“I am BORED with wellness, the concept seems ridiculous and too bossy for me. I’m still smoking, and enjoying it enormously. Love life.” – David Hockney

David Hockney, a man who has always lived on his own terms, once declared that he would resort to psychotic drugs without his beloved cigars. His studio, famously cluttered with burn marks and the haze of tobacco, stands as a testament to his love for life’s indulgences. He aggressively opposes the dominance of wellness culture, arguing it excessively dictates our lives.

It is this spirit of rebellion and self-expression that inspires Little Billy’s Still Smoking—a brand that challenges conventional notions of wellness, and instead, invites individuals to embrace the joy and fulfillment found in life’s simpler pleasures.

Named after the pivotal lines in the song ‘Wild Woodbines’, which Hockney’s father made him sing every Christmas, Little Billy’s Still Smoking isn’t just a cigar—it’s an invitation to live freely. The song, once a cautionary tale about smoking, has become, through Hockney’s own life, a symbol of defiance, irony, and unapologetic enjoyment. Today, it inspires our limited-edition cigars, handcrafted in Hockneys beloved California, to deliver the ultimate balance of artistry, craftsmanship, and indulgence.

Our cigars are more than just tobacco; they are a tribute to the power of self-expression and the freedom to enjoy life on your own terms. Each cigar is an art piece in itself, capturing the essence of Hockney’s creative vision. The boxes, designed with elements drawn from Hockney’s iconic works—particularly his famous swimming pool series—blend luxury with functionality. A section of tape across the front of the box evokes painter’s tape, rumoured to be used in Hockney’s famous work ‘The Big Splash,’ and symbolises his versatility across genres, mediums and locations. Using assets crafted with Hockney’s own handwriting, the design is unique within the cigar market and adds provenance to the product.With gold-foil accents and dimensions inspired by Hockney’s beloved sketchbooks and iPad, the packaging brings art to life, turning each box into a collectible masterpiece.

The cigar labels, featuring snippets of Hockney’s own words, pay homage to the man himself, offering a glimpse into his musings. Inside each box, you’ll find a mixture of three distinct cigar labels—each one more surprising and delightful than the last—further enhancing the experience with an unexpected visual impact. A secondary label proudly declares each cigar to be 100% Californian, celebrating Hockney’s love for the region that has shaped both his life and work.

To celebrate the launch, we invite you to an exclusive tasting event at the Ritz Cigar Shop, where guests will not only savour the cigars but also view rare works and photographs by and of Hockney. Invitations to this VIP-only event will feature limited-edition Hockney prints and are sealed with a Love Life wax stamp—an elegant nod to Hockney’s joyful approach to life. Attendees will also receive a luxurious set of long matches to light their cigars and a leather-bound coffee table book chronicling Hockney’s life and love for smoking, through his works and others photography. Blending imagery with storytelling to deepen the experience.

To launch the cigars there will be a tasting at the Ritz cigar shop. The launch will feature experts to advise on the cigars and exclusive showings of Hockney’s rare works. The invitations will be extended to VIP’s and Hockneys nearest and dearest. Alongside the invitation themselves, they feature an exquisitely printed Hockney quote and a signed limited-edition Hockney print packaged together in a mysterious dark blue envelope with a Hockneys handwriting “Love life” wax seal to gather interest and exclusivity around the tasting.

In true Hockney fashion, we’re making a statement with our marketing: limited-edition luxury leather coasters will appear in whiskey clubs around London, and a guerrilla-style poster campaign will take over the streets of art districts—intentionally fleeting, these posters will be secretly installed overnight, fully expecting to be ripped down shortly thereafter. In an act of defiance, this campaign will act as a comment on today’s restrictive advertising laws. These defiant posters will spark conversation, just as Hockney’s art has done for decades.

At Little Billy’s Still Smoking, we don’t just sell cigars—we celebrate life, creativity, and the pursuit of your own sense of happiness. Join us in embracing the art of living unapologetically, one cigar at a time.