Page 32 - Real Rochdale Issue 16 Winter 2022
P. 32

Self-taught autistic artist


          shortlisted for award










            LoveArtPix, from Middleton,

            creates art on his phone using

            free app, Picsart.



                                                                                                                            Photo: www.paulmoorephotography.co.uk
            Artist Dez – known as LoveArtPix – has
            been creating art for four years using the                                                                                                    Artwork by LoveArtPix on the overbridge at Manchester Victoria
            free phone app to help him cope with daily
            life and give him focus.

                                                                                                                                The mural was unveiled in          Dez’s artwork can also be          some amazing inspirational
            Now from having public art unveiled by                                                                              August by the High Sheriff         seen at Oxford Road                people who have been very
            mayors and high sheriffs, and raising
            thousands of pounds for charities, Dez, 43,                                                                         of Greater Manchester and          Station and the Nag’s Head         supportive and continue to
                                                                                                                                                                   pub on Jackson’s Row, as well
                                                                                                                                depicts the words I LOVE
                                                                                                                                                                                                      help me with my endeavours
            has been shortlisted for the Rising Star/                                                                           MCR VICTORIA in bright             as Blackpool, around Cumbria       to spread awareness of
            Emerging Talent award in this year’s ‘This                     Let it out, let it in.. by LoveArtPix
            is Manchester’ awards.                                                                                              yellow letters, surrounded by      and even in France, at the         neurodivergent conditions.
                                                                                                                                22 Manchester bees, one for        Normandy Memorial Trust.
                                                                                                                                each panel on the overbridge.                                         “Since I am self-taught, this is
                                                                 Dez was originally diagnosed with bipolar                                                         Dez plans to get his name out      a huge achievement for me.”
                                                                 disorder when he was in his 20s, but has                       His work also features on the      there and continue raising
                                                                 since been diagnosed with autism, and                          columns of the memorial to         awareness for autism.              Winners are due to be
                                                                 is in the process of being diagnosed with                      commemorate the victims of                                            announced at a ceremony at
                                                                 ADHD.
                                                                                                                                the Manchester arena               He added: “Art has really          the Hilton Hotel in
                                                                                                                                bombing in 2017.                   changed my life and I have met     Manchester on 3 November.
                                                                 He said: “I use art as my own personal
                                                                 therapy to express my emotions when they
                                                                 become too overpowering. Art helps me to
                                                                 focus and to channel my erratic thoughts.
                                                                 This has become a positive pattern that I
                                                                 use daily as a life skill and coping strategy
                                                                 which I feel many others could benefit
                                                                 from.

                                                                 “My autistic diagnosis has changed my
                                                                 life in so many ways and everything finally
                                                                 makes sense in relation to how and why I
                                                                 see the world in the way I do.”

                                                                 Earlier this summer, Dez was
                                                                 commissioned by Northern to create a
                                                                 30-metre mural at Manchester Victoria
                                                                 station to bring some colour to the bridge
                                                                 to platforms 4, 5 and 6.
                                 Dez
          REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2022                       32                                                              Photo: www.paulmoorephotography.co.uk                 33                     REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2022
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