Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Our 2024 'working to end poverty' impact report is out!
DOWNLOAD
Art

Amy Richardson is stitching together a tale of homelessness

The Reading University student has been telling the story of late Big Issue vendor Mark for her final uni show

Personal Amy Richardson Big Pic 1364

Amy Richardson’s uncle Mark sold The Big Issue in Kings Lynn. He suffered from mental illness and alcoholism throughout his life and died in 2015 while homeless.

Four years on, Amy is about to graduate in Fine Art and Psychology at Reading University. Using tragedy to call for change, Amy’s final show is inspired by her uncle.

Called There’s Nothin’ Soft About Hard Times, it consists of nine cushions highlighting the issues that lead to homelessness and exacerbate the situation, embroidered in a method that is like using a sewing machine as a pencil or paintbrush.

As Amy explains in the captions, each cushion depicts a scene from her uncle’s life.

See more at amyeliseart8.wordpress.com and in the gallery above

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

View all
Connections are the art of the matter
Big Issue vendor Dave Martin creating abstract artwork at a table, surrounded by examples of his colourful geometric prints. Beside him is an illustration of a person using a smartphone for contactless payment, symbolising digital inclusion, with logos for giffgaff and Big Issue Group and the tagline ‘Connecting people to their potential’.
Advertorial

Connections are the art of the matter

10Foot, Tox and Fume's art exhibition shut down after 'f**k the King' graffiti
Graffiti

10Foot, Tox and Fume's art exhibition shut down after 'f**k the King' graffiti

'A bright and bold mosaic of creatures': Meet the winner of Big Issue's Kids Cover Competition 2025
Kids Cover Competition

'A bright and bold mosaic of creatures': Meet the winner of Big Issue's Kids Cover Competition 2025

'If I didn't do graffiti I'd be doing way worse crimes': Banksy interviews Tox, London's most prolific vandal
10Foot Takeover

'If I didn't do graffiti I'd be doing way worse crimes': Banksy interviews Tox, London's most prolific vandal

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know

Support our vendors with a subscription

For each subscription to the magazine, we’ll provide a vendor with a reusable water bottle, making it easier for them to access cold water on hot days.