Dan Kitchener, known as DANK, is a British street artist born in 1974 in Essex, now based in London and Southeast England. Renowned for his freehand spray paint technique, Kitchener has developed a distinctive style that combines intricate urban landscapes with reflections, light flickers, and dynamic architecture. His digital illustrations and murals also feature traditional Japanese women, their makeup and attire evoking classic Japanese elegance. Kitchener has risen as a prominent figure in street art worldwide, and his work is instantly recognizable.
In a video featuring his process, you can see Kitchener creating London’s tallest mural:
Influences and Inspirations
"Animation and comics I enjoyed as a child still influence me now. I keep all the good stuff in my mind and draw on it unconsciously, like a boundless source of ideas. I love finding beauty in the most ordinary scenes, especially in how light, shadow, and composition play together. I aim to infuse my work with a tangible mood, a sense of presence," Kitchener explains. His inspirations come from everyday moments, train rides, city scenes, and the atmospheric play of light, often manifesting in darker moods and environments.
Artistic Career and Technique
Over his long career, Kitchener has collaborated with major stars like Kylie Minogue, Miley Cyrus, and Lenny Kravitz. He’s created massive murals across Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, and numerous European and UK cities. Known for his epic-scale works, including 50-meter walls and even 100-meter murals on cruise ships, Kitchener's popularity and influence have cemented his place as a global icon in street art.
Kitchener’s journeys to Japan have amplified his fascination with Japanese culture and rainy night scenes. Often beginning with a photo he takes in a moment of real life, his pieces evoke the raw energy and emotion of urban nights.
The Technique of a Master
"I’ve loved street art all my life, but only recently started using spray paint. It’s a medium I always wanted to master. I love how it allows for such large-scale work, the way colors blend, and the painterly quality it can produce. Height is the most intriguing element—how I can turn a small sketch into a 30-meter-high mural. Spray paint is truly the only medium that lets me work at that scale," Kitchener shares. This scale and the drama of light and shadows make his work a remarkable addition to the world’s leading street art.
Additional links:
https://www.dankitchener.com/
This post is part of a dedicated series of posts on street art and graffiti in London
Shepard Fairey – Contemporary Activism
London's Leading Street Artists
James Cochran: Pointillism Art
Ben Wilson: Chewing Gum Art
Dan Kitchener – Urban Nights
HELCH Graffiti
Alex Arnell – Explosive Emotions
STIK – Minimalist Street Art
Otto Schade – Surrealism Art
ALO – Urban Expressionism
Space Invaders – Street Mosaics
David Speed – Neon Spray
Mr Doodle – Doodles of Joy
Nathan Bowen: Art Vigilante
London Street Art Guide
London Street Art Map
BEST Murals in London
Graffiti and street art – Leake Street Tunnel
Graffiti and Street Art Guide at Brick Lane
Graffiti and Street Art Guide in Camden Town
Among the Artists Featured in Posts About London:
Otto Schade, Zabou, Nerone, Banksy, Alice, ROA, Pasquini, Soker Uno, Gary Stanger, Irony, Dan Kitchener, Voydor, Fanakapan, DRT, Sr.X, Decolife, JXC, Marija Tiurina, Ansley Randall, Woskerski, Ben Wilson, Luke Smile, Nerone, MadC, Rosie Woods, Camille Walala, David Shillinglaw, Fin DAC, Clifton Street, Stik, Dale Grimshaw, Busk One, Bambi, C215, Phlegm, Pegasus, Invader, Jonesy, Frankie Strand, Alex Arnell, Sweet Toof, Amara Por Dios, Fanakapan, Eine, Jimmy C, Aspire, Red Romes, Nol, Mort Murray, VKM, Smackas, Benzi Brofman, Cap Sprays, Pad, Francois Got, Hunto, Alex Face, Ansley Randall, Fat Cap Sprays, Eska, Mister Tris, Snik, Mr Doodle, Shona Hardie, Abraham.O, Woskerski, Damitta, David Speed, David Puck, Olivier Roubieu, Fiya101, DFace, Layla, TRUST.iCON, Alo, Pixie, Frank Riot, Nathan Bowen