Artist Shane Record: ‘I paint portraits of people facing homelessness to give them visibility’

I have been a professional artist for most of my adult life and ran a studio gallery in Folkestone for 20 years. About five years ago I started baking vegan cinnamon buns every Sunday for my children. They liked them so much they insisted I make an extra tray every week so that we could share them.

This started with friends and family but one day I gave one to a homeless person and she was so appreciative that after that, for several years, I would venture out with my children every Sunday morning handing out buns and sharing goodwill to the people on the streets.

Over time I got to know many of these people well. I thought about the idea of doing a series of portraits and chatted to one of my favourite new acquaintances called Jamie.

Jamie was willing to be my first subject but before I could paint him, he suddenly died – right next to where I live. I then learned about the shocking mortality rates of people experiencing homelessness and decided to produce a series of paintings to give these people visibility. My hope was that this might help put pressure on local services into helping them more.

I got to know each subject well, finding out about their lives. Most are dogged with health problems, both mental and physical, but all were genuinely understanding as to why I wanted to do the paintings and were happy to be subjects.

One guy lost his mother, job and flat all in the same week and with no support had a breakdown. Another came to the UK on a small boat escaping war. When I started painting them, I could see much of their lives etched into their faces, with their warmth often shining through. I learnt that they are not immune to hope. 

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The response to the work has been phenomenal. My homeless friends have loved seeing themselves captured in oil paints and have brought their friends to look at the paintings. It has been such a moving project. I have real respect among the homeless community which I am really proud of.

I’ve received countless comments from the general public in support. Some have subsequently donated to The Rainbow Centre (providers of assistance to the homeless in Folkestone) or even volunteered. One woman excitedly told me that she now gives Rob (an avid reader) books and that she had never spoken to a homeless person before.

This has been a side project for a number of years as I have fitted these paintings around my schedule as a professional artist. I am delighted to be finally holding an exhibition which will see these paintings hung in one place.

The exhibition is called Facing Up and is showing at Afsana Gallery, Folkestone. I have completed one final portrait – of a homeless friend called Matty – but this one was painted only using water on coloured paper which darkens when wet. As it dries, the portrait disappears. This will run on a video loop during the show and serves to question how willing we are to remember these people. 

The paintings will be for sale, along with some prints, and I will donate 15% of the exhibition takings to the homeless – splitting the sum between The Rainbow Centre and Big Issue. This gesture aligns with my belief that art can be a force for good. 

Facing Up is on 20 November-17 December at Afsana Gallery, 56-58 The Old High Street, Folkestone

See more of Shane’s work on his Instagram

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