Derventio resident pays tribute to the art practice that saved his life

A once homeless man from Burton-on-Trent whose life spiralled into alcoholism in his 20s has told how the healing power of art saved his life.

Adam Suleman, 33, a resident with award-winning Derventio Housing Trust, said discovering how to express himself through art has helped him win the fight against alcohol and depression.

Adam has now been alcohol free for a year and regular art classes provided through the Burton Addiction Centre have provided him with a new and welcome focus. Adam said:

I used to really struggle in groups to talk about my feelings and that stuff. An art therapist, Steve Cunliffe, suggested art. He has become a mentor to me now. There’s a local art group that he does called Station Street Studio and I started going.

It has saved my life. I have found a way to express myself now.

Adam, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, said he had always enjoyed art and took classes in college but never took it seriously until a few months ago.

A bad break up saw his life fall into alcoholism and homelessness. But things started to get back on track through Burton Addiction Centre which referred him to the services of Derventio Housing Trust.

The trust provides accommodation to around 1200 people in the UK who would otherwise be homeless. It currently houses around 150 people in Staffordshire.

Adam’s compelling art pieces – created using an iPad to which he has access in his art classes – explore themes of depression through striking symbolic imagery illustrating feelings of sorrow, desperation and hurt.

My first piece shows everything I was feeling – the words I couldn’t say. It’s about being able to say to someone: ‘This is how I’m feeling. This is what I was trying to say’,” he said. “In my mid-20s I just spiralled. I have been doing art all my life but I didn’t think anything of it really. It was just something I enjoyed doing but it wasn’t something I thought to pursue.

I had some jobs in warehousing and I worked as a carer for a while – but life had other plans.
I’d never really sat and finished anything before.

But doing art with people in recovery – it’s a way to stay connected and it’s a nice space to be creative in.

Without this community and the art, I’d just be sitting in my room. I know I’d relapse if I didn’t have a purpose. And if it wasn’t for Derventio Housing Trust, I’d still be homeless. They got me in very quickly and I really appreciated it.

Now Adam hopes to find work helping others through art.

I want to help people who’ve been through the same journey as me. I want to try and inspire someone to … be OK.

Steve Cunliffe, who works as a creative arts facilitator at Burton Addiction Centre, has conducted studies at The University of Derby which have identified that art can be of significant help to some people in their recovery from alcohol and drug use, when other methods fail.

When Adam attended sessions at Burton Addiction Centre, Steve said he quickly identified that art might help him communicate his feelings.

I identified with him. I saw one of his sketches and thought he had something. Adam’s creative mind works in a different way from most creative people.

Art helps people to connect and express what they are going through because they can’t tell you. I’d ask Adam: ‘How do you feel?’ He’d say: ‘I don’t know but I can paint you a picture.’

Adam and I are friends now. Over the last six months or so, his mind has switched from the hopelessness and having no purpose, to thinking ‘This is what I want to do – this is something I can see my career in’.

Adam has now delivered a couple of creative workshops himself. He’s passing that baton on.

Kendra Gray, CEO of Burton Addiction Centre said:

I’m very proud of what Adam has achieved through the art workshops that Steve has delivered.  Creativity is a huge part of what we do, allowing people to express themselves in different formats is so important and it is clear it has helped Adam to find himself.  I am looking forward to seeing what Adam does next, he is a credit to himself and I’ve no doubt he will inspire others to explore creativity.

Sarah Hernandez, managing director of Derventio Housing Trust, said:

It’s wonderful to see how art has enabled Adam to thrive. At Derventio Housing Trust we are passionate about helping the whole person, not just providing a roof over someone’s head. Whether it’s equine therapy, gym passes, gardening or art, we have seen many residents experience positive personal growth, enabling them to turn away from drug and alcohol use. We are very happy to see that creativity has helped Adam to express his feelings and that he is now turning his attention to helping others in the same way.