Living the life of a starving artist for the past 17 months has been pretty hard. I’ve been juggling work, unemployment benefits, and selling prints to get by.

I’m still overdrawn and have about £250 credit card debt. But pretty soon I’ll be back in credit.

I have just got a part-time job as Maintenance Officer (Assistant Caretaker) at a Special School about 15 minutes away from me. The Job is only 15 hours a week but the wages will be more than double my current income and I’ll still have loads of time to do my art. I’m just waiting on my DBS check to come through and I’ll be starting soon.

More importantly, I’ll have the money to pay to get my work printed. Currently, it’s hard to sell prints when I can’t afford to actually print them.

In other news, I’m entering three small paintings in the Warrington Arts Festival Open Exhibition. I’m not expecting to get them past the initial selection stage, but I’ve got the confidence to enter them and that’s something. Thankyou to everyone who helped me pick the three paintings I’ll enter. If I don’t get in I’m blaming you.

Finally, I’d like to thank a few people who have helped keep me alive over the past three or four years.

Karen - For always being there for me, even though the last few years have been really hard for you. I owe you big time and not just financially. xxx

Steph, thank you for still being my bestie from the other side of the world. I know you’ve always got my back. xxx

Delia, thank you for simply being Delia and for providing me with the sanctuary of The Hobo Kiosk. Without The Hobo, I would not have met all the Hobo peeps. P.S. I know why my card sales have gone up in the last few months. I know what you did! I’ll never forget it! xxx

Alex, thank you for the opportunity to work with you.
The money saved me from starving - literally.

Lost Hills - You have phoned me more than anyone else has ever phoned me in the history of phones…. Ha ha! We’ll figure out how to be millionaire artists one day. Just wait and see.

The Hobo Peeps - Tris, John & Andy, Heather & Ben, Keith, Suzie, Sally, Pam, Graeme, John H, Trev, Pat & Marian, Kathy, Marcus, Jimzina and Laura. I know I can call every single one of you, my friend.

And finally, everybody who has bought something from me or gave me a little bit of work.
I’m so grateful for your help. Especially Tammy W, Tracey F, Ally N and Lee C.

I know I’ve missed loads of you out, but to be honest I doubt any of you will ever read this. I get about 5 hits a month on this website .