There is addiction in my family, and I do not know what to do about it. My response is to create this project called "Addicts And Those Who Love Them, behind every addict is someone traumatised by loving them" with the intention to exhibit the paintings and words, and raise awareness, understanding and interest in the difficult subject of addiction. I aim to keep exhibiting, adding to the works as I go along, and tell as many stories as I can.

I am a portrait painter by profession. I have painted portraits of those in addiction, those out of addiction, family and friends who are caught up in the crazy, lonely, frightening world of living with an addict, and those working with addicts to try and help. Onto each portrait I have painted the words of the sitter. The operative word in the title is Love. How can we love those who are so destructive, manipulative, chaotic? But we do. Our love is tough, and starts with ourselves, but it is real.

My dear friends and colleagues Marie Paul and Michael McAlister are also showing their drawings and photographs around their own experiences of addiction and recovery.

This exhibition is about telling stories. I want to know who is behind the addict, and to see their humanity. This is counter intuitive to most of us, but inside every addict is a child, a parent, a sibling, a person, a soul.

I am raising money to host exhibitions of this work, to create the paintings, to travel to interview the people taking part in the shows, to buy my materials and to pay for the galleries, admin, travel and living expenses. Your donations will pay for me to do this work. Your donations will help to enable those who are forgotten, dismissed and judged, to be seen and heard, and in turn, their portraits and words touch those who visit the exhibitions, and create compassion, awareness and hope. Your donations fund the stories and portraits of the friends and family members who are ashamed, alone and vulnerable and dealing with an addicted loved one. I could not do this without you, and your kind donations. Thank you so much.

The next exhibition of Addicts And Those Who Love Them is from 12 - 26 May 2022, as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival, at the Fishing Quarter Gallery Brighton BN1 1NB.

For just five pounds a month you can help me continue with my work on addiction and also on end of life on Patreon. I share behind the scenes videos, and information for all my subscribers, plus other benefits, and look forward to having you join me. Patreon page here