|
| 1960 |
|
Born. |
| 1961 |
|
Started
drawing. |
| 1979 |
|
First onset of
mental health problems. |
| 1979 |
|
Went to Croydon
College - started graphic design training. |
| 1980 |
|
Started work as a
screenprinter. |
| 1985 |
|
Started
professional opera training. |
| 1986-89 |
|
Worked for Station
House Opera Company - toured France, Holland, UK and
Spain with 'Bastille Dances' production. |
| 1990 |
|
Desktop Publishing
training at Croydon College. |
| 2000 |
|
Started art and
music work with Sound Minds - a mental health support
group in Wandsworth. |
 I'm
an artist, a musician, a trained opera singer and a poet.
I play in two rock bands, I've sung opera internationally,
and I've produced a book of poetry. But at the moment my speciality
seems to be paintings of fish! For some reason people really
like them. I'm also a graphic designer - I've worked in screenprinting
for fifteen years.
It was in the early days of working in screenprinting that
my manic depression first came on. It's a mucky job, day in,
day out, and there was a lot of pressure to do overtime. I
think I felt quite trapped. I kept getting ill and then going
back to work. I was a good worker, so my boss was quite understanding.
But in the end, I realised I really had to do the things I
love doing. Nine-to-five isn't for everyone. I haven't really
looked back since making that decision. I think I see the
world with a lot more colour now. I think there can be positive
aspects to having mental illness. People with mental health
problems often have big dreams. Look at all the great
art they've produced through the ages. Sometimes I say depression
is like a spade: dirty, but useful.
Discrimination
- my experience:
One of the worst aspects of discrimination - and I think
for me it's a combination of being black as well as a
mental health issue - is that whenever you need public
services, you have to develop a really thick skin. Which
is hard, especially when you're ill, and you're looking
for help and safety. The thing is, people see you as a
problem. They don't care or understand about you as a
human being. |
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