Sometimes it’s hard not to become disheartened during these long dark days of November. However, as the door closes for the final time to my 2023 gallery on Friday 24th November, another opens. I already feel excited and enthusiastic about my future plans to travel and exhibit my art in new locations. I also have a book coming out next year that explains the interaction of autism and art. There’s plenty of preparation for the book still to be done as it’s a work in progress. This doesn’t mean though that I’m not going to miss welcoming my friends and new contacts to the gallery’s colourful surroundings. Change for someone like me on the autistic spectrum isn’t always easy.
Since I was 21, I have gained valuable experience in running JOT’s Gallery for a year and this is an opportunity now to look back at all the many positives.
Here is a month-by-month record of JOT’s 2023 Gallery starting with the most recent event.
November 2023 – a catch-up with my friend, Rory Hoy, a multi award-winning music producer, DJ and film maker.
October 2023 – Local artist, Maddie Hill holds an exhibition of her paintings of architecture at my gallery.
September 2023 – website designer and photographer, Paul Howell exhibits his landscape and dog photography at my gallery.
August 2023: Rob Knox from the Harrogate branch of the National Autistic Society comes along to purchase one of my original pieces of artwork!
July 2023: Vincent van Gogh is at my gallery. This was a private commission when I produced this famous self-portrait in my own style of using discarded scratch cards and other recycled materials.
June 2023: It was a pleasure to have the Ripon City Photographic Society members display their work at the gallery. I have enjoyed being a member of the Society since I was a teenager.
May 2023 – A presentation to our local MP, Julian Smith of my artwork: “A Path To Peace” following his visit to my gallery.
Julian Smith enjoys his visit to my gallery.
April 2023 – Ben Young from Great British Racing, London meets with me to discuss the artwork commissioned for the King’s Coronation to be unveiled at Pontefract, then Thirsk Racecourses.
March 2023: A busy time for me working on a commission for an Easter Egg card design for the Harry Specters business, an award-winning chocolatier in Ely, Cambridgeshire. I recycled some of their old packaging materials to create this artwork and they were delighted with the results!
February 2023: A romantic month with a Valentine’s Day theme. I like to have fresh flowers on display whenever possible in the gallery.
A later addition to my collection is this quilt art that I purchased from a textile artist. After Klimt – “The Kiss” is admired by many visitors who can see this stunning piece of art through the front window of the gallery.
January 2023 – Louise Hotchkiss from Pyramid Educational Consultants in Brighton brings along the climate change symbols that I helped to design for the Picture Exchange Communication System.
December 2022 – Stephen Webster from Cornwall is one of my first visitors who has come to collect his commissioned piece of Fountains Abbey.
Here are a few more photographs taken this month at the 2023 gallery:
