Of his homoerotic work, Philip Swarbrick has written, ‘My raison d’être was to make up for almost thirty years of neglecting my craft, and to draw eroticism from the experience of the urban environment. The thrust of twentieth century art concentrated on the female form; my aim was now to redress the balance. As with the ancient Greek and Renaissance artists, we should celebrate our masculinity. I want the opportunity to create alluring, challenging and evocative imagery using the male form as a medium of carnal and intellectual expression. I believe the acceptance of homosexuality is a good measure of democratic tolerance over religious and cultural zeal. Rather that hide my flame under a bushel, my intention was to set the whole damn thing ablaze – after all, I had waited almost thirty years to do so.’