HIGHGATE artist Michael Janes is putting an unusual spin on contemporary art – quite literally.

Together with his wife Michelle, Michael has for the last five years developed “spin art,” a technique that perfectly blends scientific principles with artistic skill. Now their vibrant creations are going on display at Bruce Castle Museum in Tottenham, from next week.

Michael, who also hosts his own show on London Greek Radio, says he first came up with the idea in 2004 with his friend and fellow artist John Moyce.

He explains: “We were just playing around with the idea of using centrifugal forces and saw the potential in that to produce pieces of art. It was a bit of a disaster to begin with, but then we refined the process and found we could create some amazing pictures.”

Working from his studio in Essex, Michael tells me he begins by placing the paint into drizzle pots fixed to a motorised spinning machine, which has variable speeds. He stresses the paint is specially blended, though Michael remains tight-lipped over the exact ingredients. “That’s our little gem,” says Michael. “It’s a complete secret, but the product gives this beautiful high gloss finish to the painting.”

The pieces appear on everything from regular canvas to Diasec mounts, which have a high gloss finish, and range from just over £100 to £700.

“Some of them are truly magnificent,” adds Michael, “and they mean different things to different people. For that reason alone, we don’t name the pictures. We just present them as they are.”

The Art of Spin runs from Wednesday, May 20 to Sunday, August 30 at Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, Tottenham.
Public launch on Saturday, May 23, 2pm to 4pm, with the new Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Bernice Vanier. Proceeds from the exhibition will go to the Mayor’s chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society. Details: 020 8808 8772 or www.haringey.gov.uk