Steph

When we meet people at a certain time in their life, we only know them in the moment, for how they are living now, and for what part of their journey they are on. A wealth of experiences, has got them to where they are today.

Born in Manchester, England, Steph has had a remarkable life journey to date. She has always had a personal drive for justice, as her moral compass, guiding her throughout her life. She was also brought up by a strong-willed mother, who was committed to political activism and justice, this influence was engrained in Steph, almost as if it was in her DNA, and it carried through to other areas of her life.

On a personal level Steph didn’t feel she had justice or agency in her own life as a child. This went on to spur her passion for helping people, later in life.

One of the most meaningful experiences she has had in her working life, was in the 90’s in England during the AIDS epidemic, where she would help NGO’s and other agencies set up services and support groups for people living with HIV.

It was a turbulent time, of uncertainty, fear and hysteria, but Steph’s calm disposition, forthright decision making, and tenacity, enabled her thrive in the chaos that endured. Helping people face their own mortality, connecting people with the relevant supports, and accelerating systems and processes, to make sure people got the support they needed in a somewhat dire situation.

Everyone was facing new challenges daily with a disease, that people at this stage knew very little about. Steph’s role was very powerful, helping people to live the final months of their life with dignity and choice. She would mentor people for leadership so the service model was underpinned with people that had lived experience. It would give people a strong purpose in their lives, when they needed it the most. It was a true honour in her life, and something she has drawn strength in ever since. 

To sit with people in their grief, their deepest darkest fears, moved Steph, it shifted something in her and she was never to be the same. Other life experiences come and go and not all as profound in impact but big on personal meaning for her.

At 38 Steph decided to change everything, quit her job, leave her apartment and friends, she was on a discovery journey of self, which took her travelling solo all over the world, her heart was leading her eventually to a small Island off the coast of Tahiti. It was here she asked herself, “what would be the thing I would least like to do?” As she was all about relinquishing control and putting herself out of her comfort zone. The answer came through to her almost immediately – scuba diving! Luckily she was in the right part of the world for that.
 

She found the nearest dive club and waited for the boat and dive instructor to come back to land for the day.

“I saw this stranger’s face, and without thinking, I said to him “you have to help me”.

He looked at me and said ‘don’t worry everything is going to be ok now’. It was such an overwhelming feeling............. it was like coming home,” Steph said.

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This man was Marc, the man she has now been with for over 30 years.

It is amazing how life transpires, Steph says “sometimes when you put yourself out there, the universe rewards you”.

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When Steph looks at all the micro moments of her life, she can really see how creative practices have helped her heal, overcome challenges and grounded her to a practice that brings her immense joy in life.

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“I obtained my Masters in art therapy, as I wanted to get into this world more professionally, I had the skills to respond to people’s feelings and to be there for people.

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I think that even the most creative people can drift away from art. My belief is that we need to embrace it more, especially as we age.

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One of the reasons, I get so much out of my art, is my need to be totally present in the moment. I love sourcing materials that represent how I think and feel about issues that matter most to me.

I like the grounding properties, of being tactile with materials, feeling fabrics and being there in the moment, allowing whatever I am feeling to come out in a safe, fun and creative way,” Steph says.

Steph hosted our Create & Talk sessions at the Parks Library for the past three and a half years.

Stephanie’s sense of clarity, achievement and satisfaction, through the creative process, is something she wants to share with others, especially those people, who like her, were told as a young person that they were not artistic.

With her degree in art therapy and experience teaching all over the world, it was these three hours each month where Steph and volunteers created a place to come together, meet new people and to talk about everything and anything while making their own special and unique pieces of art.  

“Create & Talk provided the conditions for people to show up as they were, regardless of who they are, what they do, when they walked in the door, they felt welcomed and comfortable to ‘just be’ and that is a very powerful experience.

We provided ideas and possibilities, a structure and gorgeous materials to enable people to have that moment of joy. For everyone to clear their minds, be in the moment and be free to see what transpires, together.”