Portraits of people stammering
Stammering, or stuttering is a condition characterised by the sense of loss of control while speaking. It can involve repetitions, prolongations or verbal blocks. Traditionally stammering has been framed as a failure to be fluent. In this series of collaborative portraits we want to question this approach and celebrate stammering as just the way we speak. Our stammering voices add to the rich diversity of speech.
Portrait of Gen Lamoureux stammering
Oil on board 30 x 40 cm.
‘I extend my profound gratitude to Paul, not just for the painting itself, but for the transformative process it entailed. For so long, I’ve held a belief, both consciously and unconsciously, that how I appeared when I stutter was marred by ugliness. The experience of having my stutter attentively observed, sketched, and then lovingly painted by Paul’s discerning eyes, as a valuable trait, has been profoundly counterintuitive. This journey, from my stutter being photographed to being immortalized on canvas as a symbol of beauty, has radically healed and reshaped my relationship with my speech. My gratitude to Paul for unveiling this perspective through his art is immeasurable.
The painting is rich with symbolism, embodying transformation and healing. The pigeons, for instance, represent peace, love, freedom, and spirituality across many cultures. To me, they also signify beauty in the overlooked—much like stuttering, which is often dismissed or deemed unattractive. Yet, stuttering has granted me liberation from societal speech norms and allowed me to perceive beauty in unexpected places, fostering peace and freedom precisely because of my speech’s untamed nature and precious fragility in a world obsessed with control and productivity.
The strawberries in the painting hold a personal significance. My late father, who grew up on a strawberry farm, adored them. His silenced nature, which I once interpreted as disgust towards my speech, created a sense of disconnection. Now, as I navigate and heal from past traumas, I understand him differently, with compassion and love. Strawberries, symbolizing rebirth after winter in some cultures, reflect this new understanding. Through Paul’s painting, I can now perceive the richness in my stuttering, and I feel deeply that my father did too, and still does.
The depiction of me writing in the painting is also symbolic. Like the process of creating this artwork, writing is a healing act for me, an extension of the journey towards understanding and integration.
Finally, I am profoundly moved by the depiction of my stuttering as caught between a laugh and a block. This portrayal resonates powerfully with my evolved relationship with stuttering: I have learned to find joy in the act of stuttering, to embrace the stuttering moment itself. Stuttering is not solely about struggle; the very experience of it, the relinquishing of control, can also be enjoyable, lighthearted, and beautiful. My immense gratitude extends to the stuttering community, encompassing Paul and countless other stutterers who are artists, writers, philosophers, professors, and profound thinkers, for illuminating this truth for me.
Once more, my heartfelt thanks go to Paul for creating this transformative artwork. I am reminded of his words: “You have to see yourself in society to be a part of that society.” Thank you, Paul, for ensuring that the stuttered gaze finds its rightful place in art history.’
Genevieve Lamoureux 2024
Portrait of Bhupinder Purewal stammeringOil on board 30 x 40 cm.
‘I have always struggled with seeing myself stammer. When I was growing up, it was something I felt ashamed of and scared of people noticing. Only in the last few years have I really began to accept myself as I am. This journey began with being part of the stammering community and setting up Coventry Stammerers. Having a support group and meeting other stammerers has quite literally changed my life. Without that, I could’ve never imagined having this portrait painted. I want to thank Paul for painting such a beautiful portrait that makes me feel empowered. For the first time, I like seeing myself stammering. It makes me feel strong. Thank you so much Paul!’
Bhupinder Purewal 2023
Portrait of Conor Foran stammering
Oil on Board 30 x 40cm
‘I was honoured to be asked by Paul to have my portrait painted. At the time, we were discussing a stammering pride flag we recently created with other people who stammer. The flag is inspired, amongst other things, by the work of poet and writer Jordan Scott, who compares the unpredictable nature of stammering to water: “I talk like a river”. I wanted this to be reflected in all aspects of the portrait: from the inclusion the sea-green and ultramarine blue to the presence of water, waves and currents.
I’m so pleased that the portrait nails the feeling of being mid-stammer, and almost feels mystical as I access the Clearing (@jjjjjeromeellis), standing strong in a swirling se-green wave of stammering pride.’
Conor Foran 2023
Portrait of Ramdeep Romann stammering
Oil on board 30 x 30cm
‘I have spent most of my life hiding my stammer, deeply ashamed of how I would be perceived by my peers if I was to block on some dreaded sound. This irrational and toxic fear was borne from a life seeing stammerers being portrayed in the most insensitive way possible on virtually every form of media I have ever watched. I cannot count the opportunities I turned down or denied myself; too many times I hid in silence instead of speaking my mind for fear of humiliating myself with this disability. For too long I thought a competent doctor should not stammer. But finally meeting other stammerers and realising there is a whole community campaigning for our stuttered voices to be heard made me realise that I have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to apologise for. My stammer is part of who I am, WHAT I say is more important than HOW I say it, and I will never allow it to silence me again.
This beautiful painting by my friend Paul shows me finally turning away from the darkness and facing the light, with a stammered word etched on my face but my gaze still turned forward and upwards, unashamed and uncowed. The hospital scrubs represent my new found pride in embracing myself as a doctor who stammers.’
Ramdeep Romann 2021
Stammered Gaze. Portrait of Patrick Campbell stammering.
Oil on board 20 x 25 cm
‘I wanted this portrait to tell my story of stammering. Stammerers do not always get the chance to tell their own story. We are typically type-cast into the role of tragedy, inspiration or clown depending on what seems to best fit the occasion. The gaze of fluent people often decides how we are seen and perceived. Here I wanted stammerers to take control of the lens/paintbrush.
I chose the location. A local park with cute dogs. I tried to stammer on the letter ‘p’. The letter has been a source of anguish over many years as I introduced myself, but these days I try to see stammering as part of myself, a part of my identity. ‘P-P-Patrick’. I chose a jumper that (in theory) I own but my girlfriend spends more time wearing than me. This reflects that stammering is a shared experience, sometimes an intimate one, with others.
In the background, you may notice a magpie or two sitting among the birch trees. I wanted my northern roots to be a part of the picture as well as my stammer. The magpie is Paul’s representation of this symbol (the symbol of Newcastle United football Club). The birch trees are Paul’s idea too. A pioneer species that often starts off a new woodland. Make of that what you will, apparently the original black pines of the park were too difficult to integrate into the portrait.
The scene for the portrait is designed by a stammerer; photographed and painted by a stammerer; of a stammerer stammering. The stammered Gaze.’
Patrick Campbell 2021
Portrait of Christine Simpson stammering
Oil on board , 30 x 40cm
‘An amazing portrait of me in mid stammer. I was so pleased Paul asked me to have my portrait painted. I hope what comes through is a strong, determined woman who says what she wants, not apologising for her stammer.It’s the way I talk and if you don’t like it that is your problem. As many of you know I am a feminist, the colours of the books in the background are the suffragette colours.
They are in the bookcases off my beloved grandparents. Those bookcases were very much part of my childhood.
I’d like to dedicate this portrait to my dear friend and STAMMA colleague Lynne Mackie who died of blood cancer in December 2021. Had she lived I’m sure Paul would have painted an amazing portrait of her’.
Christine Simpson 2022
Self portrait stammering
Oil on board 20 x 25 cm.
‘I have a stutter that has shaped my life in many ways. It is an integral part of what makes me who I am. This self portrait openly celebrates my speech.’
Paul Aston Painter 