As Dave Pearson’s illness developed, his energy declined he began a number of series of works on paper. These include the Encyclopedia series that would continue to his death, and a large series of photographic, collaged, embroidered, drawn and painted work in gouache and ink on paper, under the umbrella of the Encyclopedia series, titled Illness. Many of these included photographs from his hospital stays – somehow he had persuaded staff to photograph his various medical procedures and included his own photographs of nursing staff. Dave also produced series of small self-portraits on paper, usually in triptychs during this period. His last works, done from his bed a few days before his death, were also self-portraits in blue on gold.
