Born in December 1947 near Lisbon, Portugal, Manuel joined the fire brigade as a volunteer at a young age. His life’s ambition was to be in the army, and many of his works reflect this passion for army transportation; depicting helicopters, aeroplanes, motorbikes and boats.

I’m Greg, social worker by day, Cosmic Wormhole and multiverse fantasist by night. I am a self-taught artist originating from Hull in East Yorkshire where I have now returned to live after a 20 year triangular trip around the UK. About 3 years ago. I had a stress-induced creativity eureka moment that has remained with me every day since. My art has filled an existential vacuum (as well as my house) and has become my vocation/obsession in life; I aspire that one day I will be able to live frugally as a pauper artist.

'My work is about exploring the relationship between everyday life and popular culture. I incorporate images of pop stars, movie icons, fashion, and cartoons.'

I like drawing, painting, printing, collage, pottery, and sculpture. I make art about ladies, owls, gentlemen, trees and houses. Tulips, people, houses, portraits, boats planes, trains, train lines, green tree. I like being an artist because of the lovely pictures I do.

Dannielle Hodson (born 1980, lives and works in London) was educated at Central St. Martins, London (BA Womenswear Fashion Design, MA Fine Art) and is a graduate of the Turps Banana studio painting programme.

In prison, I enrolled in the art group and assembled a decent portfolio. On release being in rehab I got involved with Creative Futures, who sent a piece of my work to Pallant House Gallery for the Outside In competition, of which I was one of the 6 winners. Since then, I have entered numerous exhibits, done a life drawing group, continued with my residency at Pallant House Gallery, achieved level 1-2 in art and design and am now onto a BTEC foundation diploma in fine art or working towards a fine art degree and possibly a masters in fine art and illustration.

Nothing is known about this artist other than that his work was created whilst in prison in Arizona, USA.

Laila was born in Gaza in 1985. As a child, she has deprived of the innocent feelings that a child should have experienced. The political and economic situation in Gaza has contributed largely to her inability to live a childhood concerned with only her toys. She grew up suppressing emotions of despair and frustration. As a teenager, there was another layer of a burden that was added to her life journey: society.

James Lake creates large scale cardboard and paper sculptures. The work is based on the themes of humanity, strength, and vulnerability. Although James is a disabled artist, he seeks to make work that cannot be marginalized in an attempt to break down the barriers in the art world.

I am an artist, illustrator and graphic facilitator who uses artwork and creative images to capture stories. I also draw at conferences and training days. I work on big projects, like working for the NHS and BILD, but I also like to draw from my own personal experiences and I am inspired by traditional tales and history. I like to create illustrations that celebrate, document and inform people about the world of disability. I draw because it helps me to calm down when I feel hyperactive. It relieves stress and gives me an outlet for my super amazing creative mind!

Friedrich Nagler (1920 – 2009) was an émigré, ‘outsider’ artist born in Vienna, Austria. He escaped Nazi occupation in 1938 and eventually settled in Hampshire, England. He always considered himself an artist and dedicated his life to producing a prodigious artistic output, working with a very wide range of materials.

Although I have degree in art, I was associated with art brut as a result of my visual language, the need to fill the space up, to use pure white and black paint and the theme of my work (religious spiritual experiences). I am fascinated with our mortality and have an impulsive strong inner need to paint. I like Iconography and feel that it is inspiring my art.

Nishioka will copy directly from an existing music score, meaning his works are related to actual pieces of music, although they may not be easily read by a piano player. He avoids distraction when creating by not listening to music, but he will hum songs as he draws. It seems there is always music in his head. As Nishioka’s astigmatism worsens in his left eye, the compositions of his musical score drawings move further to the right.

I like doing my own thing, my own style; faces, pattern and sculpture. I enjoy making art. I am definitely pleased when I see my work displayed. I would like to do more work in 3D.

Sanders’ work has an affinity with Primitive, Outsider, and non-Western Art, sharing their common concerns with universal experiences of birth, love, sex, reproduction and death. By employing contemporary art methodologies, referencing a vast range of visual languages, and anthropological connections, he pulls the past into the present.

Irish born, John Sheehy lives and works in London. After experiencing periods of homelessness, John began to paint in May 1999, aged 51. Early attempts revealed an enjoyment in conjuring imagery from imagination and memory. Over the past 18 years he has produced a vast body of work that also includes printmaking, ceramics and sculpture in addition to playwriting, poetry and music.

As a dyslexic individual, I sometimes struggle to express myself in writing, but I believe that my dyslexia gives me a unique perspective on the world. As a result, I use my art to communicate and offer a different voice in the conversation about marginalized groups. Through the work of artists like myself, we can begin to break down the social divisions that exist in the arts and create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Joanna was born in 1959 and her work is inspired by available materials and is created in response to the environment and with compassion for all the children of the Lost Generation, Australia, and globally.

I use colouring pens and biros and felt tip pens as I find I can have much more control over detail in my pictures. I really don’t think I could do the same with a brush and paint, I’m just not that good an artist so I usually keep to what I can do. Two things have stayed with me over the years one is my music and the other is the Church which has always been a source of support and encouragement, and now I’m having quite some degree of success with my art as well.

Scottie Wilson (28 February 1891 – 1972) was a Scottish outsider artist known particularly for his highly detailed style. Starting his artistic career at the age of 44, his work was admired and collected by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Jean Dubuffet.