Growing up, Richie Culver was scared to go in expensive shops and art galleries as he didn't feel good enough to be there. But now the talented Hull-born artist isn't just visiting these places, his work is being exhibited all over the world and being bought by celebrities.
In his latest success, Mr Culver, who grew up in Withernsea, but is now based in Berlin, has collaborated with Topman on a semi-autobiographical menswear collection.
It includes jersey T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, each with a reproduction of some of Mr Culver's prints.
"Proud is how I feel – a shop like Topman and me, a kid from Withernsea," he said.
"I am an artist first and foremost, not a fashion designer, but to be asked to do this collaboration is just really humbling out of all those other artists in the world.
"It just shows anything is possible."
Until his late teens, Mr Culver worked at Willerby Caravans, before a trip to Ibiza with his friends changed everything.
"I didn't come back," he said. "Not that I stayed in Ibiza, but I met a girl etc and eventually ended up in London."
But he could never have predicted the success he was to achieve.
COLLECTION: Image of the Richie Culver 'Sinatra' sweatshirt from the Topman website.His work has been shown in the Tate Modern and the Soho House Collection and among the celebrities to have his work are singers Adele and Paloma Faith, and US actress Rosario Dawson.
He also has solo exhibitions coming up in London and New York in the near future.
He said: "A strong team behind me certainly helps now that I'm at this level.
"But earlier on in my career being in the right place at the right time really helped me.
"Constantly working is also a must, being out and about.
"Nothing will happen sitting at home watching TV.
"I still have so much I want to achieve, so I really don't have the key to success yet, but you just have to live what you do and believe in yourself."
Despite having moved away from Withernsea in his late teens, Richie still takes a lot of inspiration from the area in which he grew up.
"If you look at my website, many of the photographs on it are taken in Hull or the surrounding areas," he said.
"There's plenty on the coastline at Spurn Point and Withernsea and some on the Humber.
"Nearly all the Polaroids on my site are from the area.
"Hull is where my heart is and I'll always mention it in interviews I do around the world.
"I want everyone to know about our great city."
COLLECTION: Image of the Richie Culver 'British Rogue' hoody from the Topman website.It would also be a dream one day to design the kit for his beloved Hull City.
"I'm a massive football fan and massive City fan, too," he said.
"It's my goal in 2017, the year we're City of Culture, that by then people will know who I am in my home town and I will get to design City's kit that season.
"That is my one dream, more than anything else, to team up with the sponsor and design the best kit we have ever had."
Living away from the city, Mr Culver has noticed an increased awareness of Hull.
He said: "I've noticed recently that now when you mention Hull, everyone knows where it is.
"There was a time when no one knew.
"But because of the City of Culture, or perhaps having a Premier League football team and FA Cup finalists, people for sure know who we are.
"The culture capital is such an amazing thing for the city. I really want to support this project as much as possible.
"I have so many ideas and things I could do for the city, not just art-wise either."
• Visit richieculver.com for more information.
