There was a period in which I explored my roots on the internet and discovered dozens of black and white photographs depicting life in and around Glasgow in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most of my memories of my childhood seemed to be in black and white anyway so there was a deeper connection to these images that reminded me of the poverty, degradation and the general squaller representing the lives of the working-class families in the day.

After re-connecting with the coloured pencil and the vast range and choice in today’s marketplace, I decided to print some of the Glasgow B+W images and use the same method of adding colour to the process. Again, I added colour with abandon, paying no attention to what was appropriate, be it faces, skies, clothes, landscape or structures. For me, the finished drawings allowed me some form of satisfaction and allowed me the opportunity to release some of the negative memories and connections from my past and move forward.

There was one image of a small boy in the Drumchapel housing estate sitting atop a street sign that could have been myself at 12 years of age. Alone, isolated, and sitting uncomfortably, but triumphant, in defending his small insignificant territory hoping that someone might just come and challenge him, or, if the truth be known, connect with him on some level and release him from his sense of alienation. I added colour, and he was found!

memories from the past