​Stroke surviving artist wins national award

Artist and stroke survivor Lil Sullivan (58) has won a national Life After Stroke Award for her services to creative arts. She was presented her award at an awards ceremony hosted by the Stroke Association at the Rosewood hotel on 25 June 2015.

Lil, who is originally from County Kerry, Ireland but has spent the last 20 years living and working in south London, suffered a life-threatening subarachnoid haemorrhage in July 2005. The stroke left her in a coma in Kings College Hospital for many weeks. When she regained consciousness she had severe problems with her mobility and couldn’t move one side of her body. Her memory was affected and she had lost the ability to speak. Her youngest daughter was only 5 years old at the time so her family and friends rallied round. Lil worked hard on her rehabilitation and, over time, she relearned to talk again and walk with the aid of a stick.

As an artist, art became Lil’s main means of self-expression and an important part of her rehabilitation. She did more than create her own work, she also started exhibiting and raising awareness of stroke. She founded a number of creative projects to support stroke survivors; she helped set up the London Stroke Action Council with other stroke survivorsand set up and curated ‘Out of the blue/Art of the Stroke’, and exhibition to raise funds for the charity. She also designed a calendar for the charity and exhibited her work in China and Istanbul.

The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards, sponsored by TONI&GUY Charitable Foundation, recognise the courage shown by stroke survivors and carers as well as the great work and commitment shown by health professionals, groups and supporter organisations.

Lil explained what the award meant to her:

“I thought I was too old to win the Turner Prize, but for stroke survivors and people with disabilities this probably is our Turner Prize. I’m humbled they chose me and very proud. Having a stroke is horrible, and maybe only other stroke survivors can know what it is really like; there’s a huge sense of loss and mourning. It’s a difficult thing to understand but art can fill that void.

“I’m a survivor and my art is informed by my stroke, but first and foremost I’m an artist and that helps me see a silver lining in every adversity. Art makes me better and I hope it empowers other stroke survivors. Now I’ve got plans to exhibit ‘Out of the blue 2’ – I’ll do it even bigger and bolder.”

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association said:

“Lil is not only a hugely talented artist in her own right, what really sets her apart is that she’s also worked so hard to provide opportunities for artists who would otherwise find it difficult to access the art world. She has formidable tenacity and talent, she has tackled huge difficulties with warmth, good humour and grace. We are delighted to recognise her outstanding work at the Life After Stroke Awards.”

For more information on the Life After Stroke Awards and to view short films about the winners, including Lil, visit www.stroke.org.uk/lasa.