New life of Addlestone art thief-turned artist

Apr 28 2009 By Suzy Talbot

MANY people have a career change but not many do so quite as drastically as Dean Stalham.

From handling stolen goods as an antique dealer to creating his own art, the 45-year-old from Addlestone has seen his life transformed – all because of a a three and a half year jail sentence.

He was found guilty of handling stolen goods – including Andy Warhol images - and served 21 months at HMP Ford in 2004. During this time he discovered a talent for writing and painting and saw his play performed at HMP Wandsworth.

He said: "The pieces I picked up were quite expensive but relatively cheap for what they were so I suppose something should have twigged. When I found out a year later, I was already selling them.

"I knew I was going down so I had decided to make something positive out of it, but I didn't think it would be for that long."

His love of art got him a job at the Koestler Trust, an art charity for British people in prisons across the world.

He has has his plays performed at Camden Fringe Festival, The Barbican and the Union Theatre in Southwark.

But Mr Stalham's latest, and probably most prestigious project, is a commission by the Eden Project to do a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.

The exhibit will include spray painted images and 40 posts with a poem he has written across each post. He is working with a number of homeless charities to complete the project.

He said: "It represents letting go so hopefully it can be an inspiration to those who want to move on."

His whirlwind life continued last Friday when the BBC filmed a documentary on his life but for Mr Stalham, the most important event was the birth of his daughter on April 16.

He and his partner Shelley, decided to call the child Poppy Eden in honour of his latest work.

Mr Stalham said: "I was just looking for the pound note and the size of my house and car. I had no real perception for art but it has now changed my life"

"Now I'm broke but I'm completely happy."

The Chelsea Flower show runs from May 19-23.