Lessons

Deborah Sowerby: Recognition

Deborah was born in 1949 in London. She spent some time in hospital as a young child and then was sent to a residential special school in East Sussex at the age of five, staying there until she was sixteen and then going on to Art School.

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Deborah Sowerby

Here Deborah recalls having her ability recognised in her Art lessons.

  • Deborah Sowerby
  • Deborah Sowerby
  • Deborah Sowerby
  • Deborah Sowerby

Transcript

Suddenly, at fourteen, it was brought to my attention that I had some ability in Art. I had no idea, and I was sat an exercise, and, in the six weeks of drawing this still life, discovered that I could draw, and that I enjoyed it, so that changed my life completely, completely. I think it was a combination of, somebody seeing that I had talent, paying attention to it, giving me virtually one-to-one tuition for six weeks, and me being able to do it, and him giving me loads of praise - it just did the trick. I don't remember getting much praise, you know, so things like 'well done' didn't happen, whereas in this Art exercise, I was getting lots of that: recognition.

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