Sir Grayson Perry: Knighthood was 'quite bonkers'

The artist and broadcaster says accepting a knighthood in 2023 was 'bonkers'

Sir Grayson Perry has looked back on the highlights of his career - from winning the Turner Prize to being knighted.

The artist, who lives near Eastbourne, is best known for his subversive pottery, his alter-ego Claire and his childhood teddy Alan Measles.

In 2023, he accepted a knighthood from Prince William at Windsor Castle for services to the arts.

Speaking to Allison Fern on BBC Radio Sussex, Sir Grayson said: "Being knighted is quite bonkers."

But the ceramicist says he does not insist on using his title - except to tease people.

He said: "It's useful sometimes if there's someone you want to slightly get back at."

The 64-year-old told how he had fallen into ceramics by accident, after taking evening classes in the early 1980s.

The artist said his customers at his very first show may now have valuable artworks lurking in their attics.

He said: "I sold pretty much everything in the exhibition because it was so cheap but it was just before Christmas.

"I love the fact that people who bought my early works for maybe £50, £100, now they have something that might be worth £20,000."

'I wouldn't say that now'

Sir Grayson rose to mainstream fame when in 2003 he won the Turner Prize for his ceramic vases.

He said: "I wasn't expecting to win. I knew I had a one in four chance. That was a lovely, shocking moment."

To date, he has branched out into tapestry, books and broadcasting, winning Baftas for two of his documentaries.

Sir Grayson opened his A Temple for Everyone exhibition at Charleston in Lewes on 25 September, where his 2007 work A Shrine to Alan Measles is on display.

Much of his work has been autobiographical, documenting his difficult childhood in Chelmsford, Essex.

But the artist says he is now less likely to share his private life, when compared to his 2007 biography Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl by Wendy Jones.

He said: "I read bits of it recently and I was thinking 'Christ, I wouldn't say that now'.

"We're in different times now as well with social media and people are much more aware about giving away personal information."