My youth work period kicked off back in 2006-ish when I got employed to run art based workshops in schools, then youth clubs, then community centres etc. I remember my first ever school gig & thought how easy it was to connect with the students through my art, they just got it, in a non-text book way. Since then, I’ve constantly used my art to connect the often most challenged / the most hard to reach individuals, resulting in some super rewarding moments over the years…
Recently I worked in partnership withCroydon Youth Service (YJS) with some young people to help realise an artwork as part of a Reparation Project during the summer.
Through a series of art based sessions at the Turnaround Centre, these sessions explored observation, design & various application techniques, from concept to final artwork.…
I knew Ranj from school days. He was a year or two above me & always looked out for me, in an older brother sense from afar. Throughout the years, we’d randomly connect, including them times at Croydon Gurdwara on a Saturday & just keep remembering this cool dude who oozed enthusiasm for life & feeling his positivity each time. For me, he was a natural cheeky chappy with a big heart, always there for others.…
The Summer Reading Challenge – Ready, Set, Read! – kicked off again across London Libraries this Summer, and I was asked back by Newham Council to deliver workshops based on the success of last year’s delivery with t-shirts, only this time I suggested designing baseball caps with the families to link up with the sports & games theme this year…
My own art hustle started off by painting blank New Era baseball caps back in the early 2000s when I couldn’t get a job in Fashion, so thought I’d share that story to inspire the young people to create their own blank caps.…
