Anxiety, 2022, oil on canvas, 61x51cm

Anxiety is a self-portrait that explores my body’s natural response to stress. My hand grasps my jumper and starts to pull the neck of the jumper over my face. The shadow on the wall behind me shows that my body is hunched over and my eyes stare nervously out of the canvas. Anxiety is part of a series titled ‘being human’ where I explore the emotions myself and those around me experience. Sadness and anxiety are a part of life’s journey, and without them we perhaps wouldn’t recognise or appreciate the times of great joy in our lives.