Don't tell me not to smoke! Artist David Hockney, 82, reveals he sees his 60-year habit as an 'act of defiance' - and jokes three doctors who told him to quit are 'now all dead'

  • David Hockney, 82, has revealed he has no regrets about his love of smoking 
  • Loves cigarettes despite a minor stroke in 2012 and a heart attack 30 years ago 
  • British artist and lifelong smoker was speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine

David Hockney has revealed he has no regrets about his five-decade nicotine addiction and will continue smoking as an act of defiance. 

The 82-year-old British artist told The Sunday Times Magazine that three medics who have advised him to kick the habit have now passed away before him.

He said: 'I've had three doctors in the past 40 or so years. They all told me to give up smoking and now they’re all dead.' 

Despite having a minor stroke in 2012 and a heart attack 30 years ago, Hockney says he won't give up smoking any time soon, after claiming the health scares were down to stress.

David Hockney (pictured in May, 2015) has revealed he will continue smoking as an 'act of defiance'

David Hockney (pictured in May, 2015) has revealed he will continue smoking as an 'act of defiance'

When asked if he had any regrets in life, the Yorkshire-native said: 'No. I can honestly say that, for the last 60 years, every day I’ve done what I want to do.

'Not many people can say that. I’ve been a professional artist. I didn’t even teach much, just painted and drew every single day.'  

A desire to live life with purpose and pleasure has always been fundamental to him and his art - as such it's no surprise that David won't be curtailing his smoking habit.

The renowned artist - known for his contributions to the 1960s pop art moment - is even giving up life in his home of 55 years, Los Angeles, to move to Normandy, France, as the French are more relaxed about smoking. 

Despite having a minor stroke in 2012 and a heart attack 30 years ago, David (pictured in February 2018) said he won't give up smoking any time soon after claiming the health conditions were due to stress

Despite having a minor stroke in 2012 and a heart attack 30 years ago, David (pictured in February 2018) said he won't give up smoking any time soon after claiming the health conditions were due to stress

David is seen smoking in support of groups campaigning against legislation to ban smoking in public places at the Labour Party conference on September 28, 2005 in Brighton, England

David is seen smoking in support of groups campaigning against legislation to ban smoking in public places at the Labour Party conference on September 28, 2005 in Brighton, England

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal Magazine in September 2019, the art icon said Americans have become too censorious about smoking and that it is something he will never give up. 

'I've smoked for more than 60 years,' he said. 'But I think I'm quite healthy. I'm 82. How much longer do I have? I'm going to die of either a smoking-related illness or a non–smoking-related illness.' 

David has long been a pro-smoking activist, having campaigned in 2009 for the relaxing of the smoking ban in the UK.  

He backed a cross-party group of MPs who wanted the ban to be relaxed to allow people to light up in designated rooms in pubs.

Hockney told the BBC's Politics Show at the time that he was appalled to find that his local cafe in east Yorkshire no longer even allowed people to smoke at tables outside because they were frightened that smoke would waft inside and breach the law. 

Smoking was banned in England in all public indoor spaces, including work places, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs in 2007. The ban also applies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

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