Incredible art created by Keystage Housing in partnership with local artist goes on display

Incredible artwork has been created by Keystage Housing service users and staff who worked with a professional artist to produce connected pieces of work to display in our hubs.

Local artist and illustrator Rosemary Kirton was invited to work with the group to create artwork based around our vision that everyone involved in Keystage Housing is an important piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

Rosemary brought our vision to life by creating eight individual and unique jigsaw pieces that all connect to each other, much like our service users and people.

Explaining how she brought the project to life, Rosemary said: “I was asked to come up with something a bit like a puzzle, which could be taken metaphorically, but I took it quite literally. We constructed them out of wire, tape and wood.”

Rosemary then worked with the group to use brightly coloured tissue paper as a collage on the frames, before she added her own illustrations to the sculptures.

“The group were brilliant and really showed their personalities. We spoke about people’s journeys and creativity and where they saw themselves in the future. It was a really inspiring day,” said Rosemary, who said being creative can benefit people’s wellbeing and mental health, adding: “It’s really significant being able to do something practical. It doesn’t have to be something amazing, just a doodle or cutting or sticking can be a way of engaging the mind and taking your head to a different place.

“It’s nice to make something together so it takes the burden off you to create a finished product. We did it together in a very relaxed way, there wasn’t too much pressure, it was about being part of it.”

Rosemary took the pieces away to add her illustrations, inspired by Keystage Housing and our people.

“I was really inspired by the work Keystage Housing do. I grew up in council houses so part of me felt connected to the people there because I experienced housing insecurity as a child. It touched me working with them,” she said.

Rosemary created her illustrations based on three themes. The first was around the social and emotional impact of what it means to have a home, such as being able to share a cup of tea with a friend and have visitors.

“This is significant for someone who doesn’t have secure housing,” she explained.

The second topic was being able to have a pet and the practical work that goes into the process of having a home, and the third was themed around nature.

Rosemary explained: “The last group was abstract and based on a dandelion. It’s one of the first flowers to come out. They flourish in difficulty and it represents the resilience of people who go through this process. There was also a tree with lots of different birds in it representing houses of multiple occupants which have different people from different walks of life sharing a space together.”

The different pieces of artwork have now all been proudly displayed in each of our service hubs for everyone to enjoy.

Rosemary described working with Keystage Housing as “incredible”, adding: “You learn so much from so many different people, there were some unbelievable stories that were touching, moving, profound stories. It was so gratifying and humbling to be welcomed into an organisation as a visitor and you could tell people are really in touch with each other and connected. There’s a shared purpose and goal, I was quite overwhelmed.

“I didn’t realise how many people are involved and the impact it has is incredible. I visited some of the places where the artwork is displayed and the idea is it connects the organisation to know that each of these hubs is connected to one another. They are very integrated. Everyone knows everyone but it’s nice to have something symbolic, even though the connection is undoubtedly there.”