The Places I Carry

WOW. My first blog post.

If anyone knows me, they’ll know I’m terrible at trying to get out exactly what I want to say. I also find the idea of starting a blog on my website quite daunting, but exciting at the same time, as it gives me another way to keep in touch with you all.

After my first solo exhibition in September last year, I felt completely stuck. For some reason, I just couldn’t face making art. I didn’t even have the desire to pick up a paintbrush. Talk about creative block.

So, I decided to throw myself into the Shrewsbury arts community, work with the amazing people around me on community projects, and see how it changed my outlook on art. I never want to take for granted the fact that I get to do this as my job. It has been my dream since I was little, and I still can’t quite believe it when I tell people that I’m an artist.

Since March this year, I’ve taken on the challenge of becoming a Director of Makespace Arts & Well-Being CIC, which runs English Bridge Studios, alongside my amazing colleagues and fellow Directors, David Yates and Jancis Vaughan. It’s such an important community space.

Why is English Bridge Studios worth it for me, you ask?

Keeping artistic spaces open for people to thrive in is, in my opinion, one of the most important things we can do for mental health, wellbeing and happiness.

We want to make arts and culture more accessible, encourage participation from a wide range of local people, and create opportunities for learning, wellbeing and social connection. EBS is a creative hub based in a beautiful historic building, and I want to help keep it active and contributing to the arts scene in Shrewsbury.

Through being there, I started to see things a little differently and gradually got my artistic spark back. There are 14 creatives at EBS, and every one of them has taught me something or given me a different perspective on art. Every time I go into the building, I learn something new. It feels so empowering to be somewhere where art is considered a career and taken seriously. I feel incredibly lucky to be mentored, whether they realise it or not, by so many of the artists there.

In June, my good friend and fellow Director, David (if anyone reading this is involved in the local art scene, they’ll probably know David as one of the greatest gifts the Wirral has given us), gave me a book by Amie McNee, We Need Your Art: Stop Fucking Around and Make Something.

If you haven’t already read it, I urge you to do so.

It made me realise just how much I’d been procrastinating and waiting for inspiration to drop out of thin air… when, in reality, that just doesn’t happen. So, I listened to her advice and started working little and often. Before long, I was back in the swing of things.

And here we are today.

I now have a nice little backlog of work ready to show you at The Shrewsbury Coffee House on the 28th of August. A coffee shop where I used to spend a lot of time after catching the train into town on many a winter’s evening.

The Places I Carry explores places that have shaped my memories, emotions and everyday life. From locations tied to significant moments to familiar scenes I walk past each day, the exhibition reflects on how our surroundings quietly influence our mood and become part of who we are… with a few pieces of unsold work thrown in to fill the gaps!

So, to conclude my very first blog post, I’d be very grateful if you could pop in, grab a coffee from the fabulous people at The Shrewsbury Coffee House, and take a little look at the paintings on the walls.

It really is wonderful to be part of a town with so much creativity, community and kindness. It feels good to be painting again.