After attending the London Art Fair earlier this year, I came across the Arts Emergency stall. They’re a charity that supports young people with lack of resources by offering access to opportunities, mentoring and networking in the arts. Their work resonated with me, it feels vital to make space for all voices in a world where opportunities aren’t evenly shared.
Growing up in a small town with few arts or cultural spaces, I’ve seen how easily people can feel like the creative industries aren’t for them. When arts funding is being cut in state schools and access to creative spaces and outlets are limited, the path can feel invisible, or like something reserved for others.
What resonated with me most was how Arts Emergency actively works to challenge that, to widen the scope of possibility. It reminded me how deeply our environments shape what we think we can do. I wanted to contribute somehow, but I didn’t just want to give money, I wanted to create something more tangible.
While reading their manifesto, one line stood out to me: “The Future is Another Place.”
It mirrored the themes in my practice, tension and stillness, presence and absence, but also this persistent pull and hope towards something more, and these glimmers of light we can find in these fragments of uncertainty and disruption.
I wanted the print to hold a sense of potential, rooted but reaching. I looked at clouds, skies, fragments of land, and colour references like Monet’s violets and golden contrasts. This piece is about stillness, resilience, and hope for a better world.
You can watch the video here and support Arts Emergency by purchasing the print here.
The Future is Another Place, 30 x 40cm, Giclee Fine Art Print, 2025