Maxwell Paternoster studied art at Suffolk College in Ipswich on Saturdays during high school. After graduating high school he went on to do a full time national diploma art course at the same place. Having completed the course he was then accepted on the illustration degree course at the University of Westminster where he completed the three year degree course. During the course he became involved in animation, murals, painting, and video and illustrated the university magazine. Since leaving university, Maxwell has become involved in a range of projects including a double wall mural for the children at a primary school and customising trainers, which are available at Urban Species in Camden. Maxwell has created and self published a range of small press comics, which were sold at various comic shops in London.

What are you currently working on and what are your plans for the rest of 2006?
I am doing a few collaborative projects at the moment. I created a robot for the One Hand Art show in May and I am hoping to create another, more powerful and advanced artificial intelligence creature that is interactive or something. Other than that I could be doing any number of things. When a project materialises I commence to do it. Maybe I will do another comic as well.

Are there any musical artists/bands you are a fan of and would love to work with?
It would be great to find out what happened to folk rock duo Zager and Evans, they had a hit in 1969 with 'In the year 2525' I like that song loads. I saw the video of them performing it on TV and it influenced my art. Also the guys at Tone Control that would be good, and there is a couple of guys called Cat nine & Genie who do some excellent stuff. Another group called Heavy also Acoustic Ladyland. Pity Thelonious Monk isn't around anymore I would like to do something with that dude. There's also a good folk/blues guitarist and singer called Paul Pena who would warrant working with.

Is there anything you collect obsessively? What is your favourite thing you have collected?
I have a selection of half arsed incomplete collections. Some of the things I have collected are as follows: calculators, small musical keyboards, Sega master system and Mega drive games, records, clipper lighters, Atari vcs 2600 games, pong consoles, vintage bike magazines, and when I was a kid - Zoids.
Do you have any favourite projects you've worked on or clients you’ve worked with?
I like all projects an equal amount. Actually I did a Sketchel (original artwork made into a bag) for the Australian person/company Jeremyville. I liked doing that a lot because I have been looking at all the other sketchels on his online store for ages, and I am a fan of his work and all the other artists involved.

Who do you see as your contemporaries and who do you rate?
There are so many artists with excellent work right now. A few examples that I like are Jeremyville, Thinkmule, Luke Ramsey, too many to list.

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