Sir Peter Blake Featured in BBC Radio 4 Documentary: Painting with Scissors

Renowned British pop artist Sir Peter Blake features in a compelling new Radio 4 documentary, Painting with Scissors, presented by BBC journalist and art historian Ruth Millington.

The programme explores the radical history and enduring power of collage – a medium that has shaped cultural movements from Dadaism to digital art. Collage began as an experimental intervention by Picasso and Braque and soon evolved into a revolutionary vehicle for political critique, personal expression, and social change.

Sir Peter Blake, celebrated for his iconic pop art collages and influential album cover designs – including those for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones – will offer insight into how juxtaposed imagery can challenge conventions and redefine the avant-garde.

Ruth Millington will trace collage’s journey from early 20th-century Europe to today’s digital landscape, connecting the work of pioneers such as Hannah Höch and John Heartfield to contemporary artists like Cold War Steve. With collage now embedded in social media, sound sampling, and film editing, Painting with Scissors asks: how can this cut-and-paste craft still disrupt the status quo?

Tune in as Ruth Millington picks up scissors, scalpel and glue to uncover why collage continues to matter – creatively, politically and culturally.

Visit the website to listen.