During lockdown, I took part in an online postcard designing course through @MakingFutureHQ. You can view everyone’s contributions on the website https://www.postcards-from-the-edge.org  below is a thread of my designs and the reasons for choosing these themes.

LITTER: I couldn’t help but notice how dirty people became and still are. I tried to make this postcard like the Gladys from Friends dangly hands, only with surgical gloves hanging off trees but the nail polish kept soaking into the paper.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/COERCIVE CONTROL/ MENTAL ILLHEALTH: This was the hardest because I know what’s it’s like to have to pack my shit and start again. Everyone in these circumstances, I’m thinking of you and wish you all the very best.

TIK TOK: This was about how much Belfast has changed in 40 years. From the city being shut down with bomb warnings to it being closed because of a virus. @danielbakersf I’m sorry for the terrible portrait.

FAKE NEWS: This was a play on The Handmaid’s Tale only with men being oppressed. During lockdown I missed going to lectures, even if it was to hear people asking stupid questions at the end of it. No men were harmed in the making of this postcard*

NURSING HOMES: My granda was a resident for about 10 years and died from old age and dementia. He escaped this pandemic but it made me think of other people’s relatives and how terrible it was for them.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES: This was designed in April and I had a sense that all these loonbins would join together and protest for these causes.

HAIRDRESSERS: The real hero of the end of lockdown. My hair during the pandemic wasn’t even funny and it was all my own doing. Here is a self portrait with my roots from hell.

NHS & FUNERAL WATCH: I spent a fair amount of time at republican funerals growing up and realised our need to mourn. The PPE shield and gloves are the new beret and leather gloves. Are we witnessing the death of the NHS due to negative public opinion? Who will get the vaccine?

GRAFFITI: I love Belfast graffiti and our brutal accent. Sometimes a poorly spelled message on a wall has more impact than any slogan a PR guru comes up with. And that’s the end of my contributions. Keep washing your hands and put your gloves in the bin.