My childhood image of England had been positively shaped by the likes of Agatha Christie and Hammer Horror. When I followed my then partner to live in Newcastle in 1997, it was a bit of a culture shock. I remember walking along the Quayside, all excited, but after a short stretch it led into a deindustrialised wasteland. Back then I felt no connection, despite my working class background. At times, especially as a working mum with young children, I felt quite isolated.
It took a long time before I felt some sense of belonging and stopped looking back. Heaton Park holds a special place in my heart, as it was here where I started once again to take my creativity into my own hands, which resulted in an annual outdoor silent film festival in the park. And when the cuts hit public services, I initiated a campaign to ‘save our parks’.
I have since continued to put my creative ideas into action, and to stand up against anything that poses a threat to this city and its communities. Which includes Brexit. The referendum result came as a big shock. I had just invited my ageing mother over to live with me. For the first time in many years I felt like an unwanted immigrant. And I have started to look back again. They say home is where your heart is, but mine seems to be all over the place right now.

Heaton Park