How I Met My Neighbours

A Story To Tell

We’ve all got a story - a lockdown story. Not just here in this house, this street, this country, this world. We all have a story. The story might involve family, neighbours and friends. We each have our own perspective on the last few months and how it might have changed us.

In lockdown I got to know my neighbours up and down my street.

I’ll have lived in Truro, Cornwall for a year this June and for the last few months I’ve been inside looking out at the town. Moving to a new place has its challenges. Leaving the familiar behind and getting to know new people and places.

A Room With A View

My story started from looking out of the window. Those first few weeks of uncertainty, pacing through the house cleaning, timetabling, piling up books that I thought I would finish, making soup, planning meals for the weekly shop. I started to draw out of the window. A project I’d begun in the winter when the rain was relentless and Storm Dennis at its worst.

Will it ever stop raining?

Window Dressing

I didn’t know my neighbours before lockdown, all were windows looking out onto a street, each a terraced house face. I’d see the school run and folk off to work, systematic, clockwork.

I started to see the rainbows go up and opposite, a ‘Big Love’ sign - this felt so warm and inviting. I began to draw and got to know the individual houses, the colours and rainbows up and down the street.

Stay Safe

Like many communities in lockdown supportive groups were formed and a street WhatsApp provided a lifeline for those self isolating and needing help with dog walks, food shopping and more. People started to exchange food, films and plants, and I decided to share my view of the street.

I’ve been so overwhelmed with the feedback and was overjoyed when my street neighbours wanted to commission drawings of their homes.

A Gift

Portrait Of Our Time

Through this often lonely experience I have connected with the community and met so many new faces, got to know people through their windows and rainbows. A neighbour described the drawings as a “Portrait of our time”. This street became a portrait of my time in lockdown. Looking out at neighbours joining in with Joe Wicks, to meeting the same folk on the familiar walk, to the welcome “hellos” of another’s voice.

I’d like to thank No3, No9, No7, No44, No46, No28, No1 and Glenna down The Rabbit Hole! who all helped to keep me sane.

Terraced Faces

I’m still drawing houses but these are coming from other places up and down the country. If you would like a “Portrait” drawing of your home please get in touch - I’d love to see the windows of your house, flat, van, or room.