Hello and welcome to Punk & Kindness

July 21, 2025

Hiya folks... my name is Pete Clayton and I am the creator and curator of Punk & Kindness.

Punk & Kindness was simply born out of a love for punk rock music and an innate need to spread kindness, hope and positivity through illustrative and graphic art. By day I am an illustrator, animator and graphic designer based in Plymouth, UK. Through my freelancer practice I like to think I give businesses and brands a creative lift. That's simply what I'm trying to do here also but for the world. Raise smiles and bring joy in a world which is very topsy-tervy at the moment. To be honest, it always has been turbulent and always will be. But in anycase it's important to keep the hope and kindness alive. What better way to do that through art?

Why Punk?
In another life I would have been a musician. I simply love music of all genres. I know there are people out there who don't really like music but that's not me. My first gateway into punk came really through the grunge band, Nirvana. I know they were not punk as such, but some of their song were quite punky and were obviously very influenced by the punk scene. They turned me onto a lot of punk bands in my youth like Sex Pistols and Black Flag, and I would say the genre is very much a listening staple for me. So why Punk? Punk for me has themes of rebellion and self-expression in the face of societal norms. It challenges the world to think differently. That's why I'm using punk as a conduit to challenge the hate, pessimism and negative cultural bias in the world today. I'm rejecting it and refuse to be dragged into a world where hate trumps love.

Hey, it might only be a drop in the ocean, but one can at least try. Maybe "do" is better here. I'm doing it myself in true punk spirit. The DIY punk ethos is something which resonates with me so much also. If you believe in it, want it and are passionate about it... make it a thing!