Faith Lockwood

Hi, I am Faith Lockwood, I am an illustrator with moderate learning difficulties, I can do most traditional mediums, print and digital work, I can work in a range of styles such as contemporary, semi realistic, cartoon, simplified, German Expressionism. I like to tell my own stories and wish to help others tell their's more visually with illustrations. Learning may be difficult for me but it's not impossible.

I have studied Art & Design in general for four years Level 2 & 3 London School of Art BTEC in Gateshead College and Foundation in Sunderland University and now getting into illustration at the same place. I left with a mix of merits and distinctions, some of which with stars on the end. Although I am not academically bright, only managed to get one GCSE, alternative functional skills for other subjects  I still have the ability to maintain a good beginner art career. 

I am currently working on a story called Unicorns, which is about a group of young girls with a range of disabilities that aspire to go the distance in the world of dance. Childhood friends Cassie and Ella had started up their own dance group ‘Unicorns’ after being rejected or left feeling singled out in the past, together they find the strength to continue to try in the face of adversity in order to achieve.

Some people would think it would be impossible for a girl that can’t hear naturally, with a metal leg or even have difficulty learning like me to do anything like that and I want to change this preconception and show that is possible for people like Cassie, Ella and Lily to do whatever it is they want to do be it art, sport or dance. 

Why unicorns? Cassie and Ella’s goal is to get people like themselves, to be happy about being different  like the saying ‘be a unicorn in a field of horses.’  They are black and white  because like Yin and Yang even though they are all completely different they can work very well together.

I wish to develop this story more in the future so young people with disabilities and interest in the arts will have some positive characters they can see themselves in. In the future I would like to develop more characters and possibly even create a book, to continue my quest to rid people of prejiduces and discrimination and realise the potential of people with disability.