Please welcome first-time contributor Nathan Walker, a man who was first diagnosed with autism when he was a young child. Learning how to live with autism was a challenge for him. From a young age he had a difficult time managing his emotional and social wellbeing. As the years progressed, he learned how to control his autism and made huge progress with his intellectual, emotional, and social skills. He is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree at Derby University in the United Kingdom. He believes he would not have made it to where he is today if it wasn’t for his family, friends, mentors, and tutors. He is truly thankful for the continuous help and support he has been given.

About these photos: “Each individual photograph has been created through self portraiture. Each photo contains an expression of intellectual, emotional, and social aspects of life. Overall this series of work is a celebration of life, love, and pride I not only have for myself but for my family, friends, tutors, mentors and role models for helping me develop my confidence. The photographs contain textural elements. During my childhood years textural surfaces were used as a therapeutic method to calm my emotional behaviour. Working with textural elements brings the past and present of my life together, presenting a part of who I am. Autism will always be part of who I am as an individual, but I can use it as an advantage in my creative practice in terms of observation for colour, pattern, shape, tone and texture.”

Find more from Nathan at his Facebook page, iartistnaynay.

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