These birds became emblems of freedom and inspired me to tell my story to my local community.

“I specifically chose to exhibit the pictures at St. Pauls church in Bedford town centre. I felt it was the perfect setting as it represented a place of sanctuary and safety, a venue that for would give dignity to my story and encourage people to give generously to the charity Victim Support that I have supported over the years.

On the last day of the exhibition, I paused to look back before the church door was locked. The birds were static, the sea gulls I had portrayed were now far from the sea; they appeared trapped in mid flight, confined within the picture frames. Their time alive was now held captive in two dimensions, pressed to the glass with no air and soon to be held inside a locked church. I thought for a moment that, like me, they were caught up in the framework of this never ending painful narrative.”

‘Extract from Facing the Yorkshire Ripper: The Art of Survival’ by Mo Lea