Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017 Highly Commended - Katy Shorttle
An exhibition of artworks by Katy Shorttle,
on display at Ashurst Emerging Artist Gallery, 16th Oct - 12th Jan 2018
Raj
Raj often closes the front door with a sigh of relief. He loves seeing his friends and family but he knows they are concerned about how he is coping at home after his wife died.
In truth, he finds the safest way of moving around his home is via the support of
furniture, walls and rails. He is finding it harder to suppress his hand tremor and gets
frustrated with the slowness of his movements. He has an unsettling feeling that these symptoms won't go away, but doesn't feel ready to confront what they might mean.
Raj often closes the front door with a sigh of relief. He loves seeing his friends and family but he knows they are concerned about how he is coping at home after his wife died.
In truth, he finds the safest way of moving around his home is via the support of
furniture, walls and rails. He is finding it harder to suppress his hand tremor and gets
frustrated with the slowness of his movements. He has an unsettling feeling that these symptoms won't go away, but doesn't feel ready to confront what they might mean.
Ann
There was a feeling of greyness Ann couldn't put her finger on. It crept up on her slowly, gradually draining her normal activities of any enjoyment. She found herself avoiding meetings, classes and Church services because she couldn't summon the enthusiasm to go.
After realising she hadn't left the house for a month she decided to battle depression on her own. She went to see one friend a week, and pursued one of the hobbies, embroidery, that she used to enjoy. Stitch by stitch she felt colour seeping back into her life.
There was a feeling of greyness Ann couldn't put her finger on. It crept up on her slowly, gradually draining her normal activities of any enjoyment. She found herself avoiding meetings, classes and Church services because she couldn't summon the enthusiasm to go.
After realising she hadn't left the house for a month she decided to battle depression on her own. She went to see one friend a week, and pursued one of the hobbies, embroidery, that she used to enjoy. Stitch by stitch she felt colour seeping back into her life.
Susan
One step at a time, Susan is able to ascend the stairs. She's determined to carry on living on her own, but sometimes finds herself cursing her breathlessness and the limitations it puts on her life. She has to sleep in a chair now as she has woken up gasping for breath, feeling like she's drowning, on the few occasions she's tried to lie down to sleep. All the things she took for granted before – eating, talking, leaning over to pick something up, are brought to a new awareness by the extreme shortness of breath that they cause.
One step at a time, Susan is able to ascend the stairs. She's determined to carry on living on her own, but sometimes finds herself cursing her breathlessness and the limitations it puts on her life. She has to sleep in a chair now as she has woken up gasping for breath, feeling like she's drowning, on the few occasions she's tried to lie down to sleep. All the things she took for granted before – eating, talking, leaning over to pick something up, are brought to a new awareness by the extreme shortness of breath that they cause.
Jack
Jack spent his working life as an industrial engineer. For the past 5 years his short-term memory has deteriorated dramatically and he can't remember what happened more than one minute ago. He feels content in his home, and he can still do many of the complicated maths calculations he used to use at work, but he doesn't know the day, time, date or year. If he's not at home he commonly won't know where he is.
Jack spent his working life as an industrial engineer. For the past 5 years his short-term memory has deteriorated dramatically and he can't remember what happened more than one minute ago. He feels content in his home, and he can still do many of the complicated maths calculations he used to use at work, but he doesn't know the day, time, date or year. If he's not at home he commonly won't know where he is.
Trevor
With the help of his wife, Trevor has tried the best he can to outmanoeuvre his medical conditions. He has regular checkups for kidney disease, diabetes, chronic leukaemia and an irregular heart rhythm. He had a heart valve replacement performed at the same time as a coronary bypass a few years ago.
He and his wife had to clear a kitchen cupboard for his medication and help each other keep up to date with their prescriptions. Each morning they wonder how long they can keep each other going.
With the help of his wife, Trevor has tried the best he can to outmanoeuvre his medical conditions. He has regular checkups for kidney disease, diabetes, chronic leukaemia and an irregular heart rhythm. He had a heart valve replacement performed at the same time as a coronary bypass a few years ago.
He and his wife had to clear a kitchen cupboard for his medication and help each other keep up to date with their prescriptions. Each morning they wonder how long they can keep each other going.
Catherine
Catherine loves being busy. Despite retiring years ago she continued to keep almost full time hours, organising local events. It didn't take long one morning for her to realise that her life would never be quite the same again, after she woke up unable to speak or move the right side of her body. She will never forget that morning.
The community she had so diligently served helped her through challenging rehabilitation following a major stroke, and gradually she regained some use of her right leg and arm.
Catherine loves being busy. Despite retiring years ago she continued to keep almost full time hours, organising local events. It didn't take long one morning for her to realise that her life would never be quite the same again, after she woke up unable to speak or move the right side of her body. She will never forget that morning.
The community she had so diligently served helped her through challenging rehabilitation following a major stroke, and gradually she regained some use of her right leg and arm.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Katy Shorttle (nee Wyatt) trained as a medical doctor at the University of Cambridge, taking a break in her medical studies to complete an Art Foundation Diploma at the Sir John Cass School of Art in 2008. She has been working as a junior doctor since 2011, and has nearly completed training to become a GP. She has recently completed a Masters in Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, and was awarded Distinction.
She is interested in where medicine and art combine, and how art can be used to broaden understanding of medicine and the patient experience. Her medical experiences have had a huge impact on her art work, as she discovered that the often abstract nature of many issues surrounding health care such as experiences of frailty in the elderly, mental illnesses and the concepts of incubation and infection can be better communicated through art than in standard written resources..
EDUCATION
Art Foundation Diploma, Sir John Cass School of Art
MA Illustration (Distinction), Cambridge School of Art
PRIZES
Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017 Highly Commended
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017 Highly Commended Exhibition
She is interested in where medicine and art combine, and how art can be used to broaden understanding of medicine and the patient experience. Her medical experiences have had a huge impact on her art work, as she discovered that the often abstract nature of many issues surrounding health care such as experiences of frailty in the elderly, mental illnesses and the concepts of incubation and infection can be better communicated through art than in standard written resources..
EDUCATION
Art Foundation Diploma, Sir John Cass School of Art
MA Illustration (Distinction), Cambridge School of Art
PRIZES
Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017 Highly Commended
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017 Highly Commended Exhibition
SEE MORE...
You can learn more about Katy by visiting her website here.