We are thrilled to have Lord John Bird MBE, founder of The Big Issue and life peer in the House of Lords, join us as Patron. We are deeply grateful to John for his endorsement of our work and his commitment to supporting Anteros as we continue to champion creativity and community engagement. John has already been part of the Anteros family for some time as a studio holder, and we have greatly valued his energy, warmth, and passion whenever he’s not in Westminster advocating for social justice and tackling homelessness.

From growing up homeless in Notting Hill to founding The Big Issue, John’s remarkable life story reflects resilience, creativity, and purpose. A lifelong painter and printmaker — shaped by his time at Chelsea, Wimbledon, and Edinburgh art colleges — his commitment to creativity runs deep.

​

Known for his humour, honesty, and dedication to fairness, we couldn’t be happier to have him as our first ever Patron.