160 - Ian Bourne - BREAKING OUT OF THE DARKNESS
160 - Ian Bourne - BREAKING OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Collage on canvas board
This campaign is a great idea. Having worked and supported individuals with numerous mental health disorders I always try what I can to raise awareness of the support that is available to all. I worked for the Samaritans back in the late 1980’s, so understand the crucial work they do, and Samarivans is a great way to raise the profile.
In 2016, I lost a very close friend to suicide. The fall out of this is still resonating. She left me the only suicide note, a twelve page declaration of despair. I shall never understand it all, but with the right support I will manage it.
If you read this, and have your own inner struggles, help is there for you. All you need to do is pick up that phone.
Bio
A self taught artist, I picked up the pencils again after many years at the end of a bad relationship break up. Remarkably, a year later I received a commission from Brad Pitt. Yes, that one.
Nine years on from that, I have been fortunate to exhibit my portraits in many countries around the world, and won some lovely awards along the way.
I still work full time in mental health care, and fit the art around that. It suits me just fine. The biggest thrill of all is to help someone onto a better path in life.
