This work was inspired by a short poem by John Hegley titled "My Dad's new belt". The poem explores the subject of corporal punishment inflicted upon children.
In 1986, the United Kingdom Government banned the use of corporal punishment in state-run schools in 1986. However, it was 2003 before private schools in Northern Ireland banned the practice. Sadly, as described in Hegley's poem, punishment in the home can be brutal and often goes unnoticed by the world outside. ​
My work, abstract in nature, looks at the methods and tools used to mete out punishment to children in recent times, both in domestic and scholastic settings. ​This work formed part of an exhibition curated by the National Portrait Gallery. You can watch a video of me talking about my work here.