Personal Experience and What Matters to People and Families In his presentation, Robin Meader gives an overview of how his career as an artist has developed and how he got involved in the Transforming Care Programme. He explains that his job involves drawing pictures on all sorts of topics, for example at meetings and conferences. Robin also mentions his role as a storyteller and how his pictures support his storytelling. His most recent storytelling roles are a performance set in the 18th Century and a NHS project about a lady called Natalie and her journey towards employment in the community.

1. Robin Meader
artist . graphic facilitator . illustrator

2. R o b i n w a s b o r n i n S o u t h a m p t o n a n d m o v e d t o S o m e r s e t w h e n h e
w a s a y o u n g b o y a n d n o w l i v e s i n s t r e e t .
H e s t a r t e d t o d r a w s t i c k p e o p l e f r o m a v e r y y o u n g a g e a n d h a s
b e e n d r a w i n g e v e r s i n c e .
R o b i n a t t e n d e d A v a l o n s p e c i a l n e e d s s c h o o l i n S t r e e t , t h e n
m o v e d t o c o l l e g e s i n S t r o d e , Y e o v i l a n d B r i d g e w a t e r . H e w a s
t h e f i r s t p e r s o n t o p a s s t h e c o u r s e : ’ D r a w i n g f o r t h e T e r r i f i e d ’
Robin Meader Artist

3. “ M y f a v o u r i t e a r t i s t i s P i c a s s o , I h a v e a
c r a z y s e n s e o f h u m o u r , w h i c h I s o m e t i m e s
p u t i n t o m y a r t w o r k . I d r a w b e c a u s e i t h e l p s
m e c o n t r o l m y h y p e r a c t i v e s t r e s s a n d p u t s
m y m i n d i n t o a ' s y m m e t r i c a l p i c t u r e ' , w h i c h
m e a n s a n i l l u s t r a t i o n f r o m m y m i n d m o v e s
t h r o u g h t h e p e n c i l t o t h e p a p e r .
I c a p t u r e t h e e s s e n c e o f a t o p i c a n d d r a w i t
i n p i c t u r e f o r m . I c a p t u r e i n d i v i d u a l
m o m e n t s d i s c u s s e d a n d a r r a n g e t h e m i n
s e q u e n c e l i k e a t a p e s t r y t o d i s p l a y a r o u n d
t h e r o o m ”
I l i k e t o a t t e n d c o n f e r e n c e s w h e r e I c a n
d e m o n s t r a t e m y a r t w o r k . I c a n c r e a t e a
v i s u a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e d a y t o e n a b l e
p e o p l e t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i s b e i n g s a i d a n d
s o f e e l i n c l u d e d . ”

4. Robin Meader Artist
I n 2 0 0 4 R o b i n w a s o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r m e m b e r s o f a n e w
c h a r i t y c a l l e d O p e n s t o r y t e l l e r s . I t w a s s e t u p t o s u p p o r t
p e o p l e w i t h l e a r n i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n n e e d s
t o t e l l t h e i r o w n s t o r i e s . H e s o o n b e c a m e t h e c h a r i t y a r t i s t
i n r e s i d e n c e , w o r k i n g o n m a n y p r o j e c t s , b o t h a s i l l u s t r a t o r
f o r b o o k s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d a s a s t o r y t e l l e r f o r e v e n t s ,
i n c l u d i n g f e s t i v a l s , c o n f e r e n c e s a n d t r a i n i n g d a y s .
.

5. Robin Meader Artist
In 2012 Robin set up his own business Robin Meader Artist, which he now runs
with support from Openstorytellers and his own support circle of professionals
2017- 2018 work includes:
Cartoon Illustrations – Community Living magazine
Craft Unit Exhibition – Bishop’s Barn Wells
Openstorytellers Project : The Fortunes and Misfortunes
of Fanny Fust (heritage lottery funding)
NHS - Natalie’s Story- G.P Animation Project
NHS England- MOOC Transforming Care Course
Photo Symbols- Easy Read training

6. Robin Meader Artist
Conferences & Exhibitions include:
Health & Care and Innovation Expo - Manchester
NHS England - Coventry
Access for All – Fair Frome
Fargo & Warwick University – Academics & Artists Exhibition
Creative Minds - Bristol
Living Memories Exhibition -All our Stories - Norah Fry
Spirit Disability Platform - Southampton University
Publications include:
Learning to Tell
The Big Book of Storysharing
both by Dr Nicola Grove

7. Robin Meader Artist
A time Lapse of Robin drawing a
comic strip for NHS England

8. Thank you
Please come and talk to me after the
presentation
Robin Meader