"Having Pure Evil as a nickname is a bit of a joke, but it’s a licence to play with dark imagery." - Charles Uzzell-Edwards
Charles Uzzell-Edwards, known by his mischievous moniker Pure Evil, was born in 1968 in South Wales. Influenced by his father, the Welsh painter John Uzzell Edwards, and a spectrum of styles from Cubism to Minimalism, Pure Evil developed a unique artistic voice.
In the 1990s, after studying graphics and fashion in London, he moved to San Francisco, where he worked for the Anarchic Adjustment clothing label and immersed himself in the rave scene. His tag—a vampire bunny rabbit—originated from a youthful incident of shooting a rabbit, and it reflects his blend of dark humour and irreverent artistry. As he puts it, "Having Pure Evil as a nickname is a bit of a joke, but it’s a licence to play with dark imagery."
Returning to London, he became involved in Banksy’s “Santa’s Ghetto” and started creating prints for Pictures on Walls. A US re-entry ban forced him to remain in the UK for a decade, leading to a period of creative isolation in the Black Mountains of Wales, where he honed his skills in collage and stencil art.
By 2006, Pure Evil had launched his first solo exhibition, cementing his reputation in contemporary street art. His work continues to captivate with its bold, darkly playful edge.