Dundee domestic abuse survivors use art to aid recovery

Women who have suffered domestic abuse have been using art, writing and poetry to help with their recovery.

The Women’s Aid project in Dundee has been described as “transformative” for the participants, who have been exhibiting their pieces at the city’s Verdant Works jute museum.

“My artwork is made from textile waste, which I have been collecting all over Scotland,” Sandra Junele told STV News.

“When I came to Women’s Aid, this is how I felt – unwanted and discarded. I wanted to give this textile waste a new life, just the way the Women’s Aid gave it to me.

“When I make an artwork, I feel as if I’m in a totally different world, and this is what I like when I start being creative.”

Women's Aid exhibition at Verdant Works Museum — Women’s Aid exhibition at Verdant Works Museum STV News

Naomi McIntosh turned to Dundee Women’s Aid for help during the pandemic and created collage images to display in her new home.

“Women’s Aid and other agencies helped me and my children to get away from a bad situation during lockdown,” she said.

“Attending the art group has helped me to connect with others who have been through similar situations. It’s been very therapeutic for me.”

Funding for the project was provided by the Bob & Blether women’s wild water swimming group from St Andrews.

“Over the last three years we have used International Women’s Day as our fundraising event and we have donated a significant amount of money to Dundee Women’s Aid,” said the group’s founder Caroline Blair.

“This year we will be donating £8,000, and when we look at this incredible exhibition, the way the funds are being used is really heart-warming to us.”

As the exhibition at Verdant Works nears its end, organisers are hoping to relocate it to a new venue.

“We are looking for somewhere in the Dundee area that would be able to house the exhibition for a couple of months, for the opportunity for more people to come and see it,” said volunteer coordinator Yvonne Tracey of Dundee Women’s Aid.

“It might strike a chord with someone who sees it and think, actually they need to reach out to us.”