Matti Nicholls has a thing for monkeys – in fact primates are the main theme for his latest exhibition, which is currently hanging at Metropolis Art in Westbourne.

“They’re fun,” says the Bristolian, in his West Country accent. “I talk to them while I’m painting and I name them all – this one’s called Ian because he looks like my mate of the same name.”

Although the exhibition, aptly named Monkey Business, is dominated by prints of primates, Matt has a diverse portfolio that includes cityscapes, scantily clad women and landscapes, some of which are on display in the gallery.

He creates the prints using a variety of techniques including photo manipulation, stencilling and painting, which is what gives the pieces such depth.

Matti is also known back in Bristol, the city that spawned Banksy, for inadvertently creating a currency. “I call it monkey money,” laughs Matti, referring to the chimps he superimposed on manipulated £20 and £50 notes.

Monkey money started out as a PR stunt, something Matti could hand out at exhibitions.

However, it soon became illegal tender in a Bristol school.

“A fan of mine went up to her daughter’s school and asked if they’d consider doing a module in urban art,” he says.

“They agreed and I went into the school to help with one of the projects.”

Matti took a wad of monkey money with him and distributed it to the kids.

“They started trading with it in the playground, paying each other to run errands,” he laughs.

“It got silly in the end and they had to ban it.”

So how did Matti’s work end up here in Bournemouth?

“Honestly? I was a bit short of cash so I put a Banksy I owned on eBay,” he says, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Bob at Metropolis Art won the bidding and when I was getting his details I told him that I was an artist. He said he’d like to see my stuff, so I put a bit of monkey money and a print in the post along with the Banksy.”

Bob was so impressed with Matti’s stuff that he asked the artist to drive down with some more prints.

“I thought he’d pick a few out, but he took them all,” he says.

A shrewd move; on the opening night of the exhibition the gallery sold seven of Matti’s prints.

“We had over 150 people come along,” says Vicki Angus of Metropolis Art.

“It was a great night for us and a great night for Matti.”

To see Matti’s work and a host of other contemporary art, visit the Metropolis Gallery in Westbourne.