How does Professor Dru worried about fake certificates of authenticity of your fakes?

The problem he faced, having sold the first three or four scenes, was that customers wanted to know the history of these paintings, their past. And he began to create the story, working in archives and fabricating fake certificates of authenticity. For this purpose he found in London were already closing the gallery and insert into alleged their web sites on your computer reproductions of my paintings. So he showed the non-existent previous sales of paintings that I have for him wrote.

How much fraud you managed to sell all this time?

I would say that approximately 250 - 300.

Why did you chose to fabricate only modern painting?

From the outset it was obvious that the more modern painting, the easier it is to invent her story. You do not have to climb into the depths of centuries. Now write pictures in the style of masters XVII - XIX centuries, but while I did not do. Just because John Dru was very difficult to create history paintings over two centuries ago.

And the experienced experts, and prominent critics could not tell your forgery of original works by the artist, which you mock? How do you explain this?

I find it hard to understand, if only because I never used at work authentic materials and never even wrote to oil, and used the quick-emulsion paints - so enjoyed painting kitchens and bedrooms. I can not believe that, when John Ap showed my paintings at auction houses, experts took them for originals. For me it is too unreal situation.

Well, today's experts simply incompetent?

In some cases, they still noticed a forgery. But most of my paintings were for the originals. Some of them did not like the experts, and John Ap encouraged them to others. At that time - in the late 80's - the first half of the 90-ies - in the midst of a booming art market. Prices incredibly rebounded. Many art dealers sought to obtain and sell running gear painting. Frankly, I find it hard to explain all this. I must say that some experts were quite professional. I'm not offering them a copy. At that time, as it is now, I studied the technique of a particular artist, and wrote in his style completely new picture - whether Giacometti, Ben Nicholson, or someone else. Of course, we tried to somehow wear out now, to make it not a new species, making cracelures patina, or using an old canvas. So on the first or second glance, the picture could cheat you.

You are forged and signed by the artist?

Yes.

Does this mean that modern art in general is difficult to attribute?

Perhaps, yes, rather difficult. Many contemporary artists associated with art galleries, which publish catalogs of their works, created over a lifetime. In these directories recorded all of their work until the last thumbnail. However, there are always pictures that seem to be "fell through the crack in the floor."

Based on your experience, what do you think about collections of contemporary art in major museums: what it the percentage of fakes?

Of course, this is only an assumption ... I would say that they had from 10 to 20 per cent of painting XX century does not correspond to what it claims to be. I think that every tenth painting painting XX century - a fake.

Known that in prison you called Picasso ... Why? Has the you to paint and in prison?

In prison, he was the only artist to which they have heard. Picasso - one of the most famous artists, and so it's nickname bothering me. In prison, I did not write, but a lot of drawing. Writing was forbidden, but I had pencils. Much time was spent in portraits and pictures, use the brush is not allowed. I was not even pencil sharpeners. I had to go to sharpen the prison office. In England, a fairly strict laws about what can be kept in prison. It is possible that, if I served a long term, I would be allowed to write.

Have you forge Russian painting?

Had to, but I can not remember the names of artists. I remember that John Dru very interested in Russian artists. I remember that one of them was a Russian abstract painter.

You write you now for yourself, just for fun?

Yes, I write a lot of portraits. Love portraits. Copies not write. Many have come and asked to write copy, but I refuse. This is very boring, no pleasure to exercise. Much more interesting to create another painting of Van Gogh, which he could write, but not written. A copy can make any artist, but I try not to do.

How did your second creative period - after prison?

When I got out of prison, he decided that never again will be to paint. But a few days later phoned police, who at one time arrested me and sent to prison. Incidentally, he sent me to prison pencils. He asked not agree I bring order to his portrait with his family, and offered me good money. He insisted that I have a very good artist and that I should not abandon painting only because earlier made a mistake. I wrote a portrait with his wife and three children, and then he introduced me to a lawyer who was interested in my case and was on trial. He also ordered now. Then two more lawyers participating in my trial, ordered the painting. And so it went. I was visited by journalists from television and interviewed. After two or three months it became clear that my work is in demand. But due to this police officer I resumed classes in painting. Without him I would not have started again to write.

Recently, in a London gallery was an exhibition of your fakes ...

I like to organize exhibitions every two to three years. There comes the audience who buy or not buy my work. I think if you know that before you fake, then there is an amazing feeling. Many of them often get lost in the form of works of art, they need an expert who would direct them. However, when in front of you fake, you do not need an expert and to rely on their own judgments. That's why I like what I do. Everyone knows that I make forgery.

I must say that some of my customers do not hide the fact that they have on the wall hangs a fake, but many do not want others to know that their Monet or Picasso is actually written by me. They even ask me to anyone not to talk about. And this is also part of the pleasure that I get.

Have you now to give his forgery of original works of other artists?

More I do not. On the reverse side of the canvas paintings are my signature, but in itself canvas built a special chip, which certifies that before you fake. If you want to remove, you will have to cut the canvas. At the same time it serves as the markings of my works. In addition, all my works are registered. So, not only in the course of my life, but also the lives of my children no longer be able to sell my paintings as originals of other artists. "