Butterfly effect
Sharon’s art gives wings to women suffering from breast cancer
Almost overnight, in May 2014, my life turned upside down. Diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, I had to quit my job as an Art teacher.
Utterly miserable, I threw myself into creating colourful art. It was the one thing I could still manage.
I put together murals of butterflies and wings – symbols of freedom.
It gave me a reason to struggle through each day.
As my ability to cope with my condition improved, it was as if artwork was healing me mentally and physically. Then I had an idea.
Why not get people to use art as therapy?
I wanted to help women with breast cancer. They know what it’s like to lose your femininity.
For me, butterflies were key. And I wanted women to create them out of lace.
Out of bras!
Contacting celebrities, soon I had bras from Lorraine Kelly and Denise Welch…to name a couple!
When I was able,
I travelled around to breastcancer units in the UK.
Hundreds of women made butterflies from bras.
And I built a Tree of Life to display the artwork. Every butterfly was pinned to it.
Sadly, some of those women didn’t live to see it.
The tree now sits in my studio in Christchurch.
A reminder to ride the wings of life.
For more info, see www.sharonwhiteart.co.uk