The British Art Show list of 40 artists was announced on social media yesterday, many ex-students, friends and colleagues are included and also many I do not know. Perhaps it is often difficult for artists who can not make the grade for various reasons, it begs the question 'how have I failed to be relevant' but things are possibly more contingent on social connections than one might expect? But I am looking forward to seeing the works in Plymouth where my family live/come from. It will be in the newly converted buildings which I previously worked in as a library assistant. I was lost then – often unable to find work and suffering from loneliness and depression – it took a long time to find a way to be an artist possibly because of my background of working class origins with absolutely no connection to my ambitions. Still is taking a long time!