XZoomin' - Richard Phoenix and Robin Smith, 2021



We have been meeting nearly every Friday from 11:00am until 12:30pm, starting on 10th Nov 2020. Connected over video calls, we catch-up, paint and draw alongside one another whilst listening to music and then show each other what we had made that day.

Working in a time of so many unknowns, it offered a gesture of support, solidarity and consistency. Giving each other the time and space to create, share and dance. This is an attempt to condense a year’s worth of us working alongside one another.

We now want to offer this same gesture to you - we invite you to watch these videos, play with the images, work alongside us and listen to music. We’ve also created a collaborative playlist that you can add to here.

We will still be meeting every Friday from 11am-12:30pm if you wanted to set aside this time.
Let us know if you do - @_skelf_ @richardjphoenix @actionspace


Over the year Richard has worked from his kitchen in Brixton, studio in Croydon at Conditions, then after moving to Hastings his garage and eventually studio at the Yard. Robin worked from his living room in Tooting, studio with ActionSpace in Brixton and finally the newly refurbished ActionSpace studio in Clapham at Studio Voltaire.

Richard and Robin met when Richard was volunteering for ActionSpace at Robin’s supported studio in 2018. The artists conversation around their painting practices started in the ActionSpace studio. Working online gave the opportunity to paint alongside one another and be influenced by each other’s practice. It flattened any power dynamics as each was supporting the other.

We’d both like to thank Charlotte Hollinshead for bringing us together and supporting us.


Click to begin