Watch the rest of the Made in Stoke-on-Trent series here ► www.theguardian.com/cities/ng-interactive/2018/jan/08/made-in-stoke-on-trent-episode-1-we-have-lift-off

Vixta's drawings are incredible I have lived in the potteries all my life and the area has a lot of untapped talent just waiting to be discovered, and if we all just took on a small percentage of Robs enthusiasm the city would get the breath of life that it so desperately needs.

@AMYV3

5 жыл бұрын

Steven Quigley I really hope ..he gets some work from this ..he deserves it ..many do :) just the look on his face !!!! Beautiful x

We need more men like Rob! Lots of energy & innovative. Guys like him in great number can turn an entire community around

I think Vixta's "friends" should NOT put him down, like he says...I think Vixta's drawings are fantastic...I wish I could draw like him..

@user-cz8dd4hg1i

6 жыл бұрын

Keren Chadwick I work with Vixta. Those people are traditionalists that believe that only orthodox jobs lead a successful life, like being a doctor or lawyer. They have no imagination. It's quite sad really. That restaurant can be a very lonely place for such a talented guy who needs to showcase his talents

Hanley, and a heck of a lot of other parts of the six towns are dying. We're nothing but charity shops, bookies, chavs, and empty factories.

@subhaan7861

6 жыл бұрын

Naho Saenoki so true yh and its hard to find jobs nower day's even with agnceys.

@TevronPlays

6 жыл бұрын

Its easier to get jobs up here. Ive been living in Birmingham all my life and ive moved to stoke for a job, plus the houses are more cheaper.

@f33zlyf33zly

6 жыл бұрын

There is a lot more going on in stoke than what you think, especially in the city centre. A lot of the un leased, empty buildings are being snapped up, renovated and turned into business’s, combined with the councils efforts of repaving the streets, its improved the look and feel of the area massively and is attracting more people into the city centre. The cultural quarter has loads of restaurants and bars to choose from, some of the food available down there is incredible, especially from places like the Slamwich Club and Klay. At the minute there is a real community around the cultural quarter, all the business’s down there are working together to help make the area better for everybody. There is still some un leased buildings down there but I suspect they will get snapped up sooner rather than later as it seems to be booming down there at the minute.

@laurenb8774

5 жыл бұрын

@@TevronPlays I may be moving to stoke, I have a mixed race daughter, what is it like for racism ?

@TevronPlays

5 жыл бұрын

@@laurenb8774 i haven't had any problems in stoke so far. You 2 should be alright. Its a similar population to Birmingham

Vixta what a nice chap,, hope it works out for you...

Vixta is the boy

@NTRPRNRS

6 жыл бұрын

Owen Matthews You can find his work here instagram.com/vixtas

@theheartyartist5106

3 жыл бұрын

That doesn’t lead to his account

Good luck Kamen, your intelligence, optimism and humanity really comes across here, I hope everything goes well for you.

@clarecannon7104

6 жыл бұрын

Yes Kamen, have it!.. You can be what you wanna be.. Your a dude..

Nice one Vixta lad ... it makes me so proud to be from Stoke when i see things like this ... regardless of race people from differing backgrounds working together ..that`s how it should be shouldn`t it ?....

This is brilliant, good luck Vixta you have a lot of talent

I wish I felt that way I came back to stoke in 2014 after moving down south as a kid . It's been a struggle ever since. Especially being a skilled yatch builder in the Midlands. It broke me to the point of mental instability. No friends I can trust no life worth living. Scammers and crackhead on every corner waiting to rob you. Sad but that's how I see my home stoke.

This is an awesome series highlighting a lot of the positives of the City. Stoke on Trent is one of the friendliest cities in the country and its my city.

@hh-ck3yw

5 жыл бұрын

More like its one of the crappest city to live in

@ayashehimi1116

3 жыл бұрын

Ugliest city I've ever lived in

I've lived in Stoke for most of my 44 years, it gets a bad rap but it's home for us and I'm sure that one day it'll be a place that we can be proud of again. It just needs to get the unemployment rate down and give the people a chance of living a life above the poverty line. Go on the lads, whoo whoop.

Watching this series whilst away from home studying at college and I'm actually beginning to get homesick. Seeing places I know like the back of my hand and the inspirational people working to make changes makes me incredibly proud of the city and the generation trying to salvage it's reputation.

I traced my ancestry back to Stoke on Trent. I thought my surname was rare but I discovered that it's almost like Smith in Stoke. I'm proud my ancestors came from a place in middle England called Eardley Hall, Audley, Stoke on Trent.

Vixta really can go places - Just ignore those fools in the restaurant, they have no aspirations and trying to keep a talented artist way down at their level - You go Vixta, best of luck buddy and keep your dreams alive....

His artwork is great. Needs writer make it into a comic series

It's documentaries like this one that give me hope.

Peace be to you all! This was very inspirational and moving. We have places like this in Washington, DC in the U.S.

Vixta has such talent!

As a Stoke-on-Trent resident I can say the city is nowhere near as bad it's made out. And there is loads of talented people in the city. It just needs some investment as an area, which it has had more of in recent years. Also on a side note Sanghams do a cracking curry. Well worth checking out if you're passing through

@mrtoxic5004

6 жыл бұрын

Hanley 100% needs investment... its such a shame the rent has sky rocketed to the point no one can afford it

Really nice. Loved Vixta's work

Ey, I hope vixta gets far ❤️

Stoke on Trent is a beautiful place to live

@maybehorny

5 жыл бұрын

lol 😂 very beautiful:)))) nothing in the city other than the boring mall they have got even that is rubbish 😂😠:))) lmao

This series is great!

Brilliant drawings, true talent x

Great work Vixta and people - keep at it, who cares if you get to be a 'star' - you already are!

My man is a good artist! Sangam rocks! I have been in the one on Kingsway and the one opposite Stoke Minster!

I love Stoke!!!! Hi Rob....I miss your HOF and your shop.....see you one day in the future....say hello to your lady Z from Ewa xxx take care xxx

been 5 full years and nothing changed

Wow, this is so, so, so beautiful! I am glad that, as a continental European, I live in a city like Stoke. No, it is not always easy, yes sometimes it is very hard, but it is so worth it. So f*kking worth it! Pure poetry.

Very nice work Vixta

The comment from the gentlemen running the shop/artist workshop that "Nothing is going to change unless you make it change." is all well and good when you're fortunate enough to have an education and a place to call your own but many people don't have that, his comment neglects to acknowledge the life sapping drudgery of those at the bottom of the social ladder. Good on him for his own efforts though.

great series

When everyone is against you... you know you're on the right path! I believe in all of these young men!

Beautiful! !

Great series.

Excellent drawings.

well done Kamen, good for you man

Beautiful drawings

Great drawings!

Shared... Thank you.

Stoke and proud :)

Great art!

Gwarn Vixta those drawings are dope 🔥

Vixta keep up the good work your a good artist hope u make it as I love ART and drawing as for stoke and hanley its changed so much it used to be fun in hsnley but gone so down I remember the ABC pictures and okd fountain square shame how things changed

That guy is a great artist, it's not about making it, it's about beign constructive with your time and having an outlet. I hate going to Hanley but it's really posistive that people are doing something constructive.

I left Stoke when I was 24 ... 3 life times ago ...

Love it guys! Quality and proud to be from Stoke on Trent

my heart is exploding as i type this

Well done Rob and vector The potties was made by positive thinking Thinking you could have a free tea and toast corner for artists like you to get together dose not cost much who knows you could get jam on it bless you lads

Respect Guys :)

What a talent

Is it possible to get a link to a website or somthing with more of Vixta's work?

@theGuardian

6 жыл бұрын

I will ask John Domokos if he has one. Give me a few hours and I'll get back to you.

@NTRPRNRS

6 жыл бұрын

You can find his work here instagram.com/vixtas/ 😀

@Danny-vg1jz

6 жыл бұрын

Vixta has serious talent, wasted in that restaurant!

You gotta love stoke!... can someone tell me where that "prevail" is & what's the clothes shop at the beginning?.. cheers me dears & much love to the city!..

6 жыл бұрын

Danny Walker Hey bud, it's Piccadilly in Hanley :)

@youraveragepatrioticgodlov7624

6 жыл бұрын

entrepreneurs however it’s closed down mow

Stoke has to prosper it's really important from UK I live near Manchester and it's sad to see the city in this sad state I wished I had enough investment I would open a dessert place in the center

@palestineadesanya8258

2 жыл бұрын

Smelly packy no one wants your dessert

wow looks really wicked. Anime artist.👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

While this shows that Stoke is still alive with the artistic talent that the city was built oñ through the pottery industry, the challenges it faces are far too ingrained to be solved by an artificial cultural quarter with trendy coffee shops and restaurants. Stoke on Trent is and always has been a low wage city, the men and women who created some of the worlds greatest art in the form of pottery lived in poverty and died early. At the beginning of the twentieth century the average live span in the city was forty eight years. Today the city has a life expectancy far below the national average. The reason young artists are able to find great buildings in which to have their studios is because of the fall of manufacturing industries in the area. Stoke like many northern towns is a land of dead and dying high streets of charity shops pound shops and food banks. The city was given the label The sick city because of the poor health of its population, but it could be called the city that is very slowly dying. The people of Stoke are well known for their good humoured friendliness and their stoicism they are forward looking but the future they see is bleak.

@12tribes61

6 жыл бұрын

Have you lived in Stoke before? What you said sounds about right

@knightowl3577

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, I know Stoke very well my maternal Grandparents were both born in Burslem. I lived with them for a while as a kid.

@01270211136

5 жыл бұрын

Wholly agreed... Unfortunately it will ALWAYS be a slum city.

We've lost all our top night clubs we had the best in the country

Love stoke

I love hes art

51-53 is such a shop good, bummed out they no longer sell street wear however they're moving in the right direction.

Great talent Use it

I yoused to live in stoke and im 8 and it was really fun and the best bit was hanley park it was made bye the same person who made the new yourk park

Does the artist do commissions? His art style is gorgeous! Is there any way to contact him?

@theGuardian

6 жыл бұрын

You could try his Instagram feed (thanks to Entrepreneurs Network): instagram.com/vixtas/ If that doesn't work, let me know and I'll try to get a contact for you.

@clarecannon7104

6 жыл бұрын

It would be great for someone to help him set up an online etsy or ebay shop, I'm sure he could actually survive as an artist that way.. He is so quick, he can be firing original out every day.. I personally dont know how to do that but anyone out there wanna help him.. Your told you can't do it in Stoke, your told not to to dream but if we can make Vixta's dream come true, he can be an inspiration.

U could say same about anywhere in UK..

This is inspiring.

fair play lad we are STOKE.!

WOW! THIS VIDEO IS BRILLIANT! YOU ARE THE MAN VIX. TALENT, CREATIVE. SPEAK TO AN AUTHORS AGENT/ VIDEO GAME MAKER, YOUR WORLD, IS, YOUR OYSTER. You look lovely too. You are great, I believe. And to the white chap with the hat, what a man. you both are top humans. here's to Stoke on Trent

Vixta's work is very similar to (inspired by?) Goseki Kojima

The people deserve better! The people can save themselves as the Gov have no idea?

So how is Stoke now ? No city of culture won, what happened next (besides Brexit). The 6 towns is just a place and buildings just there to be used or grow by motivated people. The Guardian should do an update ?

Where is this? Please include the location in your video description thanks...Is it England? Northern Ireland ?

@shaidhussain5770

6 жыл бұрын

belllarosa Stoke on Trent England

@belllarosa

6 жыл бұрын

Shaid Hussain thank you kind Sir🌟

@jedbarlow8517

6 жыл бұрын

England, stoke on Trent, Hanley

@firstladygenevieve3688

6 жыл бұрын

Its in the Midlands, England (not far from Birmingham)

Go on stoke, in the middle of mighty england.

I’m black and I used to live in stoke and it was very racist

@yolandasupreme7242

4 жыл бұрын

Same its very shocking.

Vixtas art work is amazing. I'm looking for a artist who could drum up some idea's a ep cover for my band (We are also based in stoke)

There is positives to Stoke on Trent as well as negatives one of the positives is that Stoke is one if not the most creativity places to live in the UK we have such talent I am an author myself and want to build up my career it always gets me down when people say that Stoke is a sh** hole and that you just come to Stoke to die nothing more there is more to Stoke than this as it is overlooked yes the unemployment is high but there are things that can be done about this having a negative attitude will get you no where

Yeah doodling is was ultimately changes and area not mining, manufacturing or agricultural jobs.

@oipoip3935

6 жыл бұрын

Those jobs have mainly died out, or been outsourced to other countries

I was eating a curry in Sangams when Vixta was working a few years ago. He had a fight with a customer and started rolling all over the tables fighting. After they were pulled apart by the group I was with and the fight seemed finished, he snook up behind the customer outside the front door and sucker punched him, knocking him out. It's cool that he's an artist, its almost hilarious that in Stoke, even the artist types are anti social and dangerous 😂

Positive good in Stoke on trent

Never work out..bk to den

His son used to be in my class. He has an artistic talent too. So he could take his talent from his father.

Kamen start a boxing sports club....Stoke on trent has big potential with it especially how many kids you can show the way to ....if there no good at boxing....get them do another sport 9n an other night....

Super drawing vixta has a talent But I think if the people in Stoke had access to soap and razors the town would look a lot better

London calling not oat cakes

OH HANLEY I LIVE IN STOKE ON TRENT

6 жыл бұрын

Eloise Ozanne You know, I still love Stoke after 40 years of being born here, couldn't be without the place!

don't die..don't give up..firm a co OP. make STUFF people want!!! start the market..art..crafts....

Vixta's works are good. That's a material for proper comics. He should start some t-shirt business, perhaps some profit made out of his art could convince him and encourage to do something bigger? He's an artist. Shame to see disbelievers trying to undermine a true passion.

Stoke is the 8th best city to live in in Europe long live stoke

He is Extremely talented, his work is amazing follow on Instagram (vixtas) 👍🏼🙂

437 London Road...

It's not helped that our football team has lost its top flight status and we don't look like regaining it any time soon😳😳

5:47 naysayer always trying put people down

His art is amazing why don’t he Pursue anime creators .

what language was that?

@flumpaustin1994

5 жыл бұрын

English!

Now a dump's dump.

Iys got oatcakes and people that have always looked after me when I moved there. That's a start?

Silk purse, sow's ear. The end.

He’s so supporting Stoke-on-Trent he got an American artist to do the Graphiti 😂

I was in jail with kamen back when I 19.he used to be an horrible bully back in brinsford