Renowned graffiti artist Pure Evil’s work has been showcased across the world but he understands how easy it can be for creatives to fall into poverty and homelessness.
Real name Charles Uzzell Edwards, he told the Big Issue that when he returned from the USA he was “pretty broke” and forced to sofa-surf.
“I’m not comparing my life to anyone else but when I came back from the USA I was pretty broke couch surfing. One weekend I just had a few pounds to survive,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to ask anyone for a handout. It was so hard, the city just sucks the money out of you.”
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Pure Evil has designed limited edition signed wrapping paper which is available from The Big Issue Shop. All profits will go directly back to the magazine and give people living on the margins a hand up.
“Can you imagine what it’s like to be out on the street in this freezing cold weather? It must be a kind of frozen hell,” Edwards added.