In 2013, and have used my newfound skills to change my life around for the good. Since my release in 2016 I have utilized my time to complete three college courses in art and photography to inform and progress my understanding of the arts, improve my knowledge and help me to convey my artwork to a wider audience. My new goals are to overcome prejudice dealing with being labelled as an ‘ex-prisoner’ and to help change or challenge people’s perceptions of such labelled people in society through my artwork. I hope to show that people can and do change via the rehabilitation processes and programmes set in place through the prison service if given the chance. Hopefully I can be a part of that system to help others in the way I was helped. Another goal I have is to take art classes in prison. My personal art works shows my life journey through my pain and struggles of my past life transitioning through my journey into the art world. While serving time in prison, I took part in an art project. It was a memorial of the Holocaust, a visual, and audio exhibit. Around the same time, I had a spiritual encounter, while on LSD. I asked for proof that God was real, I asked for a son and a career, in Art. My first child was conceived 2 days after my release. And my life started to change for the better, am now happy to say that am a Christian.
I do work for commission. I normally work from photographs, but can draw from life as well. I took ill in 2021. I was taken into hospital, with my lungs filled to 93% pomposity of blood, both my kidneys had died, and my heart was damaged. I was placed into an induced coma, to be kept alive. When I woke up, I had a vision of Jesus, which I drew once I could. I found out that I had to be put onto kidney dialysis. While on Dialysis, I joined the Renal Arts Group. I've now became the Co Chair of RAG, alongside Professor Helen Noble QUB. I had a kidney transplant in December 2021, Unfortunately the kidney ruptured. I had to have life saving operation on Christmas Day 2021. But I had a life changing transplant on 6th of January 2023. I have made the link between being on dialysis and being in prison, as having the same impact on your mental health. Due to being confined to a small space for a long period of time, against your will. I know because I’ve done both. Hopefully my story/influence can help others dealing with either of these issues, in my new found rolls working for Prison Arts Foundation and Co. Chair of the Renal Arts Group.
Exhibitions
Memories, Dreams and Reflections: 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast. 31st October to 12th November, 2023.
Honorary Lecturer, Queens University, Belfast. I was giving this title for work I do for the Renal Arts Group.
Art Behind Bars: Documentary to be shown on BBC1 BBC Network on 1st September 2023. this documentary is all about the power of art, Its me returning to the place were I took up art properly HMP Magilligan to do a project with 2 people who are currently serving a prison sentence.
Memories, Dreams and Reflections: Artcerta Studio, Belfast 1st of August to the 12th August 2023, Solo Exhibition.
The Secret Artist: Documentary filmed for BBC1 NI, currently on BBC I PLAYER, I took part in this documentary along with 4 other Northern Irish, artists. It shows our journey to enter the RUA annual exhibition in 2022.
Art Project For Young People In Holywood: June & July 2022 I done a 10 week art project with young people from Holywood, were we designed then produced an art mural at the side of Tesco Holywood. Working along with Tesco, Kilcooley alternatives, CFC Holywood and the PNSI.
Memories, Dreams and Reflections: Bangor Carnegie Library 3rd – 29th June 2022, First Solo Exhibition.
Melting Pot 5: ArtCetera Studio 4- 16th April 2022.
PAF Exhibition: Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, 31st March 2022.
Vibrancy Collab Exhibition: ArtCetera Studio Belfast 17th February 2022 to 19th February 2022.
Community Art Project: Bangor Foodbank June 2021, art project at Bangor Foodbank, me and some young people from the local community designed and painted a mural at the side of Bangors foodbank , working alongside local community groups and the PSNI.
Unlock Exhibition: Dunamaise Art Centre: Portlaoise, Ireland: 11th January – 29th February 2020. Director General of the Irish Prison Service MS Caron McCaffery and Mr. Charlie Flanaghan TD: Minister for Justice and Equality. I think this was a big moment in my life, a person from my background (an ex loyalist paramilitary) meeting with the Irish Justice Minister, just goes to show the power of art.
Pathways Exhibition: Lisburn Library: Octus Art: 1st November 2019- 31st December 2019.
Transformation Exhibition: The Curve Gallery: Bangor Carnegie Library: Dual exhibition with Bobby
Mathieson: 1st-29th November 2019.
Unlock Exhibition: Kilmainham Gaol: Dublin: 17th International Conference of the European Prison Education Association: 14th June- 21st July 2019.
Pathways Exhibition: Curve Gallery: Bangor Carnegie Library: Octus Art Exhibition: 3rd-31st May 2019.
Creative Energy Exhibition: Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts: Belfast: Prison Arts: 28th March- 5th April 2019.
VIEWPOINTS Exhibition: North Down Museum: Bangor: Octus Art: November 2018.
Crumlin Road Gaol Exhibition: Prison Arts: Belfast: June 2018.
Artists Statement
I am an artist/Photographer from Northern Ireland. I took up art in prison.
