Or just call me Gavin. 

 

I have a story.  Everyone does. The stories we tell about our lives determine our existence. 

 

Whether you want to have a conversation about what it means to live with a mental illness, receive actionable creative advice, collaborate on design work for your own business or even to just be inspired in some way; you’ve hopefully come to the right place. 

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In a world that tells people who have a mental illness to suffer in silence and hide, I want tell my story, create and inspire.  To tell people that inspite of their darkness or their flawed mental health they can absolutely lead productive, successful and meaningful lives. 

 

 

 Figure Out Life | Do the Crazy | Never Settle

 

 

A little bit about who I am.   

 

I do a bunch of stuff. 

 

Im a creative and have been pretty much all my life.  I have extremely supportive and loving parents. Unfortunately they gave me dodgy genes.  I happen to have bipolar disorder which is probably where the intense creativity comes from  (silver lining and all that)   Its taught me to take the rough with the smooth and never give up.  It's also made me very entrepreneurial minded, idea driven and I've a big desire to be in charge of my own destiny.

 

I love fresh ground coffee.  My poison is rum or gin.  I have a black labrador called Tina and a cocker spaniel puppy called Kal.   My number is 29.  I knew what I wanted to do when I was very young.  The only toy I played with when I was younger was Lego (which has been proven to foster creativity)  Im completely passionate about all things design.  I love to read when I can and research like the geek I am. Im a constant dreamer.  I founded a company named after my grandparents. Im a massive Game of Thrones fan; both book and tv form and im a fan of sci-fi in general. I adore art and photography. I love to travel.  I play Ice Hockey.  I was the mascot for the Belfast Giants for 12 years and train with them when they need me. My favorite food is Italian, and ive broken my right arm, two fingers, my big toe, my nose and left ankle but never my spirit.    

 

I have spent my entire adult life—and most of my ( somewhat beleaguered) childhood riding the rollercoaster that is bipolar disorder.  

 

Getting totally swamped by the darkness of depression or the ludicrous and exciting manic highs.  It’s given me some of my worst and best memories in equal measure.  

 

I found a refuge in the world of design. Painting, drawing, making, photography, branding, creating and building.  

 

I know that without treatment and medication I would never have been able to harness my creativity in a focused way instead of being manically eratic like a rudderless ship in the wind.

‘Before you can conquer a beast, you must make it beautiful first’

 

You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle.