Cheryl Hardy 1976 - 2022
Cheryl, an undergraduate history student at Bristol University, approached me in 2020 via a mutual friend, while undergoing cancer treatment. She wanted to explore being a life model (as she had in the past), as a way to help address her new shape post-mastectomy.
It's very tempting to make assumptions/step into the narrative void left when someone has died, claiming intentions they may/may not have had, to fit your own agenda. Much as I would love to, I feel it would be disrespectful to Cheryl, for me to claim her as my ‘friend’ - our time together was intense, uplifting, and mutually beneficial - I don’t presume to know how she would have described our relationship.
I am however very clear that she was happy for the results of our collaboration (and her words) to be in the public domain, and I am committed to doing good with the work we started together.
At Cheryl’s instigation, we jointly contributed this article to the Breast Cancer Art Project
“Diversity” on show at Heart Of The Tribe gallery in May 2021
At the PV of the first show at Heart Of The Tribe
Work in progress in my studio
Closeup
Pencil study
"Defiance" (named by Cheryl)
My studio cat "Mr Sausages" took up residence during modelling sessions
Exhibitions
Celebrating the opportunities that have happened to share the products of our collaborative work, both during and after Cheryl’s lifetime:
December 2020 - Heart Of The Tribe gallery opening show “Diversity” August 2020 Virtual tour
May 2021 - Heart Of The Tribe gallery joint show “Get Real” - Gail Reid and Caroline Le Vine virtual tour
March 2024 - Worshipful Company of World Traders’ International Women’s Day 2024 event at Goodenough College, London March 2024 (pictured at the far end of the Great Hall. See curatorial notes here)
June 2024 - Centre For Appearance Research 10th annual Appearance Matters conference at Bristol City Hall