Cheryl Homer

I came to Birmingham to study Visual Communication at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, which was part of UCE back then. I chose this pathway thinking it was the most likely way of getting an actual job in art, and after graduation I worked for a couple of years in Graphic Design.

In 2003 I moved to St Martin in the Bull Ring where I managed a community arts charity for 11 years, which I absolutely loved. It was a huge growth period for me and a real privilege to be part of.

After this I had a brief interlude into midwifery resulting in a struggle with my mental health.

In 2019 I started my current job as ‘administrator and art exhibitions coordinator’ for a local trust who invest in art as a way to enable reflection, encourage conversations, and inspire action within communities. I love this job too.

Around the same time Stirchley Art Room was established and through their sessions I began to tentatively find my feet with my own art practice again, rather than pottering at home with small creative projects that weren’t quite hitting the mark. The group has been absolutely pivotal for me in making art again.

I still haven’t found my own style, but mixed-media, collage, and abstract works are what excite me. My art also helps me with my faith and with my mental health.

I try not to worry about whether other people like what I make but at the same time I often fall into that trap, and now I’m brave enough to show my work it can feel vulnerable.

I love being part of UASB, particularly the uncompetitive and supportive nature of all the people I have met.

As well as being a member of Stirchley Art Room I now also act as Assistant for one of the weekly sessions which I also love. Along with my day job it brings together two of the things I love, art and people, and I love pondering how we interact with our own, and others, creativity, and how we inspire each other.

Back in my uni days I wrote my dissertation on art in healthcare, there was little written about it at the time, but now it’s exciting that science is catching up with what artists already knew, that art is good for us.

I do really want to learn about how to make better art, particularly learn more about colour and techniques, but I’m impatient and tend to just go for it intuitively and hope for the best, which I’m pretty sure is not approach professionals would advocate.

Sometimes I ask myself why I make art. What is the pull that makes me want to put materials on substrate in various configurations?

I always come to the conclusion that I can’t not make art. In the same way I breathe and pray, I can only understand that art is at the core of who I am and how I exist.

I’m grateful for everyone who has been and is part of my journey.

Instagram:
@cherylhomerart