I painted this portrait because I wanted to show a personal, vulnerable side to me. It’s taken from a reference photo that I took on one of my first dialysis sessions in Hospital. It was an emotional time for many reasons, I felt scared, bewildered, exhausted and sad but also relived to be getting the treatment as it would make me feel better over time.
When I got home after the first few sessions, I burst into tears as soon as I saw my wife. It was not only exhausting on my body, I felt emotionally drained, especially with travelling 90 minutes each way to Oxford from Swindon and having the 4-hour dialysis sessions 3 times per week.
I’m hoping it reveals a sensitive side as an artist, a vulnerable side. Being able to expose the tough times through my art will hopefully uplift others, or at least provoke some kind of emotional reaction that leads to positive action or reflection.
