For over four decades, Steven Stapleton has operated at the shadowy intersection of sound and vision, creating some of the most distinctive and influential artwork in experimental music while simultaneously pioneering new territories of sonic exploration as the driving force behind Nurse With Wound. Now, for the first time, his complete visual œuvre emerges from the margins in The Formless Irregular, a definitive 560-page hardcover monograph that stands as both art book and cultural artifact.
Conceived by Andrew Thomas and developed over twelve years in intimate collaboration with Steven and Sarah Stapleton, this extraordinary volume presents the complete graphic work of Babs Santini - Stapleton's artistic alter ego - spanning an astonishing five decades of creation. From the iconic, unsettling imagery that has defined Nurse With Wound's visual identity to his commissioned work for legendary acts including Coil, Current 93, Stereolab, Whitehouse, and Sand, every piece tells a story of artistic rebellion and singular vision.
The book's substantial 26 x 26cm format and 3.2kg weight reflect the monumental scope of Stapleton's artistic output. Elegantly arranged across 17 thematic chapters, the full-color pages reveal not only the familiar album covers that have become totemic within experimental music circles, but also previously unseen pieces that illuminate the depth and range of his creative process. Each image is a portal into the peculiar universe that Stapleton has constructed - one where humor and horror dance together, where found objects become sacred relics, and where the boundaries between high and low art dissolve entirely.
Born in London in 1957, Steven Stapleton has remained the sole constant member of Nurse With Wound since the group's formation in the early 1980s, releasing over 150 albums that have traversed industrial music, mambo, electronics, improvisation, and electroacoustics with characteristic wit and unpredictability. His United Dairies label, co-founded with John Fothergill in 1979, has become legendary for its releases by Current 93, The Lemon Kittens, and Volcano The Bear, among others. Yet parallel to this musical legacy runs an equally important visual narrative - one that The Formless Irregular finally allows us to appreciate in its full complexity.
The book includes an extensive discography and a complete archive of United Dairies releases, making it an essential reference work for scholars and collectors alike. Thoughtfully curated texts provide context for the images while respecting their mysterious power - understanding that Stapleton's art, like his music, often works best when it resists easy interpretation.
Limited to just 800 copies worldwide, The Formless Irregular is more than an art book - it's an archeological dig into the visual unconscious of experimental music. For those who have long wondered about the mind behind some of the most compelling album artwork ever created, this volume offers unprecedented access to a singular artistic vision that has quietly influenced generations of musicians, artists, and collectors.
Living in rural Ireland where he constructs houses and trailers from found materials, Steven Stapleton continues to operate outside conventional artistic and commercial structures. The Formless Irregular captures this spirit of creative independence while celebrating an artist whose influence far exceeds his public profile - a fitting tribute to one of experimental music's most essential voices.
