I would like to take this time to express my love to everyone who has supported me during what has easily been the most hectic year of my life. I knew I had to mentally prepare for this, but I had no idea just how tough it would be.

The start of January brought the certification ceremony of my groundbreaking neurodivergent art focus group at HMP Manchester. The certification was backed by Picsart and was presented to the prisoners by the Governor of the Prison, Rob Knight, and my friend Lorraine Worsley-Carter MBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. The course (which ran through 2024) I created myself, was a great success and felt like a real milestone in making a difference through art in rehabilitation, with numerous articles written about it. The collaborative art collection created between myself and the prisoners will be exhibited later this year, with more details about the course and its unique approach to come.

I was approached by numerous publications to share my story, which was great, and I have made some amazing friends at Amare Artifex magazine to name but a few.

At the beginning of the year, I also had the opportunity to guest on “Why Not Me The World Podcast Show” with Tony Mantor – based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. We discussed overcoming autism stigmas, embracing artistic expression, and advocating for neurodivergent inclusion. Tony’s podcast show goes out to millions of subscribers around the world.

I also featured on BBC Radio One and Gateway 978 FM, discussing all things autism, my art exhibition, and much more.

To my surprise, I received a nomination and an invitation to Buckingham Palace for recognition and acclaim regarding my contributions to both the arts and the neurodivergent community. The nomination came from His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. This prestigious recognition marks another significant milestone in my career and reinforces my impact not only in my local community but throughout the UK and beyond – something I am really proud of.

I couldn’t be more pleased with how my debut art exhibition went, from the end of March through to early April. 

From the private launch night, with an inspiring speech from my amazing friend and rock, Lorraine, to the stunning reading by poet Brian, who perfectly performed his half of our collaboration. The moving presentation put together by the Eklectics production team, featuring everyone’s beautiful video messages, was also truly memorable. The official opening by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Dr Eamonn O’Neal OBE DL, was a great surprise and the icing on the cake. It was nice to finally meet so many people I’d spoken to for years, as well as the collaborators who played their part in this exhibition.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to come to the launch and make it such a special occasion. As I expected, it was a very difficult night, but due to the team’s planning, it was made much easier.

From high school visits to art groups, this has been a truly life changing experience for me. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of it for their support and backing.

In the final week of the exhibition, I was delighted to receive a visit from Anna Kennedy OBE, the founder of Anna Kennedy Online Charity, who surprised me by asking me to be an official advocate for her charity. This is such an honour for me! I was also invited to feature my artwork at the upcoming Autism Art Show in London in May.

Now, as a proud ambassador for Anna Kennedy Online, I will actively continue to promote awareness and support for individuals with autism through my artistic expression, and I hope to do this role justice.

I cannot fully explain how tough this year has been so far, but it has been incredibly rewarding on many different levels. Those who know me understand how hard I have found it, as I often talk about the effects that daily life and pressures can have on me to raise awareness and understanding. Honestly, it has been harder than I ever expected, and I have made many personal sacrifices that have affected my health and other aspects of my life. That said, I would rather fight for a cause and embrace the positives I can take from my struggles to help others without sounding too cliché!

I have met so many wonderful people and have gotten to know many individuals I’ve known for years on a deeper level.

Many more exciting opportunities have presented themselves to me, and I have more news to share shortly regarding upcoming exhibitions and larger projects.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey and continues to do so. Working together and uniting is the only way forward to help society change and become more understanding and inclusive. With the finalisation of the documentary by the dream team Eklectics so close, I’m sure it will contribute to these goals.