NEWBRIDGE artist Pat Killian talks to CIARAN KELLY about growing up in Cwmcarn, boxing for Wales and meeting some of the most iconic boxers of all-time, including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard.

“I was born in Cwmcarn and I had a good childhood. I feel very lucky as I had very loving parents, John and Linda, who brought me up at Newport Road in Cwmcarn.

I also had a good group of friends. If I got in with the wrong people, I could’ve gone down the wrong road.

I had a natural talent from a very young age. I always had a pencil in my hand and always wanted to draw.

I was OK in school at Cwmcarn Juniors and Cwmcarn Comprehensive. I was a non-academic guy and my talent was creativity. I was never going to be a scientist – being an artist sounded much better.

I don’t think school pushes that enough; they push the general topics down you. There should be more creativity. Everyone is born with something.

I went through school and got an A in GCSE art and I progressed through with encouragement from my parents.

I sold my first painting at 15 for £50, which was a landscape. It made me realise that you can do something, that you can become a pro artist.

I went to Crosskeys College and did a general art and design course for two years. College is important to find that natural spark to find the styles and stuff.

I liked drawing detail and drawing wildlife. I got the first course I applied to. It was an illustration course in Carmarthen.

I then started boxing quite late at Cwmcarn Boxing Club. I was there in Carmarthen for two years but I was also boxing for Wales. Kevin Evans, who went to the Commonwealth Games, was there and other guys like that and I got on so well with the guys there.

It was quite funny because one of my best mates was also an artist. There was such a difference between art and boxing.

There was about five of us in this flat. Me and my mate used to sit in that flat, painting away to calm songs and then on the weekend I was boxing for Wales.

I always look at it as a sport. A lot of boxers come from difficult backgrounds. You’ve got to be the biggest, strongest and smartest to beat the guy opposite.

The will to beat that person: it honestly was helping me in my goal, in my drive and will to do what I wanted to do.

You can get a lot of knock backs and people will tell you, ‘You cannot do this’. You just keep going and that door will open.

I boxed for my country when I was 18 or 19. I was in college at the time and I was still pursuing boxing and art.

I was very keen to turn professional [with boxing] purely for business reasons, but my hands were really killing me from hitting the bags. I just felt it was the wrong move for me in order to keep progressing as an artist.

In 1997, I left college and I had a deal with a publisher that published my work straight away and then I painted a good commission with a car sales company who were sponsors of ITV boxing.

That year, I was commissioned by Newbridge Rugby Club after Joe’s [Calzaghe] title win against Chris Eubank.

At the same time, I loved working with difficult children and youngsters would always confide in me in the gym. I went back to college in 1997 to do a youth and community diploma,

I got a good job with the probation service and the Duke of Edinburgh awards. The idea was to get young offenders some qualifications.

A job then came up in Merthyr as a personal development youth coach. I landed that job and I was there for 10 years at Pen-y-dre High School in Merthyr

I remember seeing Enzo [Calzaghe] in the car and going over to congratulate him on everything. He said, ‘Why on earth are you wearing that shirt and tie for?’ I said, ‘I don’t paint all the time. I work in a school of kids.’

The job was a way to earn a living, pay the mortgage and pay my bills. I continued to set about becoming a pro artist and continued to exhibit every weekend at the amateur boxing clubs.

In 2005, I was putting adverts in boxing monthly magazines and I had an email from a guy in America called James Houlihan.

They were setting up an exhibition called the fighting Irishmen. It was everything to do with Irish and American ancestry. He asked me if I could help do something.

I painted a 5ft x 3.5ft oil painting for this exhibition. It was a big turning point for me. It was my first big commission, especially with it being from America as well.

In 2008, I decided to have a conversion done or a big studio in my home because I live in a bungalow. I was doing this then long and behold, I was told I was going to be made redundant.

I thought, ‘Well, let’s give this [art] a shot’. My father said, ‘You’ve always got work, you’ve always got commissions, give it a go’.

I’ve met a few people since. I really liked Sugar Ray Leonard because I found him to be helpful as well. I did a painting of Leonard v [Marvin] Hagler on the anniversary of the fight and the highest bidder had the chance to be painted as the referee. He loved that.

I’ve met Mike Tyson three or four times. I liked watching him in ’86 as a young lad. I always watched him and thought he was a great fighter.

Meeting him as well was a great experience. I found him smaller than I anticipated him to be. On one occasion, he was absolutely fantastic and came over on his own accord and talked about my work and signed around four pieces for me.

In 2010, I remember going over to Muhammad Ali’s charity event in Phoenix. I met him very briefly because he’s not in a very good state. It was a great experience to be there."