HOPE'S TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY Thursday, 5 October 2017
Housebound by a number of life changing health conditions, a County Durham teenager has found strength in her art, and is now exhibiting her work at No.42.
Hope Simpson from Bishop Auckland lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, hypermobility and Functional Neurological Disorder, a condition which causes her to suffer at least 10 seizures every day.
But after turning to her love of photography, the 16-year-old is now using art to explore the impact her health conditions have had on her life.
Her photography, which focusses on self-portraiture, is currently part of the Black & White Exhibition at No.42 in Bishop Auckland, a shop and gallery space run by The Auckland Project.
Hope who volunteers with charities for hypermobility and Functional Neurological Disorder, said: “When I became ill, photography was a lifeline for me, I felt that I had lost a lot of my identity and photography gave me some of that back, it was something to look forward to and enjoy.”
The exhibition is free to view and its monochrome theme has been inspired by the upcoming opening of North East’s new Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland.
Jackie Stonehouse from The Auckland Project, who manages No.42 said: “Hope’s work is truly inspiring and is an example of the talent and creativity we are keen to support and develop.”