Exhibition opens in Hope Kitchen
A man who turned to drawing while he was in hospital has unveiled his creations at an exhibition in Oban’s Hope Kitchen.
After going through a low period in life, Jamie Yates was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he turned to art.
The football fan has since donated his ‘First 11’ pictures to Hope Kitchen to thank the charity for helping him.
Speaking at the launch of his exhibition on Thursday night, Jamie said: ‘I had a deep spell of depression in the lead up to Christmas. I went to see my doctor and by the beginning of February my marriage was over and I was not in a good place. I had nowhere else to go and I went into hospital.
‘When I was in hospital, the only thing I did, apart from reading a few books, was drawing in the occupational therapy art class. I did these drawings in the style of the stuff I did in [university].’
Jamie graduated 16 years ago with a fine arts degree. ‘I stopped doing bits of work like that because I could not talk about what they meant. They are about transforming a feeling into visual art. I think it’s an amazing thing to be able to express yourself.
‘I feel like that spell in hospital was drawing a line under the rest of my life before I start over again.’
Jamie was planning on moving back to Liverpool on Saturday, where he will start afresh.
However, he will still visit Oban regularly, as his daughter Enid still lives here. Jamie said he decided to house the display in the Hope Kitchen as the charity has been ‘wonderful’.
He said: ‘There are a number of places in Oban that are trying to do good things for the community, but Hope Kitchen is doing it on a daily basis. The volunteers and the staff are putting food on the table for people who don’t have.
‘I needed some help and this place has taken me under its wing.’
He also attended an Andy’s Man Club meeting, which takes place at the Hope Kitchen every Monday night from 7.30pm. He said: ‘That’s a thing that can be a brilliant thing for the people of Oban.
‘Oban is a special place, with special people.
‘I will be an ambassador for Oban and I will keep coming back - my little girl is here.’