Photographer Kirsten Preston’s work ‘Spirit of the Broken Boat’  has been recognized by the Parkinson’s UK Society, in their annual competition celebrating creativity in people with this devastating condition. 
 
The Mervyn Peake Awards – named after the celebrated artist and author of the Gormenghast series and illustrator of Alice in Wonderland who himself suffered from Parkinson’s – are now in their 11th year and this is the first time Kirsten has entered her work.
 
Kirsten was born in Denmark, but moved to the Isle of Man in 1986.  She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2009, which meant she was unable to continue working but instead, when a friend gave her a camera, began to take photographs to occupy her time.
 
“I began to get more interested in photography, and have begun exploring and experimenting with digital images,” says Kirsten.  “In 2011 I was lucky enough to have an exhibition at the Villa Marina, and then at the Peel Centenary Centre:  the positive comments and encouragement I had from visitors to those exhibitions made me think I should enter my work into this competition, but I’m surprised and thrilled to have ‘Spirit of the Broken Boat’ judged worthy of a ‘highly commended’ award.”
 
Kirsten Preston is a Friend of the Sayle Gallery in Douglas and often has work on display there, where her greetings cards are also on sale.  ‘Spirit of the Broken Boat’ will be on display during the Sayle Gallery’s Summer Show in July and August.