Since 1977 Billy Childish has released hundreds of independent LP’s, published five novels and a constant outpouring of poetry, but his main job has always been painting.

These have been the subject of international solo exhibitions including The Becoming Unbecoming, Yi Artspace, Hangzhou (2025), A Rock Poet Between the Spiritual and Natural World, He Art Museum, Foshan (2024); Man with Jackdaw, Villa Schöningen, Potsdam (2017); Paintings sweet Paintings, Neuer Aachener Kunstverein, Aachen (2014); Frozen Estuary and Other Paintings of the Divine Ordinary, No. 1 Smithery, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham (2012); Unknowable but Certain, ICA Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (2010); and Billy Childish, White Columns, New York (2010).

Before all of that, Billy was the first artist we worked with when we opened as the aquarium in 2004. Recognising a kinship with his position as an artist on the margins of mainstream culture we first helped him sell some poetry books, then offered to put on an exhibition of his work. For that we showed paintings, released a 7” record ‘your all phonies’(sic), made numerous affordable prints and editions including a special box set containing all the exhibition artefacts and a painted hangman’s gallows on the front. That led to more exhibitions, publications, releases and collaborative projects.

These days we continue to do pretty much the same thing, facilitating his prolific output of books, prints, records and other multiples whilst supporting his work as a painter (now represented by major galleries) whose paintings are exhibited and held in collections around the world.