Brain injury survivors show their artistic sides with first public exhibition at Stratford Circus

‘Birds’ by Headway artist Laura Wood

A group of budding artists, all of whom have survived a traumatic brain injury in adulthood, are currently displaying their work in public for the first time.

The exhibition, at Stratford Circus Arts Centre, is organised by Headway East London, the Hackney-based charity that provides specialist support for the range of impairments and disabilities that can result from a brain injury.

All the artists attend Headway at least once a week at its HQ on Kingsland Road for a range of services including counselling, physiotherapy and advocacy.

But when I visit the centre, I find that it is also something of a social club too, with members and volunteers chatting and listening to reggae music.

Staff member Laura Owens shows me around and tells me about some of the activities available for its 170 members.

These include discussion groups, trips to the Castle Climbing Centre and days out on Segways.

“We have a choir that sometimes will just break out into song in the main space,” she says.

But one of its greatest success stories is its art studio, located in an converted arch.

‘Elvis in London’ by Cecil Waldron

The studio is a nest of creativity, filled with easels and artwork including a sculptor of a polar bear and a huge canvas depicting London in vibrant colours.

It is here that members can take part in workshops or just come and pick up a paintbrush and let rip for half an hour.

“Nearly all our members are long term unemployed,” says Laura.

“That’s why we have projects that help to develop skills because actually a lot of them won’t be able to return to work and they’ve had a lot happen to them.

“Perhaps relationships have broken down and they’ve lost confidence and feel isolation in the community – so we’re trying to build that back up again.”

Judging by some of the work that is in the exhibition, they seem to be succeeding in that ambition.

A painting by Laura Wood shows a flock of exotic birds with long and snaking plumage. Another artwork, by Cecil Waldron, shows Elvis Presley on a jolly in central London.

Artist Brian Searle with two of his paintings

Brian Searle has four pieces in the exhibition. He can usually be found in the art studios, poring over his latest canvas or teaching other members different styles.

The 56-year-old, who was born and raised in Hackney, was involved in a motorcycle accident when he was 16.

It changed his life and even led to him sleeping rough for a time.

“I worked on and off with my brain injury but didn’t realise how much it had affected me. Headway wasn’t about back then,” he says.

Brian has written his life story for the Headway website, in which he tells how his injury led to mood swings, tiredness and constant pain, which he used to deal with by drinking alcohol.

“I’ve had a lot of nightmares because of it and I’ve suffered depression too,” he says.

Brian left school at 12 but always enjoyed making art at home. Through the encouragement and help of residents on the estate where he lives he got accepted onto an art foundation course.

From there he went on to study Fine Art at university, achieving a 2:1 in the process.

Now that he gets to make art every day in the Headway art studio, Brian has begun to view art as his profession.

Some of the paintings he shows me relate directly to his injury. One is a stark image of a skull with the brain on view. It is labeled ‘Prisoner Of My Own Mind’.

Brian says art makes him feel less of a prisoner of his own mind by letting him get his emotions out on the canvas.

But other works have no discernible relation to his injury. After a successful private exhibition for RBS, he is currently creating merchandise for Oyster card covers, which are set to go on sale in March.

They are reproductions of black and white images of London, but with a multi-coloured animal such as a leopard super-imposed over the top.

“I can do things here that I can’t do at home,” Brian says.

“It’s made me achieve more being here. It’s made me a better person, given me more confidence and made me achieve more.”

Until 23 February, Stratford Circus Arts Centre, E15 1BX