Ex armed robber gets first class degree in fine art

A reformed armed robber who was jailed for raids on London bookmakers has gained a first-class honours degree in fine art from Central Saint Martins.

John Costi, 26, took up art therapy while at Feltham Young Offender Institution to keep up his interest in graffiti. Now he has a BA degree for his live performance art and is one of 40 contemporary artists featuring in the Catlin Guide 2014.

The guide, which is sent to collectors and curators, showcases the best new British talent and will be launched at next week’s London Art Fair, in Islington.

When he was 18, Mr Costi was jailed for five years for four counts of armed robbery and one of attempted armed robbery.

Mr Costi, who said he fell in with the wrong crowd but was released halfway into his sentence for good behaviour, added: “Before I was in prison, I painted graffiti. In Feltham the only way I could access paint was through art therapy.”

His performance piece at the Central Saint Martins degree show included recordings and letters from prison inmates to tell his story.

Justin Hammond, Catlin Guide author, said: “It was the most original thing I’d seen.”