An exhibition showcasing the work of members from the Huntington's community takes place in November.

We have come across many artists within the Huntington's community. For some, art is a way to focus, distract from symptoms or find purpose and joy. In a small town on the outskirts of the Cotswolds, the Paris Church kindly agreed to showcase the work of eight artists all of whom are affected by Huntington's disease. Carol Dutton, Specialist Adviser for the South West of England has been working tirelessly with the artists and the church to put this exhibition together.

Meet the artists

Bert

Bert has always had a strong love of the natural world. His novel, A Song for Jo, and many of his poems evoke the rhythms of nature through their song-like descriptions. The collection of poems was published two years ago and is a collection of poems written at various times in Bert’s life. A favourite with many people is ‘The Bells of York’, a beautiful and lyrical poem written after a visit to York Minster.

Despite Huntington's disease, Bert continues to live happily with his family in the beautiful Forest of Dean, surrounded by the natural world he loves. As he writes in his poem, Sacred: A love of nature brings solace to us. Knowing nature is a refuge from the storm. Being at peace with nature is a home.

Charlotte

Charlotte has had a passion for art, textiles and fashion from day dot. As a teenager she enjoyed screen printing designer names on to sweatshirts and upcycling old jeans into mini-skirts. She went on to train as a textile teacher, specialising in woven textiles during her degree. Charlotte later changed career direction and worked as a carer for many years but continued to make cards and bespoke decorations in her spare time. More recently, Charlotte has enjoyed abstract painting, using bold colour and textural paint. 

Charlotte made The Coca-Cola dress - a part of a project whilst she was at school. It usually has pride of place in Charlotte's home, she is proud of this piece and hopes you have as much pleasure viewing it as she has showing it to others.

Clair

Clair studied Art at Basingstoke College and a BA in Ceramics at the Falmouth College of Arts. Shortly after her BA, Clair opened her own ceramics studio at the Viables Craft Centre in Basingstoke.

Clair achieved a postgraduate diploma in teaching, worked in adult education, and taught courses in art and ceramics.

Elise

Elise loved Visual Arts from a very young age so it was no surprise that, when leaving school, she decided to take an Arts Foundation course in Cheltenham. Elise went on to study at both Glasgow and Winchester Schools of Art. Elise lives in the Forest of Dean with her family where she is inspired by the landscape of rivers and woodland that surround her. Her love of colour, shape and stitch is very evident in the beautiful pieces she creates.

Elise is able to spend time every week creating her artwork and she derives such pleasure from it. Elise is very ably assisted in her own home by Lizzie Godden, a textile artist and tutor at Artspace in Cinderford. Whilst all design decisions and drawing of shapes are undertaken by Elise, Lizzie is able to assist her on many levels; through discussion of ideas, companionship, encouragement and also practical cutting and stitching.

Evie

Evie’s creative journey started at a very young age. Art for Evie continues to be a life force, a way of experiencing her presence in the world.

It has always managed to keep her on track regardless of life's adversities, and so it continues.

Kate

After gaining a Degree in Fine Art at Nottingham Poly in 1987, Kate continued to paint on and off whilst working as a cook in various jobs part-time. Kate has held a number of exhibitions in the Stroud area, and was commissioned to paint two large canvases for a client whose renovation of The Cheltenham Underground House was featured on Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs.

Her work is semi-abstract, inspired by Howard Hodgkin, Matisse and Ben Nicholson and draws on natural themes, leaving plenty of room for viewer interpretation.

Spencer

Spencer studied Physics and after several years teaching physics, he went on to Birmingham University and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Physics. Throughout his life he has also been very creative and as his Huntington's disease became more apparent and he was no longer able to work he began renovating and upcycling broken furniture. Using his creative flair and computer skills he produced items that instead of hiding the imperfections of the pieces, celebrated them. This also seemed to be a poignant analogy of his own health situation.

Always an avid reader many of the objects were inspired by literature or his love of music. As time moved on and he could no longer use a brush or sander, he found other ways to express his need to create. Using an ipad he now creates abstract images using different pallets and brushes and manipulated with his fingers, which we print onto canvas and velvet. And so his Creative journey continues.

Steven

Steven worked as an Architectural Technician at Gloucester-based firm Astam. Having been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, Steven attended Sue Ryder Leckhampton Hospice as a day patient in 2018. The success of Steven’s artwork led to the creation of a new Artist in Residence Programme at the Hospice, he was the first person to take up this role. The partnership with Sue Ryder made links with the Art Department at The King’s School Gloucester to show his monoprinting techniques.

This visit helped raise awareness about the challenges of living with a condition like Huntington’s disease and demonstrated first-hand the benefits of creativity for wellbeing.

Event information