My name is Imogen Kate and I am an artist, poet and arts facilitator based in York, United Kingdom. My work is often based around experiences of disability, voice hearing and neuro-diversity. I am a final year occupational therapy student with my research focusing on art-making for improving mental health and well being. I also happen to be registered blind and am accompanied 24/7 by my assistance dog, a tiny and cheeky black Labrador called Sam.
A chance meeting while I was 17, and seven months into an inpatient psychiatric admission, introduced me to arts in health and arts facilitation. Over the years that followed, under the wing of experienced facilitators, I started co-facilitating and facilitating workshops. Later I returned to the same psychiatric unit, this time on the other side of the table: as a facilitator.
In the darkest times I started writing. A few years later I got my first iPad and could draw properly for the first time, that’s when the character of Mouse came into my life and I’ve never stopped drawing since. I use drawing as a way of coping, expressing myself and communicating with others. Mouse and I are the greatest of friends.
In 2018/19 I worked as an artist in residence at York Libraries and am now a lead facilitator for the Disability Arts Creative Youth (DACY) Network. I have performed my poetry at a wide variety of events including conferences and York Literature Festival.
My world has been turned upside down more times than I can count, but these days I can manage it. These are my upside down chronicles.
