Navigating my way between meetings in Chelmsford recently, I was stopped dead in my tracks after coming face to face with Hide, a breathtaking art installation by the railway arches on Duke Street. Having spent much of the last year connecting with amazing people living with trauma who use creative methods as a form of expression, the raw emotion conveyed in artwork before me spoke volumes, and I knew that the artist would have a deep understanding of the complexities of trauma.
Taking a quick photo of this striking piece, I carried on with my day, but later, when reunited with my trusty laptop, I set about tracking down the artist. Putting my faith in an online form on the Art & Sip website, I was contacted shortly thereafter by James Mackenzie, who invited me to his studio to have a chat and see more of his artworks.
A week later I made my way to Margaretting, where James has his studio in a rustic barn adorned with around twenty-five pieces of his current works. The pieces all showed incredible depth and conveyance of emotion, including the original painting of Hide. Chatting over a coffee, James explained:
Hide, original acrylic painting
‘Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering at the Priory in Chelmsford, leading a series of art sessions for young adults who have experienced trauma.
Each session is run in a style similar to Art & Sip, where I guide the group step by step through the process of creating one of my own paintings. The goal isn’t just to paint something beautiful, but to enjoy the process — to get lost in the colours, the brushstrokes, and the quiet space that painting creates. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the transformation in energy during the session: the confidence that builds, the conversations that start to flow, and the sense of shared experience between everyone in the room.
One of the most powerful aspects of these sessions is that they’re not just for the young adults. The staff at the Priory often join in too, creating a lovely sense of togetherness. Everyone paints side by side — chatting, laughing, encouraging one another — and the room becomes filled with a very real sense of connection.
Although I haven’t run a session at the Priory this year, I’ve cherished the ones I’ve led and look forward to returning soon.
Over the years I have created a series of paintings expressing the extremes of human emotion. An artwork from this series, titled Hide, is on display at Chelmsford train station. The painting explores the emotional weight of wearing a mask — of hiding how we really feel behind a brave face. I was delighted to hear, Sharon, how you saw the piece and how deeply it resonated with you. Working closely in trauma as you do, you immediately connected with the message, recognising how it mirrored the experiences of many people you support. That moment sparked the idea of exhibiting the study for Hide — a smaller, framed version of the original — as part of the forthcoming Expressions of Trauma exhibition, which is centred around living with trauma and creative expression.
It’s a reminder that art can speak when words fall short. It can unlock emotions, offer comfort, and create space for reflection. Being able to share that with young people, especially those who have faced challenges, has been a privilege.’
James will be joining us in the next iteration of Expressions of Trauma, so watch this space to find out how to view his artworks and those of our other wonderful contributors.
Sharon Westfield de Cortez,
Information & Guidance Manager
