Online art gallery: artists and epilepsy
To celebrate our 120th birthday and the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, we have launched a new online art gallery ‘Artists and epilepsy’ (opens in a new window) featuring the work of artists affected by epilepsy. Many people with epilepsy say that the freedom of art helps them to express their experiences of seizures . For many the paintbrush is a powerful communication tool for experiences that are hard to explain in words.
We hope our online gallery will provide a platform for all artists affected by epilepsy to share their work.
If you would like to submit work for inclusion in the gallery, please send jpegs of your art (maximum of six pieces) to nicola.swanborough@epilepsysociety.org.uk
We are happy to include your own website details alongside your art.
‘Art is something I have done all of my life. Art is engaging and allows my mind to wander freely without any restrictions. To make a piece of artwork and say “I have made this” is to say who you are.'
Tracey Waddington, artist
‘Art is a way of making sense of the huge impact that recurring seizures can have on your life. Art can help a person develop greater self awareness and come to terms with the uncertainties of epilepsy.’
Quentin Bruckland, art therapist, Epilepsy Society
‘It has often been said that Van Gogh’s use of yellow was a result of his suffering from xanthopsia, a condition that causes the person to see everything as though through a yellow filter. Xanthopsia was a side effect of digitalis, often used to treat epilepsy.’
Nicola Swanborough, Epilepsy Review
