artists
Wendy Young
Poet/writer/actor/performer
Instagram @miserwithoomph
Art Practice
Wendy Wendy
She is moved to write through anger at injustice such as the news of the development of Soho, one Sunday morning raging in dressing gown and slippers, grooming gangs, homeless and destitute people, interesting stories of love, loss, the dramas of relationships, and through past travels and times abroad. It could be a sudden burst of desperation and has written poetry in many forms from rhyme like Right to Bite ‘I wish I’d been born at the bottom of the sea, nobody there to bother me’ (driven to near madness working in the housing department of Brent Council) to rap inspired work for instance when she ‘saw Jay Z on the BBC – he’s got 99 problems – now he’s got me’ (which is now a recorded track with the late, great Maggie Swampwino).
Biography
My art and poetry is drawn from life and healing.
Born in West Riding of Yorkshire, Wendy Young is a poet/performer who cut her teeth with Survivors Poetry, performing widely in London and beyond, at festivals including Shuffle, and Liberty. She has been published in South Bank Poetry, Anomalie Magazine, I am not a Silent Poet, Poetry Express, Militant Thistles and Disability Arts Online. Her publications include: ‘Living with Ghosts’ (Natterjack Poetry 2015), ‘Ooetry’ (William Cornelius Harris Publishing/London Poetry 2015) and ‘The Dream of Somewhere Else’ Survivors Press (2016).
As for many London adoptees, Wendy’s life is delineated by the before and after of arrival in the great metropolis. Evocative aromas of the nearby canal (preferably the murky bits), walking in graveyards, music, excessive cookery programmes, smoking, Hammer Horror and life’s horrors. Past hotel work in London and Amsterdam led to rites of passages and back alleys – red light bars, prostitutes, gangsters and faux champagne giving added depth to the tag ‘Misery with Oomph’ and L’esprit de scallywag! Turning past traumas into inspired work, Wendy writes to fulfil what’s missing; performs to feel alive; is always learning and feels writing can heal – after all it’s all some of us have.
Wendy’s doodles developed after doing art workshop therapy in 2017 at Ashford Place NW2 with an encouraging inspiring artist – Francine. Discovered pastels and a love of intricacy.
Wendy collaborated with MW’s founder, Elinor Rowlands for her soundtrack Listening AS Activism: https://on.soundcloud.com/5pDcA
Artist Statement
My work is for me and soothes my mind. I am mainly a poet/performer with a day job in the NHS so I tend to pick up a pen to draw to relieve stress.
I am moved to write through anger at injustice such as the news of the development of Soho, one Sunday morning, raging in dressing gown and slippers, grooming gangs, homeless and destitute people, interesting stories of love, loss, the dramas of relationships, and through past travels and times abroad.
Magical Women
Magical Women were the first to publish my art and it was such an amazing feeling! My dabble doodle dos help me escape. I have done art workshops with Magical Women and highly recommend them. I have found validation by having work published by MW.