Prison Life

Valerie was able in 2002 to make a study of Prison life at Swansea Prison, which she has wanted to pursue for sometime.

The opening of a drugs rehabilitation wing at Swansea Prison gave her the opportunity to have a small view of the prison and talk to some of the prisoners. This was enough to convince her that it was exactly what she wanted to study.

The governor, Vicky O’Dea was encouraging when approached, and a series of visits to every part of the prison was arranged. Over the next six months she had total co-operation from both staff and prisoners. This enabled her to complete the paintings and drawings presented in her solo exhibition at the Attic Gallery in Swansea that year.

“My work during this year includes subjects that have fascinated me for years, such as mining, dance, jazz and introduces a new project PRISON LIFE. I have found this interesting, disturbing and in someways very encouraging to see how the human spirit copes with it’s lot. It ieads me to ask many questions about the world in which we live”.