Dealer Profile: Percy Badbrush
Andrew ‘Percy’ Percival a.k.a. Percy’s Bad Brush Dezigns has been on the custom paint and fabrication scene for more than 30 years. We sent Stu Smith to find out more…
Andrew ‘Percy’ Percival a.k.a Percy’s Bad Brush Dezigns has been on the custom paint and fabrication scene for more than 30 years. We sent Stu Smith to find out about his work with scooters.
While Percy’s Bad Brush Dezigns now runs from several purpose-built units at his home, his story starts a long time back, when he was at high school. “When I was a teenager in the ’80s, like a lot of other kids I was into BMXs and I liked to try experimental paint designs out on my bikes. I started off with rattle cans, home-made stencils and rub-on decals. I did a few designs for my friends, which allowed me to reach the dizzy heights of working from my mum and dad’s shed!” Percy laughed. Over the years as Percy’s interest in engineering and fabrication developed, he learnt the art of coach-building and panel work from an old master. Later as time moved on he successfully qualified in Graphic Design and Illustration at Chesterfield Art College.
A-lister
Also around this time, Percy started motocross racing and began to spray his bikes and
For me, scooters offer a lot of opportunities for fabrication, art and design all in one. They have everything, and the more and more scooters I complete, the more and more excitement I see in their potential.
helmets, and was asked by several of his team members who’d seen his work to complete similar work on their bikes and helmets; one of whom had a catering job, which regularly took him to the US. “I’d done some work for him and whilst he was working at an A-lister’s party in California he ended up showing some of my work to the likes of Mickey Rourke and Sylvester Stallone! As a result, I was eventually contacted by an agent of Bartell’s Harley Davidson who flew out to meet me. We met at the Railway pub at Matlock Bath! The fella made an offer to commission me to complete custom artwork on celebrities’ personal custom vehicles. The offer he made was a good one; I was tempted but I wanted to develop my own business in the UK, so the time just wasn’t right for me.”
Scooters
Having set up his own business, Percy’s reputation for high-quality engineering, fabrications, art and paintwork went from strength to strength. “While I’ve worked mainly on custom cars and bikes over the years, I really enjoy the work I’ve been commissioned to complete on scooters. For me, scooters offer a lot of opportunities for fabrication, art and design all in one. They have everything, and the more and more scooters I complete, the more and more excitement I see in their potential.”
Percy prides himself on professionalism and delivering a top-quality service from
1. Bringing the theme to life 2. Custom Vespa Hell-boy takes shape 3. Detail
4. Early stages of the work 5. Hell-boy’s front mudguard 6. Helmet art
7. Nearing completion 8. Sidepanels develop start to finish. All of Percy’s work is by appointment only, and while he has all the latest technical equipment 99% of his work is still completed by hand.
Percy is contactable by email: badbrushdezigns@gmail.com or phone: 07971 515549.