Painting outside the lines

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the empowering journey of Kim Noble, an artist who has Dissociative Identity Disorder, a condition formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.

Design/methodology/approach

An overview of the social inclusion aspects of Kim Noble's artistic projects are explored via a detailed interview.

Findings

Far from being just a creative tool for self‐expression, art is a powerful means of regaining control as a service user and of connecting members of the public who would not ordinarily unite.

Originality/value

Valuable for commissioners and service users to see how arts can promote recovery, all other material on this artist has concentrated only on her condition and not how art has promoted social inclusion.

Citation

Prendergast, C. and Swan, P. (2011), "Painting outside the lines", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 138-142. https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301111165726