Tracey

I called it pregnancy just because of the swelling in the middle reminded me of an overly pregnant shape. I like everything about this painting - the softness of the colours and there is brightness about them as well. It’s become quite symbolic. I’d love to have another baby but I’m getting on a bit now and also with the medication I’ve been on, it’s not really going to happen. It was in an exhibition at the Huddersfield Art Gallery. It represents a real sense of accomplishment, an achievement and something concrete that I’ve created and produced and been happy with. It’s so easy to be critical a lot of the time, but I really love this picture, the whole thing.

It’s not whether anybody sees it, or whether you make any money out of it, or whether you become famous – doing it gives it back to myself.

I see myself as an A.I.M. artist and I think I will always want to have that support, encouragement and that team spirit. I’ve taken my work to two different places and I’ve got two exhibitions; it’s quite empowering really. I have a bit more of a sense of myself as an artist – I can call myself an artist now.