Page 39 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

MW: You've had exhibitions in Sheffield, London, New York, Vancouver, Paris, Odessa,
and Moscow. How did they go down outside of Sheffield? What sort of response did
you get?

MFB: Most of those were of my paintings in small independent galleries, gained through
hustling. They were all well received, though I’m no Hockney or Picasso, I sold stuff. I suppose
I used my thing to blag some travel time if anything. I long ago lost the illusion that I was a
painter. It was something else I did, but not the full meal. I had an illustration agent for a while
who got me some London shows. New York came about by me being there. Vancouver,
through an artist I stayed with in New York. Paris ‘cos I spent time there with my first wife (who
was French). Moscow, Donetsk, Kiev, and Odessa, because I was invited by the Soviet
Union’s Union of Poster Artists. Sheffield has been twinned to various towns and cities and
the council used to have a department (one guy in a forgotten office) dealing with them. I just
badgered the poor guy to send me anywhere as a ‘cultural emissary’ -- ha ha! Surprisingly, it
worked, and I got the invite. Interesting times as ‘the wall’ was coming down and the place
was in a strange euphoric state of anarchy. Those three weeks are a chapter in themselves.

MW: You've had a long and varied career so far. Is there anything still on your bucket

list? Any ambitions you'd still like to achieve?

MFB: Getting through this virus would be a good start. I’d like to get our Honey Bee Blues

Club* to a position where it had a life of its own -- where we could expand on our American
and European connections and we could continue our grass roots support of musicians. Live
music is important for the well-being of us all.

MW: Yes, very true, mate. Amen to that!

*The Honey Bee Blues Club held its first gig on 17 January 2014, and over the subsequent six years, the
club grew from a single event to promoting up to 16 gigs a month. Working closely with resident Texan, Ash

Gray, the club soon started developing connections with Austin, TX, and began promoting several acts from
the US. By 2018, the club started to work with venues outside of Sheffield and began to organise small
circuits for several visiting acts from both Europe and the USA.

'It gave me the chance to meet and

chat with guys I consider to be my

major influences, nay gurus.'

~ Martin F. Bedford