WELCOME to my WEBSITE -

Well - thats something i NEVER thought i would hear myself ... TYPE !!

Im Abby - 20 Years ago I was quiet and not very social, demure even ... Got a Boyfriend / Later to be my husband / had two FABULOUS KIDS - was very obliging !

Then I got ill -

and now - WOW - Im a different person entirely  !

My weight Ballooned ( Even though i have never been 'small' !! )

I started getting the most IMMENSE headaches, and so very very tired, and Irritable !

( I know - this one is so hard to believe ! )  

I would drop to the floor and not be able to move - totally aware of what was happening, just not be able to do a thing about it.

My whole personality changed - One minute i was the HULK ... then I was me ... then i was suicidal .. All very very scary - until you knew what was the matter - and thank god ( ohh - im not spiritual at all - but - it feels right to say it !! Contradiction I know ! )  I had a FABULOUS GP - One day i went in there with my Husband- ( Who at the time was an Absolute Rock  ) told her all my symptoms - and immediately - she said - You have Cushings - But - It is almost if not impossible to diagnose - and even more difficult to treat ... She - at the time was working at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital with the Endocrynological Team - Who - DEAL WITH CUSHINGS !! 

So - from there on in - she sent me - What seems like monthly - for MRI's - with and without Contrast on my Pituitary Gland - A small Gland in the brain that controls - well - basically its like petrol for your car - it runs everything !! 

About 10 years in - and i got a call - Myself and the Hubby went in, sat down - and she said -

"Mrs Barry - YOU HAVE A BRAIN TUMOUR" -

IT HAS SHOWED UP AT LAST !!-

Well - i must be the ONLY person to ever walk out of a doctors surgery after being given THAT NEWS SMILING  !!!

I was NOT mad !!! 

Even I was doubting myself !! - lol !!

I knew i wasnt eating to put on weight -

I knew I wasnt shouting at people because i was a nasty person 

I knew i was not totally useless and gave up easily for no reason - there was always a reason 

I knew I wasnt lazy but just UNBELIEVEABLE tired - ALL THE TIME

I knew I .............. OH THE LIST IS ENDLESS - SERIOUSLY - ITS ENDLESS !!

But - its good ...... Untill they said they would not treat it - because - " Your Cyclical - your tumour comes and goes "

- So - OK - Im stuck like this and can't change a thing -

BUT - INSTEAD OF BEING DOWNBEAT -

I TRY TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE -

AND KEEP SMILIN -

( Most of the time !! ( When im not Hulk - or Biatch from hell !! ) 

Then about 5 years ago they found the secon Tumour this time on the stalk of the Pit gland - still no op - and actually - i was asked if i wanted a Gastric band by my PITUITARY SPECIALIST !!!! - I had to inform him - that - If i had that i would probably die - because - although - yes - i am over 20 stone - actually i hardly eat - he looked shocked - so i had to go into details about how MY BODY has gone into starvation mode and literally everything it see's it stores - and - on top of this - as i can't exercise ( due to my body/ HEAD shutting down if i move ) I CANT DO A THING ABOUT IT .. he understood at the end of the appointment - and no - i didnt have him in a headlock ! I may have had a little shout though - once or twice !

OK OK - so - THEN they wanted to treat symptoms - and i have been on a concoction of various medicines !!

Never once being symptom free ......

BUT - About 7 months ago - about the same time i started seeing a Neuro Psychiatrist - Who put me on Sodium Valproate ( Which - Is used in clinical trials to treat CYCLICAL CUSHINGS !! -  My sysmptoms have started to ease - HUGELY EASE - OK - Im not losing weight - and actually - i do seem hungrier - but - i am able to think and control my moods more - and im able to registar whats happening - IT'S BRILLIANT !! 

but = THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS TO GET ODD

I have never been able to paint in my life !!! - Literally - at christmas - i didnt bother to play the games - Drawing related - because i was useless - no-body ever got mine right !! Mum tried to get me interested in Sugar Craft - but - omg i was rubbish and actually paid someone to make my 'masterpieces' for me for peoples birthdays !!

I literally was THAT BAD !!!

BUT NOW -

(  http://brainblogger.com/2012/09/23/what-is-creativity-art-as-a-symptom-of-brain-disease/ )

WELL - Have a look at my Art - People seem to think its Unique and Quirky and Fun - 

and If you enjoy it- and smile - then my work is done ! 

Jackson The Alaskan Malamute

Commissions are undertaken and start from £50 - 

They can be Canvas 

Framed or Unframed

REMEMBER -

You are purchasing the spirit and soul of a character

and NOT a lifelike image !!

Looking out to see

I DONT FEEL UNJUST IN PAINTING FAT WOMEN IN THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY - Body positivity is very close to my heart - and EVERONE should be loved for who they are - and not feel as though they have to change to 'fit in' 

LOVE THE SKIN YOUR IN

and that way you will be at one and happy - 

Alot of my Ladies ( I have now branced out into guys too ! ) are painted without faces - MAINLY ( and im always honest ! ) because i cant do faces ! - But - Now i think it's good that the viewer can make up their own mind about the character of the individual !

The Gang !

( I hope you sung that !! - Because i did ) 

I started painting animals first, and LOVE doing them - the expression and the eyes  - BUT - The Body Positive is my 'thang' !!! I usually paint a mix of dogs faces and farmyard animals ...... i have no idesa why i am so drawn to these !

I just love this piece - all that characters just make me feel so muchlove and so happy - and you can see the expression and the fact they are all happy and just interested = Probably one of my Favourites !!!!

Have a Blast !

DONT ACT YOUR AGE - ACT YOUR SHOE SIZE -

Just because you get old does not mean you have to behave !!!!

Reculver Night Sky

This was the First Painting that sold off ArtFinder ( when i was on it ! ) ended up being a friend of mine -

BUT - Still a sale - I still feel guilty about that one !!

I have since come off Artfinder -

I found out there was a HUGE market for my art

BUT it was too expensive and SOMEHOW i ended up owing them money !!! 

OK OK - Not quite Name in Lights - BUT - 

I put a message on my local HERNE BAY CHATTER PAGE 

about my art work

and then a lady from the local newspaper got in touch !

Then the Sun and Mirror Nicked the story ! -

 I got in those, and not for anything dodgy either - GO ME ! 

Since that I have had ITV and BBC / Papers and Magazines asking to have a chat - BUT due to the very nature of my illness - THAT is almost impossible - 

Although my friends were loving the idea of me sitting between Philip and Holly on THIS MORNING !! - I would have caused a riot !

Shame as I would have loved it too - and can talk about myself all day long, 

I just could not cope with ........ 'people'

I made sure i didnt put in 'stupid' at the beginning there - cause thats what i was thinking

Invisible Illness = I REFUSE TO BE BEATEN !

Well - i should have given you warning hey ! - sorry bout that !

But - This is me - in all my beauty !