Lorraine

“I feel lucky to have had my art to get me through the lockdown. My day usually starts with a walk on the local meadows… There is new life springing up everywhere — the wild garlic patch, which we collected from to make soup has just started to appear — reminding me, it is over a year since the pandemic happened. As I look down in the pond, I can see new life, the frogspawn has appeared. Feeding the swans, ducks, and geese has been uplifting and funny at times, watching the hierarchy within the groups. As soon as I get home, I start working on my art. I have started working from my front room window — I was a little shy at first, but I have found it to be really nice. I have a little fan base, who wave to me as they go past my house. The postman has become very interested in my art, and we have now become firm friends. I have really enjoyed my days in lockdown, just making the most of what we have around us. However, I feel sad that others haven’t got the same privileges or resources, and I do wonder how we can help the homeless in the future… A Manchester-based charity ​‘Embassy’ has plans to make a community for homeless people — repurposing shipping containers. I think this is a wonderful idea, which I think is a step in the right direction. I am really looking forward to seeing it completed, and it giving hope and a new future for the homeless.”