Grayson Perry
  • Published: 15 January 2007
  • ISBN: 9780099485162
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 208
  • RRP: $29.99

Grayson Perry

Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Girl

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The intimate, funny, unsettling autobiography by one of Britain's most talented and provocative artists, written in his own voice by a close friend.

Every inch of Grayson's childhood bedroom was covered with pictures of aeroplanes, and every surface with models. Fantasy took over his life, in a world of battles ruled by his teddy bear, Alan Measles. He grew up. And in 2003, an acclaimed ceramic artist, he accepted the Turner Prize as his alter-ego Clare, wearing his best dress, with a bow in his hair.

Now he tells his own story, his voice beautifully caught by his friend, the writer Wendy Jones. Early childhood in Chelmsford, Essex is a rural Eden that ends abruptly with the arrival of his stepfather, leading to constant swerving between his parents' houses, and between boys' and women's clothes. But as Grayson enters art college and discovers the world of London squats and New Romanticism, he starts to find himself. At last he steps out as a potter and transvestite.
  • Published: 15 January 2007
  • ISBN: 9780099485162
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 208
  • RRP: $29.99
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About the authors

Perry Grayson

Grayson Perry is one of the most popular artists in Britain today. His first art prize was a large papier-mâché head he awarded to himself as part of a performance art project at college. Since then he has won many other awards, including the Turner Prize in 2003, and has had major solo exhibitions all over the world. His book Playing to the Gallery is based on his acclaimed BBC Reith Lectures.

Wendy Jones

Wendy Jones is a writer, a special needs teacher and founder of the underground literary club 'Peach' and the author, with the artist, of Grayson Perry's biography.

Praise for Grayson Perry

The most remarkable aspect of Grayson Perry's biography is the resilience of the human spirit to which it testifies... There are lovely moments in this book and what really comes across is what a lovely man Grayson Perry is

Literary Review

Gripping and splinter-sharp account of the Turner prize-winning potter's early life and artistic growth

Sunday Times

[A] delightful autobiography... this short charming book ought to be required reading for anyone with artistic ambitions. For everyone else, it can be enjoyed simply as one of those heartwarming tales of happiness and success wrested from the jaws of potential disaster

Mail on Sunday

Charming... oddly reminiscent of Nigel Slater's recent book, Toast

Saturday Herald

One of the most gripping and intelligent accounts of an artist's growth I have ever read

John Carey, Sunday Times

Brave, moving and raunchy. Terrific stuff

Daily Mail