Advertisement
Housing

David Holmes-Brown’s drawings express the humanity of rough sleeping

The artist’s stark pencil sketches aim to go beyond the facts and figures to show the human side of life on the streets

There have been a series of rough sleeping statistics released in the last few weeks – but David Holmes-Brown is keeping his focus on the human side of the UK’s homelessness story.

The Torbay artist has been chronicling the state of the rough sleeping situation in his town throughout the winter and The Big Issue has exclusively revealed them here.

While live homelessness table counts show that Torbay had 24 rough sleepers at the end of 2017, David insists that the numbers get in the way of the real story of the “surreal and frightening landscape” of surviving the winter while homeless.

“Facts and figures don’t express any humanity,” he told The Big Issue. “These lives have been derailed by a broad spectrum of incidents and accidents, poor choices or mental health difficulties, into a chaotic spiral of addiction or crippling anxiety. If we don’t know the story, we must avoid judgement.

“I’ll keep drawing and listening to the anonymous figure in the doorway and try to give them the dignity of an identity.”

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told
a child at the window of their home
Homelessness

Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Somerford Grove Renters in Hackney
Renting

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results
school children at desks
Education

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people
Four people stand around an electric van
Homelessness

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue