Hi! I’m R, I’m 14 and I’m autistic.
I love music especially artists like Madilyn May and my favourite creative mediums are pencil and paint. I used to be in mainstream school up until Year 8, but it was really overwhelming and made me feel invisible. I wasn’t learning much and felt like I couldn’t cope anymore.
I come from a very neurospicy family (my mum actually got her ADHD diagnosis during my assessment it was that obvious!). We’ve all had to figure out ways to manage life differently.
I joined Be Creative Cornwall in September 2024, after being out of school for a while. At first, I was so nervous I was scared I’d be judged like I had been in school, and I didn’t even want to show my art to Emma or Richard. But it wasn’t scary at all. They made me laugh, they didn’t pressure me to talk, and they made me feel like I could just be me.
I always knew I was creative… but I had no idea just how creative I could be. Now, I feel like I can do almost anything (okay maybe not skydiving!).
Every day I come to Be Creative, I feel excited. The space is safe and calm. If I get overwhelmed or stressed, they notice straight away and help me or give me space, depending on what I need. At first I didn’t like being pushed out of my comfort zone, but now I know they do it to help me grow. And it’s working.
One of the best bits? Fresh Bread Fridays. Richard bakes bread and we all sit together at 11:30 for a “bread break” with cheese, jams and chutneys. It’s as delicious as it sounds.
Right now, I’m working on an acrylic painting on wood called “UNA”. She’s a galaxy goddess holding a black hole above her head. She just popped into my mind one day that happens a lot with my art. 💫
If I hadn’t come to Be Creative, I honestly don’t think I’d have any friends. It’s given me the confidence to talk to people, share my work, and feel proud of who I am.
The Acrewood Project
My family also runs The Acrewood Project, which is similar to Be Creative but in a huge field! It’s an alternative provision space with goats, chickens, ducks — and our newest member, Lando the sheep. My absolute favourite animals are the chickens, and the best of them all is Vox. She’s super friendly (here she is! ↓)
At Acrewood, we have school groups and students visit who struggle like I used to and now I get to help them. I give tours, run small workshops, talk about the animals and how we care for them. I explain things like breeds, genetics, and routines. It makes me feel brave, capable, and like I can really make a difference.
And I know I only have the confidence to do all that because of Be Creative.
This is my very first blog post and I was pretty scared about writing it… but I’m really glad I did. If you want to know more about me, my journey at Be Creative, or Acrewood I’d be happy to share.
Thanks for reading!
— R 🎨🐔💜