NICKY ON SOME OF HIS ART...

■ No to the Mirror: A mixed media piece. This features a trashed computer keyboard, a reflective mirror set within a Polaroid frame, a selection of different tape types, nail varnish and a few images of JG Ballard. It’s an exploration of vanity.

In Praise of Rage: This features shots on Fuji Instax Wide film alongside type, tape and paint. It’s a tribute to two of the strongest inspirational powers I know – Dylan Thomas and working class rage.

Painted Polaroids (Rewind the Film): These are finished with pen and ink added on top of the developing Polaroid. It’s a trick that was taught to me by long-time Manics’ photographer Mitch Ikeda. Some of these shots were used in the booklet for Rewind the Film.

Help: One of the biggest pieces in the exhibition, this was inspired by the contorted landscapes of Graham Sutherland – someone else who saw unparalleled beauty in the rolling west Wales scenery. It’s a piece that came out of desolation – we were trying to learn The Holy Bible in its entirety for the anniversary tour when I made it, hence the title.

Broken Tokyo Dream: Shot on a blazing hot day in Tokyo in 2014. These are the product of that beautiful accident that happens with Polaroid film from time to time, when it doesn’t develop fully and you get half formed imagery that tends to be more interesting than what you were initially aiming to shoot. It’s a real example of the unpredictable genius of the Polaroid camera itself.

Self Portraits: I’ve always been fascinated with the RS Thomas poem Self Portrait; it’s a masterclass in brutal honesty. This piece matches his words with candid self-portraits of me shot on a classic Polaroid 600 over three decades from Torquay to Cuba to Newport.