Men's Health Collection

Project doing portraits of men who have faced and dealt with or are dealing with health issues, with their stories in their own words

Justin Booth

This is the first painting and story for my new series of paintings regarding mens experiences with Accidents and Health Issues. My first fabulous volunteer and collaborator is the wonderful poet and storyteller Justin Booth Thank you to Justin who has been a most interesting collaborator. Here is his story in his own words. Thank you very kindly Justin –

I quickly made myself available after hearing about this artistic endeavor. I saw only after looking closer that the study of men and their ailments was then supposed to be tied to injuries sustained at work or something like that. I have some wear and tear on me, for sure, and while I did labor in the trades off and on for most of my life, I was not sure that the shape I am in could be related. As a carpenter and as a mason my body did hurt most of the time but I never really sustained an injury that could be blamed for the scars, the surgeries, the wheelchair I still have or the canes I use daily. If I am honest, even though I did work as a tree trimmer, a bartender and bouncer I was never Justin the carpenter or anything to most people. People who knew me mostly thought of me as Justin the drug addict and it is not employment for forty years it was my job. I am not here to tell that story but suffice it to say the lifestyle is not conducive to good health and a body well equipped for defending itself against injury. I used heroin for more than three decades, went to prison twice during that period and slept out for the last half dozen years of my active addiction.

I am no doctor and would not hazard a guess as too all the ways my now diminished state has been affected by this “occupation”. Even though I am now free of the worst of my substance abuse, it was not fast enough to save me a fair list of ailments. In the past year I have had three surgeries, two on my back and another repairing the hernia caused by the first. I cannot say how I broke my back but when I went to the emergency room doctors found staph infection near my brain and spine. I might have died from that alone but it caused me to live in delusion for a month or more, during the state of confusion I believed I worked undercover for the government and my girlfriend was a prostitute that while breaking my heart still needed my covert protection. A few years ago, I went to the Emergency Room and was having five bypasses and a heart valve repaired the next day.

These days I make a meager living telling the story of my ill-fated self-destructive adventures. The same stories my bones tell me. They remind me that with so little certainty in life it is best if lived fully and with panache.

Price $753

Christopher Peskett

Here is my next painting in my Mens Health series This is a painting of Christopher Peskett with elements from one of his paintings in the background. Who has had many health issues. Chris has some learning disabilities so his story in his own words is done via a question and answer interview with his Mum. Thank you very kindly Christopher for your wonderful collaboration in this painting.

This is the message I received from Chris’s Mum and her interview with Christopher :

Chris is 31 and was born with Tuberous Sclerosis. He has learning difficulties, short term memory loss, epilepsy, brain tumors, kidney and liver disease, scoliosis, and at 14 was sadly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He loves art and helping people. I have posed some questions, and his answers to give an insight into his feelings.

Did you feel different growing up? Yes, a bit because I had to be bought up in a different way because I had to learn differently from other people.

How did you feel when you spent 3 months in hospital? Is one of those things. I was nervous about the big operation, and if there would be complications.

Do you remember being very ill after your operation? No, just when I woke up, my stomach was in pain, but it didn’t bother me because they said it would be.

How do you feel about your scar? I think it is an achievement. I am the only one I know who has it…I am proud of my scar.

How did you feel when you were told it was likely you would die very soon?

I was a bit sad….and I was gutted because I wouldn’t be able to experience my 18th birthday. I was more angry because I would miss out on so much.

What are you life goals?

I would have like to have been a Dad, but I know I can’t be. I would like to be recognised, because people think that people with disabilities can’t do things. I want to show them that we can.

How do you feel about your health now?

Pretty good actually. I haven’t had any problems really. I feel better that I go to the gym now.

Are you scared about dying?

No actually, because I have achieved a lot of things in life. I would be a bit gutted and sad, but I know that I have done a lot.

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

Just one thing…I would have liked to have taken up theatre. I think if I wasn’t disabled, I would have the same life, except I would be a Dad. I think I would have been a good one.

Are you proud of yourself?

I am proud of what I have achieved….like….Getting my own independence, got married, got my own house.

Price $526

Neil Hubbard

Watercolour Painting of the fabulous Neil Hubbard who volunteered to collaborate with me on my Men’s Health series. Thank you very kindly Neil. Here is Neil’s story of his health journey in his own words.

My name is Neil and I’m a solo recording artist from Manchester now living in Rugby. A few years ago, I had a major health scare. About late 2014 I was experiencing mild stomach gripes which was put down to IBS and the buscopan was alleviating the symptoms so I thought no more about it. Then, in September 2015 it started becoming worse. So I had a colonoscopy which, strangely, didn’t show anything up. Then about two weeks later it got unbearable so I took myself to A&E where it was confirmed that I had bowel cancer. Stage 3 as well so it’s puzzling that a colonoscopy didn’t pick it up. Anyway, things moved on quickly and before I had a chance to get my thoughts together properly I was under the knife for a bowel resection. Luckily the cancer had confined itself to my bowel so the operation had a huge chance of being successful. There were traces of cancer in 2 of the 28 lymph nodes they removed so there followed 12 rounds of Chemotherapy. It made me quite uncomfortable, nevertheless, I carried on working, just to cling on to some semblance of normality. I only managed 10 out of 12 sessions because the fatigue and mouth ulcers were getting a bit too much and the side effects were lasting longer with each cycle. After the treatment finished, my CT scan showed all was clear. My follow up scan a year later showed a different scenario. The cancer had, in fact, metastasised into my bowel lining. Another, rather pioneering operation followed (cyto reductive surgery with HIPEC) and only a 30% chance of success. This altered my perception of life somewhat and I started living in the moment as I was scared of thinking too far into the future. I’d prepared myself for the fact I might’ve seen my last Christmas or birthday and decided to start enjoying things a bit more, especially things I’d taken for granted. Even things like waking up in the morning. After getting a couple of subsequent all clear scans, I started to become more optimistic. When I met my now fiancée Tracey in 2018, I was very loathe to start a relationship just in case the worst happened. Luckily, she was prepared to take the risk and so not too long after, I moved to Rugby to live with her. Strangely enough, I’ve not creatively written about my cancer experience, maybe for fear nobody would listen, maybe because I don’t want to take myself back to the time where I was more emotionally unstable than I let people believe. For now, I’m cancer free, extremely happy and sharing my music with the world. Long may it continue.

Price $526

Stu Wyatt

My Latest completed painting for my Mens Health series is of the wonderful Stu Wyatt here is his story in his own words, to accompany his portrait, thank you for the fabulous collaboration Stu : “Barbara asked me to write a few words about myself, and I’m not sure where to begin.

Hi. I’m Stu.

Is that enough? Probably not…. I’ll continue then.

I’ve led a varied existence. I was born a Tory but now consider myself very left wing. I was brought up to be a bigot and to punch downwards, but I now actively fight bigotry and direct all punches very firmly upwards.

I used to be a touring musician entertaining crowds across Europe, but I haven’t performed a gig for over sixteen years now or left my town in six.

I used to enjoy walking, but I’m now forced to transition into a Dalek when I leave the flat.

The biggest recent change is that I used to fear the police arresting me again for using cannabis to treat my illness, but here I am, in front of my vape bong, vaping legally prescribed medicinal cannabis…

…. things could be worse

I feel very honoured to have a talented artist like Barbara paint my portrait, and I’m very happy with how it’s turned out. “

Price $753

Robbie from Beneath the Tracksuit

My latest portrait in my Mens Health series

Title – Robbie from Beneath the Tracksuit Beneath the Tracksuit

This has been a wonderful collaboration, thank you very kindly Robbie for volunteering, Robbie is a wonderful published poet and writes poems about his health condition and has kindly allowed me to use one to go with my portrait of him.

Robbie from Beneath the Tracksuit’s Poem

A diagnosis is more than a diagnosis,

It’s a different perspective in life,

A completely different view,

New worries,

New challenges,

A level of apprehension you’ve never had before.

New fears,

New boundaries,

That feeling of “will I be able to take anymore?”

A diagnosis is more than a diagnosis,

It’s a world full of doctors,

Nurses,

Physio and therapists,

It’s healthy food,

Different medication,

Anything that helps with these uncomfortable sensations.

It’s slowing your pace, I

t’s adjusting your life,

It’s self management and making the most of your time.

A diagnosis is more than a diagnosis,

It’s the new look that people give you,

That confused eye people have when they stare,

It’s friends falling away,

You really notice the ones that care,

It’s watching your family in pain,

Them supporting you and you doing the same.

It’s making the most of everyday,

Trying to find yourself at peace, Being as positive as you can whilst adjusting yourself to a new me.

A diagnosis might be what you see on a medical report, For myself and many others a diagnosis truly is so much more.

A diagnosis is more than a diagnosis July 22 copyright

Price $753

Colin Hambrook

My Latest painting in my Men’s Health series, here is the fabulous Colin Hambrook who runs Disability Arts Online. Im sorry for the asterisks Colin and hope Ive put enough in to get away with it! You know what FB is like – Thank you very kindly for this wonderful collaboration

Here is Colin’s Story – Many thanks to Barbara for instigating this project and giving me an opportunity to tell a bit of my story.

So it’s pretty much a miracle that I am still alive after the trauma that was my childhood, formative years and early adulthood. There were a dozen or more occasions when I should have died by accident, design or by my own hand. It’s a complicated story of abuse and neglect. I guess they always are – and that’s part of the reason why such stories continue to remain taboo.

One of several shitty things that happened was a life-changing brain injury incurred on my 13th birthday. I was cycling down a 3:1 hill at high speed, slammed on the front brake to avoid a cat and went flying through the air, landing on my head, much like in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. I woke up in hospital 48 hours later, comatose, concussed, and unable to see because of the extent my head had swollen due to the bruising. I was sent home after a few days without any warnings of the possible consequences of the injury. I was expected to just get on with things in the same way I had pre-accident. There was no explanation of what was to come – the psychotic episodes, the wild mood swings, the inability to concentrate or follow a train of thought effectively and the unreliable short and long-term memory that’s been a part of who I am ever since.

In many ways I’m lucky that my disability was not recognised. I knew from early childhood what a f**k-up Psychiatry is, as my mother was tortured by the b*stards and died as a direct result of ‘treatment’ and I knew to avoid it at all and any cost.

I grew up in a culture dedicated to controlling children with violence in as many brutal ways as possible. My working class schooling was predicated on violence and as children we were largely being groomed to join the forces, which was what my dad wanted for me. For someone like me under Thatcher’s rule that meant training in how to commit indiscriminate murder in Northern Ireland. Thank f**k for punk and the collective will of many in our generation to put two fingers up to the previous one.

I found a way through because of an innate creative will. Drawing, painting, writing and performing were at the root of my ability to endure – as was the Survivor Movement from my mid-twenties and later the Disability Arts Movement that became a lifeline to finding a way to support other disabled creatives like myself. I’m not a great believer in the NHS and have worked all my life to avoid diagnosis. But I do identify with having been disabled by the barriers society has put in the way of validating someone like myself who is disabled, neurodivergent and proud.

Price $753

Ashley Cundall 2023

Thank you Ashley for the wonderful collaboration

Ashely’s Story in his own words

I was most eager to share my experience of an invisible health condition after reading about the opportunity to share my story via this collaboration. If you were to meet me, it would not be apparent at all that I had any disability. However, as an infant, I was diagnosed with a condition called hydrocephalus, which is, to those not ‘au fait’ with the condition is often called ‘water on the brain’ which puts an increasing amount of pressure on the brain. In fact, it is not water at all, but cerebral fluid.

There are three types of the condition: congenital (present at birth), acquired (developed after birth) and normal pressure (which develops as people grow older). It can affect people in many ways, causing long term complications. It can affect people in several ways. With me, I had the congenital form which affected my eyesight and with some physical co-ordination. It damaged an optic nerve, which has an impact peripheral vision. The condition is also known as ‘tunnel vision.’ I have a shunt (thin tube) implanted onto my brain, which drains the cerebral fluid from my brain to my tummy, which has served me well for thirty odd years!

I discovered that I my peripheral vision had been affected later in my childhood, through a routine optician appointment. I did not realise that other people were being dealt a different hand of cards to play with before this. Once I had been diagnosed, many unexplained issues began to make sense and at this point I became even more determined to adapt to the world around me as I already had done before.

The legacy of having had hydrocephalus has sometimes meant a limitation to some fields of work I can have access to, as I will never be able to drive or ride a bicycle moreover. Admittedly this on occasion has made me feel like an outsider in my younger days. Some team sports were also an issue when I was younger, so I have always opted more for fitness, running, aquatic sports and outdoor pursuits when it comes to sport. Conversely, feel so blessed I my forward vision was not affected, which has enabled me to pursue my passion of creating artwork based on my curiosity of the outdoor world. However, I am always extra cautious as any other partially sighted person would be when visiting new places.

Price $526

Trevor Palmer – Mens Health Series 2023

Trevor’s Story in his own words – In 1994, at the age of forty, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which had a detrimental effect on my mobility.

Two years later I was injured in a terrorist bombing incident in Addis Ababa which created balance and hearing issues.

Within twelve months of that incident I became a part time wheelchair user and a couple of years later a wheelchair became my full time means of getting about.

Sixteen years ago I has a Supra Pubic catheter fitted and since then every four or five years have to undergo operations to remove stones from my bladder.

Last autumn a very large stone was detected in my bladder which meant that my tummy and bladder would need to be cut into to remove it. I had to wait over four months for the operation due to my having a skin condition called Bullous pemphigoid which had flared up a few months earlier to improve.

I run a small business which employs mostly people with disabilities as well as running a not for profit voluntary organisation that assists people with disabilities in difficult situations worldwide called ResponsABLE assistance. My activities also include being actively involved in many other projects and organisations, mostly equality, social care and access related.

The challenge of keeping everything together, as well as all the medical stuff due to my operation site getting infected, whilst having to spend most of my time in bed has created additional issues that have effected my general outlook on life that have challenged my mental well-being.

Dealing with doctors,chemists, carers, hospitals and nurses whilst trying to maintain an independent life style has taken its toll.

I love life, people and experiencing all peoples perspectives and views. Sharing stories through visual art, storytelling and touch inspires and motivates me creatively.

Massive thank you to Trevor for the fabulous collaboration

Price $526

Graham Findlay – Men’s Health Series 2023

Massive thanks to Graham for the fabulous collaboration

Graham’s Story In his own words – I’m Graham, I’m 65 and live in Cardiff – I migrated to Wales in 1979 to do a degree. I’m from London originally and never looked back, I love living here. I’ve worked in the disability rights sector in Wales for most of my career, trying to get rid of the many barriers that stop us from being part of what I call civil society. I’ve mainly done policy work, campaigns and tried to influence how society treats us as a group. And I know Trevor Palmer quite well, the subject of one of Barbara’s other portraits – we’ve met up at many disability campaigning events. I’m also a drumming obsessive, hence the cymbal. I used to play years ago,but am now more of a vicarious drummer. I think I want to go back to playing after I recover. I’ve been a disabled person for most of my life – living with a movement disorder called dystonia. It’s genetic and two of my kids have it. It makes your muscles go into spasm in uncontrolled ways, in my case it affects my speech and posture. A bit like Cerebral Palsy, but different. In many ways I’ve been immersed in the medical system since childhood, seeing numerous neurology consultants over the decades (some nice, some not so nice), having tests and procedures and interventions. All that stuff. Being diagnosed with colon cancer just after my 65th birthday was of course still a shock. It’s early days – I’ve had surgery which seems to be successful. And I’m now having four cycles of chemotherapy and have finished the first one. My seven day stay in hospital, recovering from serious surgery, made me reflect about how people see you as an ageing (55 is defined as “older” in Wales!) disabled person and how NHS staff perceived and treated me. A someone with a speech impairment, I’ve had to develop tactics and strategies to speak for myself and to get people to listen to me. All of that went by the board in hospital. I had tremendous difficulty verbally communicating, and eventually resorted to using texts to talk to nurses. Not easy when both arms are connected to several drip lines, and set off alarms when you move a centimetre. This small but significant bit of lived experience made me ponder about the true meaning of independent living for disabled people, an idea that came out of what the disability movement calls the Social Model of Disability. Independent living is a fragile thing, it is a delicate social construction that needs constant vigilance and tendering. Under a Medical Model-driven NHS system, it withers away. Which is why social care must never be merged with our NHS. I suppose I also need to ponder about how we find solutions to all that, too.

Price $ 753

Phil Starr-Mees 2023

Massive thank you to Phil for the fabulous collaboration.

Phil Starr-Mees story in his own words –

Hello my name is Phil Starr-Mees Im a pretty crazy guy, Im an artist I work as 3D Pointcloud Surveryor. I suffer from ASD (Asperger’s Syndrome Disorder) or High Functioning Autism, Klinefelter’s Syndrome and GERD.

It’s always hard to talk about yourself in these things as we just do rather than talk about what we do or who we are, most of us just travel through time day to day in out jobs and daily tasks without actually knowing who we are. We need to be guided by others or we become completely lost and depressed and shut down.

I work as a surveyor which pays the bills, but my real passion is flying and my artwork which is generally aircraft related & Formula one.

I have taken some flying lessons in a Cessna 150 and have a home flight sim I regularly use.

I like to create desk toys, lamps, coffee tables and interesting things to play with or look at using aircraft F1 scrap, Life can be extremely boring so I create things to keep myself occupied. A few of my bits n bobs have been in the press and the BBC have done a story on myself as an artist. I have had my fair share of limelight but Im always itching for more and when younger I wanted to be rich and famous, not there yet but the game isn’t over yet 😉

I”m also a keen traveller & have travelled all over the world, I like fine wines, music, film and Formula one.

I also enjoy meeting new people and networking.

Price $478

John McCafferty 2023

A Massive thank you to John for the wonderful collaboration

John’s story in his own words –

I broke my neck in 2003, aged 21 on a Greek island called Zakynthos near the end of a lads’ holiday. The accident occurred during an 18-30 boat trip, having swam into a cave, through an underwater two metre long tunnel that led to a beach. I could see sunrays and people’s legs as I swam to the other side but with my exit impeded, hit my head on the edge of the cave as I came up. This could have been the start of a prolonged fracture – despite seeming fine following this initial knock, I later developed a significant headache which can indicate a spinal injury

The next day was a blur as I lost two weeks memory, possibly from the trauma or the medication used to place me in an induced coma. Waking up in St. Thomas’ Hospital London with a tracheostomy pipe in my neck connected to a C-PAP machine used to help me breathe, I was told that Ide shallow dived in waist height water on Laganas beach and didnt come back up so was dragged out of the sea and resuscitated by friends. I could barely move for a few weeks in ICU because of spinal shock reducing function, nerve pain and couldn’t talk due to temporary vocal cord damage

Having become a C5/6 complete tetraplegic with limited control of core balance and arms, I was in hospital and spinal rehab for eight months learning to live in a different body and then moved into a nursing home for two years until suitable accessible housing was found. I have lived in a housing association bungalow since 2006 with a care support system in place funded by health and social services. Since then I’ve studied two university degrees and work part-time as a CEO for an accessible arts charity.

I initially took every day as it came with very small progressive ‘steps’ through levels of denial and anger. I reached acceptance after meeting a five year old wheelchair user who asked me to race him and gave me a beating. Greenery and plants have always put me at ease. The organic structure and pace of nature has a positive effect on my mental health when reflecting on my own growth and observing it’s ever-present appetite for survival to produce and consume. Parts of us die and are reborn all the time, hope and insight remain.

Thank you very kindly to John for volunteering

Price $526

Jeff Model 2023

Massive thank you to Jeff for this fabulous collaboration

Here is Jeff’s story in his own words.

In 2008 I suffer from a severe pneumonia and spend two weeks at hospital with 8 days in intensive care. The doctors found that I had very low immunity and my white blood cells doesnt works well due to a myelome.

After seven years of surveys, I’ve started my first treatment of chemio with two bone marrow autograft.

Spending two weeks at hospital in confined room and three weeks for the second one.

I’ve started to model for photographers between these two autograft as all my body was changing, loosing all my hairs and I need to reconnect with this new body. I’ve made photos shooting with Catherine Passerin… beautiful photos of full naked body…

One year after we decided to make a new collaboration using clay to make some photos where I look like a statue…

tried to give all my emotions in the poses to tell what is my mind and soul when facing cancer…

That’s help me so much and now I’m so grateful for artists who wants to draw me from these photos.

Watercolour painting on watercolour paper (22.9 x 30.5 cm) unframed

Price £454 ($565 US) plus package and postage

Remi – Life Model 2023

Here is Remi’s story in his own words: When Doctor said I had a cancer, it was as if he was not talking to me. I felt I was too young and too healthy to have a cancer. I went through chemotherapy and xrays , and went to hospital everyday. I must now wait a few month for a new scan, to determine if a surgery is necessary or not.

As a life model, I had to cancel all my contracts for the season in schools, universities, workshops, and there again I could not believe that it was me, cancelling my contracts. So many times have I heard to enjoy life at the present time and not to focus on the future. Easier said than done, because I have never taken the time to think of the present. I am the kind of man who always makes long term plans, whether realistic or just as a fantasy. But when you fight against a cancer, then you get to learn to enjoy every present moment.

Well, this is what I try to do now, and I must admit that just hearing the birds singing in the morning, as I wake up, make me feel happy. Same with the marvelous odour of the flowers in the trees. The nature can be so beautiful, let’s honour the beauty of nature, which includes human bodies. This is an honour for me to participate in Barbara’s project and to have her paint me nude, in my true body.

Time will say what happens to my condition. But for now, let’s enjoy the present time. I will start to model again on stage next week for the first time. This will be a challenge as I am still tired, but I just can’t wait to enjoy doing again what I love doing !

Materials – watercolour, watercolour paper (22.9 x 30.5 cm) unframed

Price – £454 ($565US) plus package and postage

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ID: watercolour painting of male life model posing with a very strong diagonal slant to his body which goes from the top left of the page to the bottom right, both his arms and his right leg (which is behind his left) follow this diagonal slant, and the line is emphasized by the sword in his right arm, which follows this diagonal line too. The shading of the body is done in green, orange and pink hues and the back ground is purple. With strong shadow shapes extending across the floor from the legs.

Bob (BArt Art) 2023

Thank you very kindly for the wonderful collaboration Bob and the fabulous reference photie. Here is Bob’s story in his own words –

Hi, so, my name is Bob and I use a pseudonym mainly as I do not want naked pictures of me all over fb, as a life model I’m happy with my nudity, but there is a time and place for everything. I’m a 67 year old enforced retired roofer who, up until 9 years ago was happily playing rugby, working hard and enjoying my family, grandkids and all, travel and music, and then a had a small problem ‘downstairs’ which I went to the doctor with, who sent me to the hospital and there we are, bowel cancer, 5 years to live. Bit of a shock, but we’ve caught early and my Dad had said to me ‘ you don’t listen to anyone Bob’ enough times, these didn’t seem a good time to change that. So into hospital, operated on, and stoma bag fitted, chemo, radiotherapy and on we go. As I recover, walking to my neighbours garage, then the next garage and so on along the road, eventually after about 7 months I’m strong enough to walk the Celtic Way through Cornwall. After just over a year they decide to reverse my stoma and I’m feeling good about things, it’s around this time a nurse suggests I take up life modeling as a kind of therapy thing, and she’s right the support from artists etc was immense. Unfortunately the cancer returns and I’m back on the operating table having all my lower bowel removed, yet more chemo’, radiotherapy and cyber knife, this damages my bladder irreversibly so I have had to self catheterise for the last 4 years. I’m acutely aware this sounds like a sob story, which it by no means is, I clearly won’t have a long life, but I do have a very full life, I am still active and surrounded by family and friends who love me. All the best Bob

Materials – Watercolour, pastel, pencil crayon and gold ink on mixed media paper (29.7 x 42 cm) unframed

Price – £639 ($814US) plus package and postage

DM to purchase

Matt Jamie Hale 2023 Men’s Health Series

Thank you very kindly to Jamie Matt Jamie Hale for this fabulous collaboration, here is Jamie’s story in his own words

“I spent a number of years too ill to work, before I was able to find work. When I did, it was mostly because I made that work for myself. I wanted to be in the arts, I was a poet, a writer, a performer, but I couldn’t find accessible opportunities. It’s not just wheelchair access to a stage, but also access to a hoist, somewhere private for medication, and working with organisations that understand the unpredictability that can come with illness. It became quite dispiriting.
However, when I realised that if I wanted to find opportunities that were properly accessible to me, I was going to have to create those opportunities for myself, things started to turn around. That’s when I ran the first CRIPtic Showcase, back in 2019. After that, I realised that if nowhere else was offering these opportunities, then what about everyone else who needed them, not just me – so I set up CRIPtic Arts as a way of making spaces for people who were facing disableist barriers, supporting and developing other artists.
It’s easy to think about how CRIPtic has been a success for other people, but it’s also been a huge success for me. I don’t know where I’d be without it. When I started it, I’d barely worked, I was still early in my creative career, but I had an idea and a passion. The support that other people gave me helped me build the confidence to set it up. I was very nervous at the beginning, and I still get nervous, but I realise that I have learned so much, not just about the arts and leadership, but also about how much I love those things.
I feel very privileged to be doing a job that is this fulfilling. I run CRIPtic, I’m CEO at Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance, and I still have the time and capacity to do my own creative work, which is wonderful. I never thought I’d reach this point in my life. Working surrounded by disabled people is so good for me. I used to be very self-conscious about how I look and sound, but I think I was always measuring myself against non-disabled people and never matching up. Since I’ve been working in disability spaces I’ve come to hate photos far less. I feel more confident in my body, in my performance, and in how I look. A few years ago I’d have been terrified to be drawn or painted, and now I’m just fascinated and excited. It’s wonderful to see how far I’ve come.”

Materials – Watercolour (22.9 x 30.5 cm) unframed

Price – £ 481 ($615US) plus package and postage

DM to purchase

Ivan Riches 2023.

Thank you very kindly to Ivan Ivan Riches for this fabulous collaboration and his wonderful photograph and words.

Here is Ivan’s Story in his own words –

“Me
(designation Ivan Riches in existence from 9 months before 1959)

I am human
Formed from quarks
Forged in stars
And dispersed through time
When the universe was young
My uni form sings in strings
That hold me in place
In time and space

I am an imperfect being
I make mistakes and learn
I constantly change
And consciously try
Not to judge others
Yet challenge their actions
If they try to hurt those I love
A love that’s deep and constant

I am creative
I discover and make images
I play and record music
And I scrawl down my thoughts
And place them in verse
Often with humour
As I can be quite the prick
Taking myself too seriously

I am disabled
With barriers to negotiate
Dictated by the society
In which I am placed
Other people’s opinions
Other people’s judgements
Dictate who they see
But that is definitely not me

I’m a wheelchair owner
After 2 times surgery
On my spine
Impaired by ware and time
From epileptic seizures
My first impairment
And then the tinnitus
Weighs heavy on the best of us

I have been unlucky I suppose
But I am no one’s victim
There is no woe is me
Had my time of self doubt
Of anger at the state of me
But now no longer
I am not to blame
I am who I am, that’s me

I’m politically minded
No political bore
And I try to see people
As who they are
Not their ideology
I don’t care what they are
Or what they were
I care for who they are

I have no religion
Or faith to hold me
I question everything
I believe everyone
And no one
No one is who they seem
Not even me
I believe in what I see

I’m a traveller
In a borrowed suit
As old as hills
As wise as time allows
As stupid as the rest of us
When I slip into pomposity
When I try to paradigm
Or wallow in philosophy

I just want to be
To experience
To learn and see
What is really there
To be awake all the time
Even when sleeping
I am here, it’s time to change
I’m in my very own keeping

Copyright Ivan Riches 21.11.23″

Materials – Watercolour (22.9 x 30.5 cm) (9 x 12 inches) unframed

Price £481 ($615 US) plus package and postage – Prints available for £30 plus package and postage

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Benjamin Zephaniah 2023

Thank you very kindly to @robertoricciutiphotography for kind permission to use his photograph to base my portrait on.

Here is a tiny bit about Benjamin compared to everything he has done and said over the years –

Benjamin Zephaniah – Poet, Novelist and Children’s Writer
Benjamin Zephaniah struggled with school, leaving at the age of 13. He did not know he was dyslexic or learn to read and write until he became an adult. This did not stop him from becoming an extremely successful poet. He talks openly about his dyslexia to increase understanding and contributed to the RASP (Rebelling Against Spelling Press) anthology Forgotten Letters.
In addition to poetry he has written, songs, plays, novels, nonfiction and children’s books. His poems are taught in schools and he has worked as a TV presenter.
Benjamin Zephaniah he has won many awards, including the BBC Young Playwright’s Award. He has honorary doctorates from a wide range of universities. He was listed at 48 in The Times’ list of 50 greatest postwar writers and has been repeatedly rated as one of the most influential British poets of all time in BBC poles. He was offered an OBE, but rejected it as he felt it was incompatible with his beliefs.
He was one of the contributors to ‘Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Literature by Dyslexic Writers’. My understanding is that this was the first anthology of dyslexic writing and poetry produced in this country…
In 2015 Benjamin Zephania did an interview with Disability Now podcast which indicates that he did, in some way, identify as disabled, though the podcast doesn’t play so I was unable to get access to it. But here he is in an older interview regarding being dyslexic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJTwVJLJzyI&t=2s

You can find out more about Benjamin Zephaniah and his work at: https://benjaminzephaniah.com/

Materials – Watercolour and Gouache ( 30.5 x 40.6 cm) (12 x 16 inches) unframed

Price – £639 ($814) plus package and postage
Prints – £40 plus package and postage

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Jamie Shields 2024
Thank you very kindly to Jamie for this fabulous collaboration
Here is Jamie’s story
“I struggled with internalised ableism all my life. I thought being Disabled made me weak, made me less than. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. As a child, I was labelled as “special”, a word that made my needs different from others. A label that made me ashamed, a label which meant adults treating me differently or kids excluding me. Being excluded because of my Disability made me feel angry. Angry at the world and angry at myself. I grew into a teenager who didn’t want to talk about his disability. I didn’t have many friends and I struggled to navigate a society not designed for me. The shame of being disabled followed me into adulthood, where I bounced from pillar to post trying to gain and retain employment. I knew by then that being disabled made me the problem. Or so I thought.
I didn’t know that it wasn’t actually me and if you told me this then I would have never believed you. Being Disabled wasn’t the problem. It was the disabling barriers and systemic ableism of society that was the problem. When I look back at the pain, anger, and depression that had a hold on my life, it makes me sad, but it also motivated me. I don’t want to sit back anymore and continue to be disabled by society. I wanted to smash barriers; I wanted to help people unlearn ableism; I wanted to stop others being Disabled by society. I describe myself as a Registered Blind ADHD Rhino, and just like rhinos change ecosystems, I believe Disabled People can change the disabling ableist barriers in society that disable us. I believe that by sharing our life experiences, our experiences of ableism, and by working together, we can begin to dismantle the barriers that for too long have only fostered internalised ableism.”

Materials – Watercolour and Gouache, size (22.9 x 30.5 cm) unframed

Price – £481 + P n P ($615US + P n P)
Prints – £30 + P n P
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Puneet Singh Singhal – 2024

Thank you very kindly to Puneet for this fabulous collaboration – here is Puneet’s story in his own words

“My life journey has been a rollercoaster so far. I was born in New Delhi, in one of Asia’s largest unauthorised slum colonies called Sangam Vihar. It is home to a vast number of the working class and I suffered there due to poverty. Even drinking water and access to toilets was a luxury. According to the Times of India, 90% of the criminals of southern Delhi come from this neighbourhood, and youngsters are indulged in all sorts of illegal activities. For the youth, there are hardly any obvious opportunities and there’s been a steep increase in the number of suicides among youngsters due to lack of employment.
As a child I witnessed violence amongst adults for the first time. I felt wounded and so numb that I used to stand in one place for hours without having a single thought. I found myself in shackles. Before, I was scared to sit in the dark, but at this point I found refuge in darkness. I stopped communicating.
The school stage that used to be my comfort zone changed into a battlefield. When I was asked a question, my words wouldn’t come out. One day, the whole class started to stammer “Gu-gu-gu-good morning”, and I realised that they were mocking me. My classmates and their parents even complained to the principal that I could be a bad influence and make all of them stammerers. My mother couldn’t believe that her son, whose tongue was as fast as a train and sharp as a razor, was struggling with his speech. Being subjected to constant mocking, I completely lost my confidence.
I used different strategies to ease my stammering: finding alternatives for words I generally got stuck on; reducing my statements to a minimum; or arriving late to avoid introducing myself. When people tried to help by asking me to slow down or by finishing my sentences, it made me even more self-conscious. And then there were these weird and rather dangerous pieces of advice, like licking ashes of cremated bodies or rubbing alum on the tongue until the upper layer was removed.
Looking back, my childhood was not easy, but do I regret having a stammer? No. It made me a more sensitive human being. I feel connected with all who are unable to express their thoughts and long to be understood.
Spending time and discussing different topics with other social changemakers from diverse cultures, countries and backgrounds is making me think deeper and giving me a whole new perspective.”

Materials – watercolour (29.7 x 42 cm) A3 unframed

Price – £639 ($814US) + P n P

Prints £40 + P n P

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SOLD

Scott Whitney 2024

Thank you very kindly to @isobelgcreative for kind permission to use her photograph to paint from and Thank you to Scott for this fabulous collaboration.

Here is Scott’s story in his own words

“I became disabled and a wheelchair user in 2020, but had to wait for my diagnosis. Prior to gaining my diagnosis I propelled himself 3 miles in my wheelchair and a further 6 miles using an arm exercise bike in a month. In doing this I raised over £4,000 for The Brain Charity. Two weeks later I founded All 4 Inclusion CIC, which is a social enterprise whose goal is to reduce loneliness in the disabled community.

I see how unaccessible society and business in general are and how there are some easy fixes that could support every one.

I became disabled in 2020 a long diagnosis process and an employer who didn’t treat me right had left me with scars in my mental health

There were times I tried to end everything

But I decided to raise money for the brain charity before starting my own not for profit all 4 inclusion

The vision of all4inclusion is to reduce loneliness in the disabled community. Currently we put on three groups a week but will upscale to 28 by 2030

I have FND, suffer seizures, visual snow syndrome, sleep apnoea and what has only every been described as very complex health disorders

I love food, reading and watching rugby

I grew up in Cornwall spending lots of time on beaches and traded it for sunny Manchester”

Materials – watercolour (25 x 25 cm) unframed

Price – £450 plus P n P ($573 plus p n p)

Prints available for £30

ORIGINAL SOLD

Title – Spenny, Mens Health Series 2024

Here is a wee bit about Spenny : –

“Spencer ‘Spenny’ Bates was a complete one off. A talented musician and wonderful father, he held a special place in the hearts of all who knew him, and this was reflected by having more than 750 people attend his funeral. He was many things to many people, a well-known and talented musician, a keen footballer, a loyal and trusted friend and always the party starter! Whilst living with this terrible disease (Motor Neurone Disease), Spenny worked tirelessly to raise as much awareness of and money for motor neurone disease research and wanted his legacy to be that his family carried on in his name until a cure is found. The family continue to fundraise to this day.

He is much loved and missed by so many.”

Materials – Watercolour size (22.9 x 30.5 cm)

Price – Starting price of £400 – to be auctioned for charity

To Purchase contact – https://artistsagainstmnd.org.uk/

Title – Mark Webb Men’s Health Series 2024
Thank you very kindly to Mark @markwebb99 for this wonderful collaboration
Here is Mark’s story in his own words
“Yes, yes, I’m disabled by MS, a progressive disease with no cure. I’m a full-time wheelchair user with a smorgasbord of symptoms.
But sod that, I’m a happy husband of one amazing wife, father of two wonderful boys. Public speaking and an activist for all things diversity and kindness.
I wear loud clothing and lacquer my hair nonsense colours. Partly because it’s the cheapest mid-life crisis I could find. Mostly because I was fed up with being stared at.
Better to stand out for my clothes taste than for my chair and Suprapubic catheter!
I have TEDx’d. Now to write a book.”
Materials – Watercolour on watercolour paper A3 size (29.7 x 42 cm)
Price – £639 Plus P n P ($814 plus p n p)
Prints – £40 plus P n P
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Title – Eduardo Replinger Fuentes – Mens Health Series 2024

Thank you very kindly to Eduardo for this fabulous collaboration and here is Eduardo’s story in his own words

“My name is Eduardo Replinger, I am an autistic artist, throughout my life I have had to fight against the misunderstanding of others from a very young age, as a child I have suffered bullying at school and this situation has been perpetuated throughout my entire life. The last thing I have experienced was situations of harassment and discomfort where I worked.”

Materials – Watercolour and pencil crayon , size ( 30.5 x 22.9 cm) unframed

Price – £481 + P n P ($615US + P n P)
Prints – £30 + P n P
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Title – Michael (Jimmy Mac) Mens Health Series 2024

Here is Michael’s story in his own words, thank you for the collaboration JiJimmy Mac“I was only a nipper when polio silently crept in and chose me from all the others on the housing estate. Why me? And me mother already stigmatised because she was Roma … and the old feller said he cried when they removed the plaster and revealed my withered leg and left foot…. You cried!!
Still there you have it, all over before it had begun, the seed was planted, it was a fuck up, a false start, left at the starting line. When the smoke had lifted.
What a hassle this polio has caused, I wonder all the time if I would have been the same quality of gobshite, without the big “P”
Anyway I did achieve the status of “One Hit Mick” because of the kids I punched the face off for calling me a “spazzy” …something for the cause.
I always blamed the polio for making me an alcoholic bag of nerves wint no ambition, still alone with endless retrospection. Having to walk in this mystery.”

Materials – Watercolour (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

Price – £639 (+PnP) ($814 + shipping)
Prints – £40 (+PnP)

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Title – David Rose – Men’s Health Series 2024

Thank you very kindly to David for this fabulous collaboration. Here is David’s story in his own words

“My name is David Rose, I am 35 years old and based in Essex, UK. I’m very lucky to live with my beautiful fiancé, Sarah. She has been incredibly supportive since day one of being together.
I’m living with an ultra-rare disease known as occipital horn syndrome. There are an estimated 20 people globally, I’ve found 5 others via social media.
Originally, I was diagnosed loosely with ehlers danlos syndrome (EDS) as a toddler, but in my early 20’s I went though genetics testing to see if the diagnosis was correct. Occipital horn syndrome used to be considered one of the rare EDS subtypes.
As you’d expect, it’s very isolating living with a rare disease with such a tiny prevalence. I also live with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) – a more common chronic illness, that is linked to many connective tissue conditions.
I spent large chunks of childhood and teenage years at hospital, mostly at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Having had over 100 surgeries and procedures over the years, my body has been through and will continue to go through a lot – for the rest of my life.
I’ve been a catheter user since I was 7. I underwent the Mitrofanoff surgery at Great Ormond Street. Although I can pass urine through his urethra, his lack of connective tissue and collagen has meant I can’t pass enough urine, therefore causing a backlog and lots of infections. The Mitrofanoff surgery, although not perfect, has given me a better quality of life.
I’ve always had to adapt my life – whether that’s through my working life, studying or day to day living – almost every day is trial and error. As you’d expect, it’s been mentally draining and as a result, my mental health has been affected.
For the last couple of years, I’ve been nude life modelling for art classes in London, Suffolk and Essex.
Although I never had body confidence issues, rather just body neutrality, by doing the life modelling, I’ve grown in confidence and has learnt to love my body – despite the surgery scars and the unusual muscular skeletal system my rare disease has given me.”

Materials – Watercolour (30.5 x 40.6 cm) unframed

Price – £639 ($814) Plus P n P
Prints – £40 Plus P n P

DM to purchase