Award-winning collage artist and long-term supporter of Upbeat Communities, Giles Davies, recently created a stunning piece of artwork to commemorate our 15th anniversary (pictured below). It’s available to purchase now via the Upbeat shop. Here’s what he had to say about the story behind it…

I was honoured when Upbeat asked me to create a piece of artwork to mark their 15th anniversary because they’re doing great work. They’re helping refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives, some of whom I’ve had the privilege to get to know a little.

So, I wanted to create something which would be a little bit visually disturbing, but hopefully in a good way, to shake us up a bit from the relatively comfortable lives that we probably all lead.

I’ve called this piece ‘No Pleasure Cruise’ and actually made up this representative group of humanity on the boat here, entirely from fragments of pleasure cruise brochures. Not ‘cause I’ve got anything particularly against pleasure cruises, but because of the irony that this really is no pleasure cruise. There’s such a contrast in the lives that these people are experiencing.

Many of these people will have spent perhaps thousands of dollars – maybe their last, after having travelled thousands of miles even to get to this point – to be crammed onto this giant inflatable shaped like a boat, which was probably better suited to a children’s garden party, just hoping that the distant blue sky really does herald a better future for them.

But will it? There’s no guarantee. I mean, a storm might brew up, and waves might engulf the boat like, sadly, far too many before them.

I have to say there were times when I was angry when I was working on this. I felt quite passionate about it, really, and saddened that we live in a world where there can be such brutality that people are prepared to risk their lives in this sort of way.

But I’m also really grateful for people like Upbeat who are doing such a great work, motivated by a God of love, who I also believe in, and who I believe specialises in taking shattered lives and making them new again.

So, it’s been a pleasure to create this piece and Upbeat: happy fifteenth birthday!

‘No Pleasure Cruise’ is available in Medium (500x400mm) and Large (800x600mm). We have limited numbers of each, so get yours today at upbeatcommunities.org/shop. Be sure to place your order by 17th December to receive in time for Christmas.

Check out Giles’ video below:

Giles Davies: This Really Is No Pleasure Cruise