Being Human Exhibition

Dementia steals, but also gives when you listen.

I was successful in having three paintings accepted for the Being Human Exhibition, St Paul’s Gallery, Th Crossing, Walsall WS1 1 DA.

These paintings were done over the final year of my father’s life as he suffered with vascular dementia. During his more lucid periods he could recounts stories of his youth, days on the beach at Newbiggin on the North East coast and his first days down the mine in Ashington as a boy of 13.

They were painted using coal dust and damar resin, back in the studio after numerous sketches done sitting caring for my dad, Billy Boy, he no longer thought he was old but only remembered those days growing up in the 6th Row pit man’s houses against Ashington Colliery wall. His best friend was Jackie Milburn, they played football together in the back rows, school, Ashington, and for a short time they both played for Toon, Newcastle United., my dad in as a goalie.