My World, Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
The pain and immobility of a frozen shoulder, part of my menopause journey, inspired this painting. I took Andrew Wyath's Christina's World and invisaged it from the other side. Even setting the camera up and getting into position caused me pain. But I was not angry at my body changing. Even though it seemed to be a personal insult. Your children have grown up. You no longer need your arms to hold them.
Grow Your Vision
Tara with Ivy, Oil on Canvas, 30x70cm
Tara is a woman who is constantly having to defend herself against a hostile environment. LED lights, an angry response, a barking dog can send her body into shut down causing her to fit. An artist in her own right, Tara is exploring the accused women of Scotland, many of whom were tortured and killed for 'witchcraft'. Tara feels a connection with these women, as her own trauma and neurodivergence has marked her as different and has provoked fear and ostracisation. The ivy is a symbol of the strength and gentle persistence of ivy, reclaiming its ability to embrace and reclaim rigid structures. It is also a symbol of female sexual power.
This project presents a series of portraits of self-identified ‘Defiant Women’. From an initial social media post in 2023 asking little more than if anyone would like to be involved in a Defiant Women project, I received a huge response. I was greatly moved by an early participant who sent me a poem responding to this theme and this response has urged me forward, despite many set backs.
Why are women identifying as defiant? Why are so many wanting to reclaim this label? And why is defiance a necessary survival strategy in today’s world. This is what this project seeks to explore.
This project came to mind initially through the young women in my life experiencing harm and adversity, simply because of their gender. In the current climate there is an undoubtable backlash against the freedom of women and girls and I am horrified to see my daughter and her peers fighting for bodily autonomy , respect and self-direction in the light of continuing misogyny and violence– they are fighting my mother’s battles.
Contemporary, objectified and stereotyped paintings of women in a 'classical' format add to my anger. As artists, we should be doing better. Women who make their way ARE defiant. They have to be. This is my own small fight.
Greta. Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
I was hiding my head under the covers every time news of Gaza came on the news. It was all too complicated. All too scary. All too controversial.
And then this woman stood on the deck of the Freedom Flotilla, bringing food. Her actions and that of her team simplified everything. People are starving. Feed them.
Just as she did with climate action, she showed those of us who should be older and wiser how to cut through the lies and propaganda and to see things as they really are.
This is the only 'celebrity' in this series so far.
Shams. Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
Nerys. Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
Nerys's defiance grew as she did, as she was fighting for her native language, Welsh, to be recognised and nurtured.
As Priest of St Mary's Episcopalian Church in Dunblane, her work continues, defiantly challenging the status quo, supporting and celebrating marginalised communities and finding new ways to be inclusive.
Tara with Flower. Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
This was my first painting of Tara.
Tara is an artist in her own right, currently working on her 'Witches' Stitches' project. This is a project to commemorate the accused women of Scotland, accused of being witches because of their medical skill and knowledge, because of disabilities or differences or merely because they were too opinionated.
Millions, by Marijke
I carry a hidden weight
Always
It does not fit my body
But lingers, awkwardly
Heavy at times
My rapist lives like an innocent man
Light
Free
I was told to conceal the weight
Be light
Be free
So I lived
Standalone.
But I am not alone
I am one of millions
One refusing to let others be forsaken
One standing alongside those who stand heavy
Defying the weight of self-blame
And shame society loads onto its victims
I’ve cast off this load
It belongs not to me
The survivor.
Now
I stand fast
Stand tall
Stamping evil out
Giving weight to truth
Living light
Living free
Not just for me
But for the millions.
Millions, Marijke. Oil on Canvas. 30x60cm
Sydney, They/Them, Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm.
Conforming to the strict binary stereotypes of gender at High School was not something Sydney was ever going to do. Sydney forged their own path and they are still forging it now.
