary of the late twentieth-century design, inspired by the cultural heritage we have in advertising and packaging, reinterpreting these references through a contemporary lens. He is interested in the tension between the polished and the handmade, the nostalgic and the ever so fabulous absurd.
Alongside his individual practice, he is a founding member and Chair of Form&Thought, an experimental artist collective based in Ashford, Kent, whose core focus is raising the profile of art in Ashford by creating opportunities, events, workshops and collaborative projects.
His practise is rooted in curiosity and experimentation, often moving between mediums and processes rather than adhering to a singular visual language. Whether working with carefully constructed digital design, drawing, found materials or objects, he is interested in how his work can be transformed and recontextualised and given new meaning.
Gregory studied Literature with Media Studies for his undergraduate and Smart Design for his Masters. Before art, his career was balanced between two contrasting worlds, where he tried to bring nuance and meaning as a Technical Author. Prior to this, he worked as an Artworker and in Marketing.
Hypha Curates:
A Moveable Feast
Euston Tower – London (2025)
I was delighted to have my artwork Knot Noir featured and sold in A Moveable Feast, a curated exhibition presented by Hypha Studios during London’s Frieze week. Selected by renowned curator and collector Cathy Wills, the show brought together over 40 artists in a vibrant salon-style display, launching Hypha Curates — a new platform supporting UK artists through direct sales and charitable work.
Form&Thought: Stories From The Hand
Throwley – Kent (2025)
Art exhibition exploring artwork made by hand – reflecting the values in an ever AI changed world.
Appledore Art Fair
Appledore – Kent (2025)
Art Exhibition with six artists sharing art in Appledore.
Form&Thought
Open Studios
Hypha Studios x Form&Thought – Ashford – Kent
One-day exhibition for a new art studio in Ashford.
Within The Limitations
Ashford Visual Artists – Online (2023-2024)
Curated an artist’s open call. I wanted to offer an open call that was free to enter and exhibit and utilise the hundreds of empty CD cases that remained following an installation by a colleague, Lorrain Mailer. The artist’s open call asked artists to submit entries that would fit within the limitations of a CD case, 12x12x0.5cm.
The open call increased the Ashford Visual Artists Instagram following by over 100%, introduced free workshops held by artists in Ashford and culminated in an exhibition in March 2024.
AVA Returns to Chartham
Chartham Vineyard (2023)
Exhibited a selection of artwork at Chartham Vineyard between October and December 2023. Papercuts, papercut cast, lino prints, cyanotypes, silkscreen prints. Promoted this exhibition on a KMTV interview.
Committee Member
Ashford Visual Aritsts
Became a committee member for Ashford Visual Artists (AVA) managing their social media and website. With AVA I have curated exhibitions, created open calls for artists and taken part in exhibitions as well as created the marketing (print and digital for events). In 2024 I helped AVA gain additional funding through support of Ashford Community Lottery.
Reflections on Time
Rye Creative Centre (2023)
Curated this exhibition. Exhibited four papercut silk screen prints exploring the archaeological chronology of ceramics, from the classical era to the present.
SEOS
South East Open Studios (2022)
Opened the Studio in 2022 for South East Open Studios. Welcomed the public for a two-week-long event.