A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN.....

A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE

I was born on the 13 May 1965 . I put myself through night school and became a joiner by trade. Working with wood was my life, but all was about to change, one Saturday morning in August of 1999 -   a very busy day was on the cards, but by 6 o’clock that evening I found myself in a hospital bed, having done no work at all.

After 16 days in hospital, I came back home to my new life as a stroke victim. Why me, what had I done to deserved this? I Felt angry and  frightened. I felt as if I was a total waste of space.

As time marched on it was suggested that I might join an art group as I had shown an interest in art at school. It was against my better judgment at the time, but how wrong could I have been. No one thought I would be back after the first week - 'I was not that impressed' but people kept on pushing me. “You need to get out of the house,” they would say, “Your wife needs a break.” So I kept on going. 

I dread to think now what life would have been like without the group. Painting has given me a second chance - a new life. Life can still cause me problems like forgetting how to do things - how to mix colours -  not having a steady hand etc. However, when  I enter exhibitions, competitions and the like, in amongst the able bodied I am on a level playing field and no one can see any disability. 

So pick up a brush or pencil and have ago, time will soon pass, and like me you will find that the days are not long enough any more. 

Paint what you like, be a rebel and break the rules, paint for yourself and if others like it you may sell a few pictures on the way.

I have appeared on television June /July of 2002, on HTV “The Weekend Show”, as well as applying for “Watercolour Challenge” (but the programme was not commissioned by Channel 4 for 2003). Also I regularly enter the Theatre Royal (Bath) Christmas card fundraiser competition. The Enigma awards in the Frome Cheese Show and any other competition I may hear about each year.

Plans for the future - I will be making some limited addition prints available of some of my more popular artwork, and I will be having my own exhibition in  2004. I will of course continue to keep up the high profile of Frome’s Society for Disabled Artists.

EMAIL CLIVE

Clive