When did you start doing art and where did you study, or are you self taught?

I've always been into drawing and painting, so I started before I can really remember. My parents encouraged me to draw, paint and make stuff all the time...I did study art in various places and eventually animation, which was in Southampton...but basically I'm self taught.

There seems to be a big connection in your work to power, nature, and in some of your work the sea, but it is the first image on your website of the crashing tubing wave, that power reminds me of the 'Great Wave' and 'Fuji seen from the sea' by the Japanese artist Hokusai, did any of these images inspire your work, and if not what was the inspiration for it?

I admire the work of lots of different people (Hokusai among them) but make a point of trying to be original with all my work.I just think "I need to draw a wave" and then that's what I'll do.The wave in question was for Adrenalin magazine and it depicts 'Pipeline' on Hawaii's North Shore. It ran in the mag a couple of years ago but they never paid up-don't buy Adrenalin magazine (unless it's off me for 250 quid!).

I would say that nature, in all it's forms, in particular the sea and it's inhabitants are the greatest influences on my life and work. Power is something I enjoy depicting, trying to successfully draw a single frame animation is thinking about it, what I'm really doing most of the time.

Speaking of waves, can you tell me about the Fake London Genius, where yourself and other artists designed bodyboards for Green Peace's Dead or Alive Ocean Campaign, how did you get involved in it? How do you personally feel about an organisation like Green Peace that helps the planet?

I was asked kind of randomly to get involved in this it seemed. I love the sea and this was a great way to contribute to Greenpeace( I have the bank account of an infant and couldn't donate loot to myself, let alone a mass of water! )That board ended up on some other website as a prize so I don't really know if I contributed anything of any use in the end. Greenpeace are bad ass...

What is your connection to the Viewfinder skate videos, when you go to the site it states that without help from yourself (and Chris Forder) Viewfinder 1 would not have come into existence? Are you involved in any other big projects that aren't art related?

Basically John Cattle and Tom Moore got me involved and I ended up drawing the cover. I guess I must of helped out in some other way too. Every project is always connected to art for me really.

Gareth's shoe company Pointer, you designed images and dioramas for the shoes can you tell me how you got involved and the different ranges of his shoes you have designed?

Gareth always liked my work and said he'd hook me up if he could. Then Pointer started and he hooked me up. So far I've designed a textile print for their first ladies shoe, made two shoe dioramas with Luke and Jody at Hudson - Powell( hudson-powell.com ). Also bag design, tee shirt, p.o.s.,sculptures for ads and editorial images.

How big a part does skateboarding play in your life?

I could say it doesn't really anymore but I'd be lying. I skated for 19 years ( and a few months in the seventies ) but my back's a bit fucked these days and I'm always working. I can still skate but I'm a lot less healthy now. Most of my friends have been made through skateboarding, directly or indirectly, so in that sense it plays a big part in my life.

You have been involved in all the Side Effects of Urethane shows, what is your connection to those guys, have you known them a long time?

Basically Toby Shuall, I met him sitting on some rocks in Cornwall when I lived there, a few years ago. When I moved to London I met everyone else and it went from there.

How do you know Chris and how did the collaboration with Science come into being?

I met Chris in Southampton in about 1996 when we were both studying, apparently. He's been banging on about Science for a while now so it was kind of a natural thing.

Have you ever done skateboard graphics before?

Yes.The first one I did was for Surrey Skates in Woking in about 1989/90 I think? I did a board for Flynn Trotman when he was on Reaction. And a range for a shop in Penzance, Cornwall called Unit 13, I think that's it.

What are the current projects you are working on at the moment?

All Pointer based...I've got lots of stuff on with them at the moment. More sculpting, model making and drawing. Also I've just finished a Pointer book about my work ( designed by Mat Fowler )...Plus some hand screened posters for Sturgeon White Moss...Got some other cool shit coming out soon too, keep looking out...

For more information
www.jethrohaynes.com