Almudena Rocca

In 2019 I graduated from The Glasgow School of Art, during this difficult transition I decided to come home to Northumberland where I could focus on my art and creating a business for myself.

During my time at university, I had the opportunity to work with Project Ability, an organization that creates a space for people living with mental ill health and disabilities, to explore and make art. It was a deeply formative experience that showed me the importance of art and creativity in improving mental health and well-being. I made many wonderful friendships there, the teachers and technicians excel at creating positive dialogues and a safe space to talk openly about mental health and other issues.

Since being in Northumberland, I have found Chilli studios in Newcastle. A very similar origination and I have continued to create and make where art and creativity are improving mental health and wellness.

I had always had an interest in art, art therapy, and mental health. After experiencing family and friends suffering through not receiving the right support and experiencing my first panic attack in 2019 I started my own healing journey. In 2020 I began to go to counselling myself, during this period it ignited an interest in counselling. I had always been told id make a good counsellor but never gave it much thought. But during that year I enrolled in a counselling course and it has truly been an eye-opening experience for me. Receiving and studying counselling really gave me a wide perspective of counselling as well as gaining a better understanding of people and myself. I currently hold a Level 3 certificate in counselling studies and hope to continue my training in the near future. But as someone who is dyslexic, I have always struggled with the academic side of studying as well as never receiving the right support which has put me off furthering my education.

Art has helped me explore all these issues and has given me a voice. It has provided me with space to explore emotions as well as a tool to help me heal. I create my art for myself and also for other people. To make people think, feel and create conversation. I hope people can connect with my art and feel comforted and to feel heard and seen. I hope my work, in whatever small way, can help make a difference.