Home   Tenterden   News   Article

Tenterden artist Mr Doodle will live inside latest artwork

World-renowned Kent artist Mr Doodle – aka Sam Cox – says he wants to doodle "the entire planet" after revealing his biggest artistic statement to date.

Unveiled today, the Doodle House in Tenterden is the culmination of years of planning – born from a statement seven years ago, when Sam announced he would buy a home and transform it into a living breathing canvas.

Two years from first putting marker pen to wall, the 28-year-old artist – a former Homewood School pupil – has now covered every square inch of the 12-room traditional Kentish mansion in his trademark monochrome doodles, working his way through 2,296 pen nibs in the process.

In a final twist to the project, merging art and everyday life, Sam and his wife Alena – aka Mrs Doodle – plus their doodle dog, will make the Doodle House their permanent home.

This is just the latest success for Sam, whose meteoric rise has seen him amass 2.6 million followers on Instagram, open solo museum shows in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and set a new auction record, selling an original Doodle canvas for just short of $1 million.

And Sam says he has no plans to scale down his ambitions.

The cult artists added: "The completion of the house is just the beginning of my childhood dream to doodle the entire planet and to encourage the art world to recognise doodles as an art form. I am so excited that my doodles now have a permanent home in the UK."

Tenterden artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, designed doodle artworks for Sk8side skate park in Ashford in 2015. Images: Ashford Borough Council
Tenterden artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, designed doodle artworks for Sk8side skate park in Ashford in 2015. Images: Ashford Borough Council
Mr Doodle (59708872)
Mr Doodle (59708872)

Sam's career had its origins when he started covering his parents' furniture with doodles as a child, before moving on to the walls of fast-food restaurants and schools.

He went on to develop the visual phenomenon of his "Doodle World", in which he produces his vision of the world, filled with dense clusters of characters, objects and patterns that grow and multiply relentlessly.

Sam began to gain recognition in the art world in 2015 and has since seen a meteoric rise in interest in his work.

One of a new wave of millennial artists, his works have also provoked discussion on what is considered to be fine art today.

He ultimately seeks to "spread a sense of wonder, madness, and hope while seeking a greater understanding of his place in the universe".

Sam with his Valentines day doodle at the Bauhaus Cafe in Ashford in 2017. Picture: Gary Browne
Sam with his Valentines day doodle at the Bauhaus Cafe in Ashford in 2017. Picture: Gary Browne
Mr Doodle created a unique artwork at the new F51 skate park in Folkestone earlier this year. Picture: Hollaway Studio
Mr Doodle created a unique artwork at the new F51 skate park in Folkestone earlier this year. Picture: Hollaway Studio
Sam Cox from Tenterden creating artwork at the F51 skate park in Folkestone. Picture: Hollaway Studio
Sam Cox from Tenterden creating artwork at the F51 skate park in Folkestone. Picture: Hollaway Studio

The entire Doodle House project was completed in two years, using 900 litres of white emulsion paint, 401 cans of black spray paint, 286 bottles of black drawing paint, and 2,296 pen nibs.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More