London-born Yinka Shonibare moved to Lagos, Nigeria aged three and returned to England to study art at Central St Martins. The Turner Prize nominee was the first black British artist to have his work displayed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. This was the sculpture Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle upon which this print is based.
Shonibare explores race and culture through his work and looks at the meanings of cultural and national definitions. His emblem is the traditional African batik fabric which represents African identity and independence, having formerly been introduced by Dutch colonisers.
Shonibare was awarded an MBE in 2004 and was elected to the Royal Academy in 2013.