Jamie Scanlon (JPS)

If it was not for Jamie Scanlon there would have been no Broken Britain exhibition, it is his concept and his passion, it is because of Jamie’s drive and commitment to the show that The New Bedlam Art Asylum chose to promote it for him.

Jamie’s story is one of struggle but ultimately triumph over adversity, and whilst many would not consider Jamie a perfect role model he is certainly an inspiration and a demonstration of the indomitable human spirit.

Having succumbed to the twin addictions of drugs and alcohol Jamie’s life was on a downward spiral and Jamie found himself on the brink of despair when two of his close friends died in tragic circumstances forcing him still deeper into his dependency. However one morning Jamie found himself waking from a binge on the roof of a derelict hotel in his home town of Weston-Super-Mare, staring up at the sunny sky Jamie’s thoughts turned to his dead friends and what they meant to him and what he meant to them. Jamie knew that he could either go the same way or he could honour their memories and do something positive with his life, and that’s exactly what he did.

Jamie immediately sought out the professional help required to beat his addictions and since that day Jamie has been clean and sober. Jamie threw himself into his other ‘addiction’ which is art and once again picked up his pencils and brushes and began creating works almost as another form of therapy. His efforts were quickly noticed and he was asked to take part in an exclusive exhibition in London in 2010 where his worked received rave reviews.

“Broken Britain was my way of demonstrating that while things can appear really bad and at some points desperate we can always make a difference, if not for society as a whole at least for ourselves, which in itself is a start at fixing it”