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Photo: Jodie Shepherd<\/p><\/div>\n
Richard left Wales for London and trained to be an electrician, starting work with a neon sign company and learning the trade before starting his own company Electro Signs in 1952. “You could say he came \u2018out of the dark into the light\u2019, which is one of the neon artworks Chris [Richard\u2019s son, Matthew\u2019s dad] made in his honour”, says 43-year-old Matthew.<\/p>\n
In 1973, Matthew\u2019s father, the late Chris Bracey (now widely known as \u2018The Neon Man\u2019), took over the family business.<\/p>\n
“Every day, my dad walked through Soho and dreamed of how one day he would redesign the sex shops and strip clubs”, Matthew tells me. “Eventually, he had redesigned 90% of the sex establishments in Soho”.<\/p>\n
As a talented artist and deal-maker, Chris managed to get a start on working in films, TV and commercials through a chance negotiation with Chris Townsend, the art director of the film Mona Lisa<\/em>, which starred Bob Hoskins. “We still supply films, TV and commercials with neon signage to this very day”, says Matthew \u2013 with some of the biggest films having roots in God\u2019s Own Junkyard including, Tomb Raider, James Bond, Mission Impossible <\/em>and Tim Burton\u2019s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Dogs neon sign was drawn and created by Chris Bracey’s own hand – and is one of Matthew’s favourites. Photo: Matthew Bracey<\/p><\/div>\n Matthew\u2019s favourite neon sign that\u2019s been used in films? “There are so many! But I think for me it\u2019s the Dogs neon sign. This has been knocking around since the movie Judge Dredd <\/em>in the early 90s \u2013 the Stallone original. It has been used in an untold number of movies. Plus, it was drawn and created by my dad\u2019s own hand; it holds many movie memories”.<\/p>\n The Junkyard, in Walthamstow, displays a lot of Chris\u2019 pieces \u2013 along with works by Matthew and other family members who have all worked in the business \u2013 “we have now hit fourth generation, which is great and so we are certainly the oldest neon sign company in London”.<\/p>\n Matthew was tasked with putting Sotherbys\u2019 first ever neon light on the front of the building in 2015. Photo: Matthew Bracey<\/p><\/div>\n Matthew has personally worked on an endless amount of projects and commissions but, somehow, manages to narrow his favourites down to five, starting with Sothebys – “I was tasked with putting the first ever neon sign on the front of the building in Bond Street in London in 2015. It was for the Bear Witness<\/em> exhibition”. Also on the list is the Charlie and The Chocolate Factory commission of 2005, a commission from the Tate London, a 2005 project at Selfridges in London and, finally, Tomb Raider 2<\/em> with Angelina Jolie.<\/p>\n Today, God\u2019s Own Junkyard is still a thriving family business, continuing the legacy of the legend that is Chris Bracey, displaying the collection to the public and holding \u2018the largest collection of neon in Europe\u2019 and attracting visitors from all over the globe.<\/p>\n Photo: Jodie Shepherd<\/p><\/div>\n Why is God\u2019s Own Junkyard so popular? “First of all, when God\u2019s Own Junkyard was complete, my dad flicked on the switch and he smiled at everyone, with his hands in the air and said \u2018this is what the inside of my head looks like!\u2019. It was a moment of intense euphoria; everyone was in a trance of happiness. It was, and still is, the only place on Earth like it. It helps and inspires people to create amazing new ideas. It is somewhere for old, middle-aged and young people to all share the same enjoyment and happiness that a lot of places do not give”, says Matthew.<\/p>\n So, if you fancy a dose of what Matthew calls \u2018hair-raising neon happiness\u2019, head over to Walthamstow and visit God\u2019s Own Junkyard. And, if you want to see or hear about any more of Matthew\u2019s own work, he has some on display in various locations in London, including at the Hilton Savage Garden, Tape London, Pucci in Mayfair and, of course, the Bracey family\u2019s very own God\u2019s Own Junkyard.<\/p>\n Matthew Bracey is also releasing a book called STEEL DOGS<\/em> in early February 2020, which he says, “talks a lot about the core family history, amongst other things and one crazy adventure with my dad”.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2019\/11\/SDC17709-1.jpg\")
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