Humans of 2010 - Guy James Whitworth

By drawing inspiration from the community Guy James Whitworth has become something of a local identity in the 2010 area and a respected artist in the wider queer community and art community in general.

Guy James Whitworth prefers to describe himself as a creative because, while he is predominantly known as a painter, he has dabbled in sculpture, performance and other disciplines, and has published two books with a third (a collection of original poetry called Never Held A Gun) due to be released. 

“For me, my art practice is a creative thing that I use to process trauma and to deal with the challenges that life throws up,” says Whitworth. 

Whitworth was born in the UK and moved to Sydney in 1997 when he was in his twenties. The move was motivated by love, but his visa lasted longer than the relationship did. However, he soon began a new love affair — with Sydney. 

“I grew up in Northumberland in a very rural, underpopulated part of the world and the moment that I could, I got out and I ran down to London…and then, when I felt I was all partied out in London I moved to Sydney,” says Whitworth. 

“I’ve always lived within the 2010 postcode…I’ve always lived within 10 minutes walk from Taylor Square. I love living near Taylor Square, I think it’s the epicentre of the world. It’s so exciting and so inspiring and the energy that I encounter most days when I’m in there is just so infectious and so uplifting, and I love it.”

Whitworth describes Taylor Square as the nexus of three distinct localities: Paddington, Surry Hills, and Darlinghurst, each of which have a range of offerings that appeal to him. 

“As a vegan, there are lots of plant-based cafes in the area. I’ve got Miss Sina, Shift Eatery, and most coffee shops in this area have a really good plant-based menu or plant-based options… If I want to write, Berkelouw (in Paddington) has the best coffee shop in the world because it’s a coffee shop and bookshop and hardly anyone talks. It’s very shooshy in there and I like it,” says Whitworth. 

There are a lot of independent galleries within the postcode. Whitworth has held several exhibitions of his own work in M2 Gallery on Elizabeth Street. 

“If I feel I want to curb my ego, then I go to the arts precinct in Paddington and look at all the proper grown up artists,” he laughs. “There’s certainly never any lack of galleries or places to go to seek inspiration. One of my favourite things is plonking down in a coffee shop in Surry Hills or Darlinghurst with my little A5 sketch book and a pencil and just drawing people. And I know that consent is important when it comes to any kind of creative project, however, the people in my sketches really wouldn’t recognise themselves because I’m not that good, if truth be told.”

Whitworth’s humility belies the fact that his paintings are highly sought after and he has received commissions from a number of notable clients, and he has painted portraits of well-known Australian identities. 

Since Whitworth first moved to the district many things have changed, especially with regard to the physicality of the area. Buildings have been demolished and replaced, neighbourhoods have gentrified, de-gentrified, and re-gentrified in a continuous cycle. 

“But the big constant for me and the reason I will always live here is community. The community has always been there, the community has stayed, and the local community and the community that I call home, I think, will always be there,” says Whitworth. 

The high density population of the 2010 postcode comprises a broad spectrum of demographics, with a particularly vibrant creative and queer segment, both to which Whitworth belongs. What he loves is the way culturally diverse people interact within the community in mostly pleasant and positive ways. 

Whitworth runs a life-drawing group in the basement of Kinselas every second Wednesday night. It’s a relaxed, fun, and most importantly, safe space, open to everyone regardless of their artistic ability or how they identify. 

You might also catch him in a local coffee shop, sketching interesting, colourful local characters. In fact, he hopes to one day have an exhibition based on the people of 2010.

www.guyjameswhitworth.com