Emily turns life around through art
A young woman has beaten her addictions to drink and drugs to become a burgeoning artist.
Emily Devaney, 20, has successfully turned her life around with the help of staff at Muir’s Supported Housing scheme on Panton Road, Chester.
Emily, who has also been diagnosed with a personality disorder, began drinking heavily at the age of 16 following the death of her younger brother. Alcohol and drugs were used as a way to numb the pain and she was also a prolific self-harmer.
Emily said: “I simply wasn’t in control before I came to Panton Road. I was in complete denial about how much I was drinking. I genuinely didn’t care whether I lived or died - If I walked out the door and got hit by a car I would have probably kissed the driver.
“When I was drunk I also liked to hurt myself. There were times when I would end up in hospital because I had cut through arteries. I would come home with stiches and really mess myself up. My mind was so mixed up, there was so much going on and I didn’t know how to filter it out.
“Something really bad happened to me when I wasn’t in control, and that was a real wake up call for me. I started to use services like Aqua House and sought help from a counselor. He was brilliant and as I got more acquainted with my own moods and my own routine with alcohol, slowly but surely I was able to cope without it.”
Emily has now been sober for five months and was encouraged by the staff at Panton Road to use her passion for art as part of her recovery.
Emily was hesitant at first. She used to drink heavily when painting and being a real perfectionist, was worried about showing her work to other people.
But with further encouragement, Emily began to paint again and has gone on to real success. She has now sold several of her paintings and some have gone on display at a local art gallery in Chester.
She added: “As things have started to sell it has given me a reason to get up in the morning - there is a chance for me to thrive doing something that I love. I have the ability to succeed doing something I really enjoy and it’s a nice feeling.
“The staff at Panton Road have been amazing with me. They’ve had to put up with a lot since I’ve been here but they have been nothing but supportive. I’ve had a lot of time to think here and take stock of things around me and painting has really helped me in that department.”
Helena Dore, Manager at Panton Road said: “Emily is much more motivated now. She has given us a few scares since she has been with us but it’s great to see her doing so well.
“Emily is a very talented artist and having her work on display has played an important part in her recovery. Emily is also volunteering at a local care home doing arts and crafts with the elderly residents and that has been really good for her as well. Everyone involved with Panton Road is very proud of how far Emily has come over the past year – she’s a real inspiration for other young people at the scheme.”
Emily added: “I want to continue painting and improve my mental health. I am recovering and the aim is to be healthy and happy. When I first came to Panton Road, I didn’t think that was going to happen. I’ve been here over a year now and I feel in control – things are now within my grasp.”
You can view Emily’s art work by visiting <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kruellalabelle-Art-and-Design/1656804071211266" href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kruellalabelle-Art-and-Design/1656804071211266" "="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(69, 3, 102); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;" target="_Blank">her Facebook page.
Panton Roads provides good quality, secure, supported accommodation to young people who are leaving the care of Social Services and making the transition to independent living. It also provides accommodation to young people who, for whatever reason, find themselves homeless and in need of support.