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Home / Poetry and stories / The Believers

Posted on March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 by admin

The Believers

An eccentric life indeed; literary arguments, philosophical discussions, politics and pamphlets, marching and music – and sixty years of quiet love.

A part of the Portraits collection

Category: Poetry and stories

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UK orders only

For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase.

Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop.

mr.cronch

'JENNY AND MERCY - Receiving a surrendered chicken

'JENNY AND MERCY - Receiving a surrendered chicken from a slaughterhouse worker at a Toronto Chicken Save Vigil, Canada, 2015'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The fourteenth painting in the 'ACTIVISTS' series

@jennyveganmcqueen is centre stage in this image, and behind the scenes, Anita Krajnc, co-founder of the @thesavemovement, negotiated for the release of the chicken. 'Mercy' then lived happily at Cedar Row Sanctuary in Ontario, Canada..

With thanks to @joannemcarthurphotography for capturing this moment, and to the incredible archive of @weanimals for making it freely available.

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain

- Bear witness to suffering

- Re-home in sanctuaries

- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #openrescue #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #protest #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #savemovement #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #arts #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #eggfarm #animalequality #chickenrescue

'JENNY - Arrested for an act of civil disobedience

'JENNY - Arrested for an act of civil disobedience protesting a live farm animal display at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, 2018'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The thirteenth painting in the 'ACTIVISTS' series

The full report of the event depicted here stated:

Jenny McQueen is arrested by Toronto police for trespass, an act of non-violent civil disobedience. Activists with DxE - Direct Action Everywhere were disrupting the CNE - Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto on 24th August 2018, by singing a song and sitting down in the middle of the "farm" building where live farm animals were on display. Jenny was released the same day, and no criminal charges were brought. No other activists were detained that day.

Many thanks to @jennyveganmcqueen for graciously allowing me to use her photograph for my series of artworks.
Photograph by @vegan_bumblebee
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #openrescue #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #protest #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #arts #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #eggfarm #directactioneverywhere #chickenrescue

I've just been sent this photo of the very first F

I've just been sent this photo of the very first Fine Art Print that's been requested from my new 'ACTIVISTS' series. Framed and proudly displayed in its new home in Sweden.
The title of the piece: 'Michelle and the pig she will never forget'

If you're interested in purchasing any fine art prints from me, please contact phdsbl@hotmail.com, or visit my Etsy store (PhilipMcCullochDowns).

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain
- Bear witness to suffering
- Re-home in sanctuaries
- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #pigs #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #pigfarm #pigrescue #acrylicpainting #portraitpainting

'PIG SAVE VIGIL - Bearing witness outside Cheale M

'PIG SAVE VIGIL - Bearing witness outside Cheale Meats, Essex, 2018'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The twelfth painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

This image captures the most poignant moment in any slaughterhouse vigil - the personal, physical touch between human and non-human animal.

If the empathy contained in this fleeting connection was felt by everyone, it would be enough to bring an immediate end to the factory farming industry.

Sadly, ignorance, cognitive dissonance and the pervasive lies and deceit of the meat marketing industry means that this dream may take a little longer to become a reality.

But I will never stop believing that it will.

With thanks to @helen.ara for allowing me to use her photograph and to @essexpigsave for bearing witness.
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #pigs #pigsave #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #essexpigsave #pigsavevigil #acrylicpainting #portraitpainting

A VERY RARE DAY OFF! A swift drive south out of So

A VERY RARE DAY OFF!
A swift drive south out of Somerset to visit my childhood holiday havens in Dorset and Devon, Lyme Regis and Seaton. Nostalgic, peaceful, beautiful... But best of all, entirely stuffed with veggie pasties, chips and ice cream.
We came home one kilo heavier, slightly too suntanned, but very satisfied.
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#beach #seaside #holiday #devon #coast #ocean #beachlife #jurassiccoast #summertime #beachday #pebblebeach #englishbeach #englishcoast #britishseaside #englishsummer #britishbeach #southcoast #seashore #bythesea #summervibes #oceanwaves #onholiday #lymeregis #lymeregisbeach #lymebay #seaton #dorset #takingabreak #estuary #pastie

'WORK IN PROGRESS' (Blood, sweat, tears and acry

'WORK IN PROGRESS'
(Blood, sweat, tears and acrylic paint on A3 canvas board)

Depicted in this piece are three characters from the last decade of my life - different alter-egos - arty and annoying, pompous and serious. Each of them built from the swirling mass of stories, emotions and ideas I've absorbed from the everyday world around me. Each of them striving to connect with something greater, something outside of my own limiting skin.

Lots of personal secrets are hidden in plain sight in this piece - of interest to no-one but me, but nevertheless providing a very colourful collection of creations, inspirations and (slightly) mad moments for the viewer to enjoy resting their eyes on.
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#artwork #artistsoninstagram #instaart #creative #portrait #artsy #clown #selfportrait #myself #portraiture #acrylicpainting #acryliconcanvas #originalart #veganartist #bizarreart #beautifulbizarre #strangeart #collareddove #sadclown #clownmakeup #dressingup #showingoff #symbolism #artistic #visionaryart #figureativeart #thisismytherapy #humanbody #fantasyart #fantasticalart

'CATHERINE AND BAILEY - The SAFE farm animal sanct

'CATHERINE AND BAILEY - The SAFE farm animal sanctuary, Quebec, Canada'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The eleventh painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

A portrait of Catherine Gagnieux, who founded the SAFE animal sanctuary in 2017 (@safe508 ) which is now home to 50 non-human animals. I am very pleased and proud to say that prints of this piece will for sale at the sanctuary in the future.

With many thanks to @joannemcarthurphotography for taking this photograph and for the @weanimals archive for making it freely available to use.

In creating this series of artworks I've attempted to capture the strength, compassion, trauma and joy of activists as they perform acts of the highest moral courage.

These unsung, everyday heroes form the very heart of the animal rights movement, and I wanted to pay tribute in the only way I can to people I regard as the most humane of all humans.

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain
- Bear witness to suffering
- Re-home in sanctuaries
- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #cow #animalsanctuary #cowrescue #canadiansanctuary #farmanimalsanctuary

I've known the Canadian animal rights investigator

I've known the Canadian animal rights investigator/artist @twylafrancoisart since 2015, when we both joined the fledgling @artofcompassionproject. Her emotive artwork was one of the first examples I'd seen of 'artivism', and over the years her empathy, ethics and personal kindness have been a constant encouragement and inspiration to my own work.

@helen.ara and I at @agitate.art are very pleased to be able to mark our ONE YEAR ARTY ANNIVERSARY by highlighting and celebrating three examples of original art by this most active of activists!

Pop over to @agitate.art to see the new video, and please follow our insta account/subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our ever-growing gallery of videos covering art from all around the globe.
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#antimeatindustry #contemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #animalrights #animalliberation #animalart #artistsforaction #speciesism #endspeciesism #antivivisection #factoryfarming #animalagriculture #veganart #veganartist #veganartivist #protestart #animalrightsart #oldmasters #artforchange #artforanimals #veganart #veganartist #justiceforanimals #artactivism #animalrightsactivist #liberationforall #animalsanctuary #leonardodavinci #janvermeer #stopvivisection

As you may know, I have another account on instagr

As you may know, I have another account on instagram that goes under the name of @agitate.art, created and curated with fellow artivist @helen.ara. On Sunday it's our first anniversary and so we're celebrating one long year of researching, debating and creating our growing library of videos. From poetry to songs to contemporary political art, we've highlighted a variety of fascinating and heartrending issues and learned so much along the way - the most valuable lesson being that we can work together (and with artists from all over the world) despite not seeing each other even once!

And where there was once just an idea (much discussed and agonised over at the International Animal Rights Conference that we attended in 2019) there is now a YouTube/Instagram/Facebook channel with a mission statement video and 14 short films full of information, emotion and art of all kinds.

We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our contributors - artists, poets, singers, film makers, magazine editors and voiceover artists - who have helped us to realise our dream in creating this gallery of incredible 'Protest Art'

Watch out for our 15th video, due out on our anniversary day - August 1st - which celebrates one of our favourite Artivists, @twylafrancoisart

Please follow us and subscribe to our channel on Facebook and YouTube.
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#artactivism #antimeatindustry #anticapitalism #pigfarming #contemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #animalrights #animalliberation #animalart #artistsforaction #speciesism #endspeciesism #environment #climatechange #environmentalart #environmentart #climatechange #climatechangeart #factoryfarming #animalagriculture #veganart #veganartist #veganartivist #activistart #protestart #animalsvoicemagazine #animalrightsart #politicalart

Taking a break from my normal arty life for a most

Taking a break from my normal arty life for a most important event - a family reunion back in Malvern for my dad's 80th birthday!
With pizzas, fine art prints, folk music, nostalgia, vegan cupcakes, shouting, laughing, knickerbockerglory ice creams and silly photos...
And one very happy dad 😀
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#family #familytime #birthday #happybirthday #dad #homesweethome #celebration #home #familyreunion #familyphoto #familybonding #parents #dadsbirthday #birthdayweekend #80thbirthday #80thbirthdaycelebration #myfamily #veganartist #familyhome #backhome

'MARIA - Animal Equality open rescue, battery hen

'MARIA - Animal Equality open rescue, battery hen egg farm, Spain, 2011'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The tenth painting in the 'ACTIVISTS' series

These unsung, everyday heroes form the very heart of the animal rights movement, and I wanted to pay tribute in the only way I can to people I regard as the most humane of all humans.

With thanks to @joannemcarthurphotography for recommending this image of hers, and to the incredible archive of @weanimals for making it freely available.

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain

- Bear witness to suffering

- Re-home in sanctuaries

- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #openrescue #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #protest #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #arts #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #eggfarm #animalequality #chickenrescue

A change of scene (hiding from the heatwave), pain

A change of scene (hiding from the heatwave), painting in the lounge...
With the added bonus of tea and vegan chocolate biscuits, courtesy of @jeavonstoffee.
Ah yes, the tortured life of an angst-ridden artist....
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#painting #instaart #artoftheday #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #arts #veganartist #acrylicpainting #paintingathome #artistsstudio #sofa #teaandbiscuits #workinprogress #selfportrait

'MICHELLE AND A RESCUED SHEEP - animal sanctuary,

'MICHELLE AND A RESCUED SHEEP - animal sanctuary, Sweden, 2019''
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The ninth painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

In creating this series I've attempted to capture the strength, compassion, trauma and joy of activists as they perform acts of the highest moral courage.

These unsung, everyday heroes form the very heart of the animal rights movement, and I wanted to pay tribute in the only way I can to people I regard as the most humane of all humans.

With thanks to Michelle Berghall for giving me permission to use her image in my art series. To see more of her tireless work for animals, please follow @michanimalista

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain
- Bear witness to suffering
- Re-home in sanctuaries
- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #empathy #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #sheep #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #animalsanctuary #sheeprescue #acrylicpainting #portraitpainting

Back in the real world at last! This is my Costa

Back in the real world at last!
This is my Costa Coffee office
Coffice.
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#coffeeshop #coffeeaddict #coffeebreak #coffeelover #coffeetime #coffeeholic #coffeehouse #weekendcoffee #morningcoffee #weekendvibes #blackcoffee #coffeeoftheday #butfirstcoffee #costacoffee #costa #coffee #artistsstudio #creative #outandabout #veganartist

I'm taking a short, sanity-saving break from my an

I'm taking a short, sanity-saving break from my animal rights artwork and concentrating on creating a new self portrait. Actually, it's a triple self portrait (because obviously I'm three times more self obsessed than anyone else).
With this (as yet untitled) piece I'm aiming to commemorate the last decade of my life, with all its many ups and downs, successes and failures.
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#acrylicpainting #acryliconcanvas #portraiture #selfportrait #artist #clown #selfobsessed #art #artoncanvas #creativity #creativeart #figureativeart #figureativeartist #veganartist #activist #newartwork #workinprogress

'MICHELLE AND ALBERT - animal sanctuary, Sweden, 2

'MICHELLE AND ALBERT - animal sanctuary, Sweden, 2020'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The eighth painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

In creating this series I've attempted to capture the strength, compassion, trauma and joy of activists as they perform acts of the highest moral courage.

These unsung, everyday heroes form the very heart of the animal rights movement, and I wanted to pay tribute in the only way I can to people I regard as the most humane of all humans.

With thanks to Michelle Berghall for giving me permission to use her image in my art series. To see more of her tireless work for animals, please follow @michanimalista

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain
- Bear witness to suffering
- Re-home in sanctuaries
- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #pigs #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #animalsanctuary #pigrescue #acrylicpainting #portraitpainting

See my noodles wriggle! This is what I get up to a

See my noodles wriggle!
This is what I get up to at lunchtime in the midst of the long days of painting and drawing. Yes it looks disgusting, but it tastes GOOOOOD
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#foodporn #foodstagram #foodies #chinesefood #lunchtime #noodles #badfood #weirdfood #lunch #weird #junkfood #fastfood #instafood #vegan #disgustingfood #disgusting #foodphotography #noodleworship #noodlelover #psychedelicfood #psychedelic

'ALEXIS AND GIMLI - The Maggie Fleming Animal Hos

'ALEXIS AND GIMLI - The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice and The Karass Sanctuary'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The seventh painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

This piece is featured in 'Nourishing with Heart' - the inaugural 3D virtual gallery show by @artofcompassionproject . Comprised of never-before-seen vegan art from around the globe, this collection expresses what it means to “nourish with heart,” both within and beyond one’s body.

This painting captures a precious moment from the world's first animal hospice, run by Alexis Fleming in a remote part of Scotland. An image that, for me, completely encapsulates the theme “nourishing with heart.” Alexis nourishes all around her with all of her care and love, giving them comfort and friendship right up until the end of their lives, and they in turn nourish her with their own love and friendship, gratitude and joy.

The chosen image clearly shows the love that is felt by both human and non-human animals, and the humour and compassion that are the ultimate “nourishment” for any soul. The wider implication of the nature of this sanctuary is that ALL sentient lifeforms deserve respect and have the right to live happy and healthy lives. Veganism, along with all the intersecting movements that fight against injustice, flow from this feeling of harmony with the natural order of things.

The art show can be found at artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/4257676/nourishing-with-heart and is curated by @leigh_sanders_art and @goodallcreative

With thanks to @bigwoollybastard for allowing me to use this image.
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #veganism #themaggiefleminganimalhospice #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #acrylic painting #fineart #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #sheep #animalsanctuary #sheeprescue #exhibition #charity #virtualartshow #artofcompassionproject

'MICHELLE AND THE PIG SHE'LL NEVER FORGET - unname

'MICHELLE AND THE PIG SHE'LL NEVER FORGET - unnamed pig farm, Spain, 2020'
(acrylic paint on A4 canvas board)
The sixth painting in the ACTIVISTS series.

Speaking to Michelle about this image and how she feels about it was one of the most moving and heart-breaking moments of my entire career as an animal rights artist.

In creating this series I've attempted to capture the strength, compassion, trauma and joy of activists as they perform acts of the highest moral courage.

These unsung, everyday heroes form the very heart of the animal rights movement, and I wanted to pay tribute in the only way I can to people I regard as the most humane of all humans.

With thanks to Michelle Berghall for giving me permission to use her image in my art series. To see more of her tireless work for animals, please follow @michanimalista

ACTIVISTS:

- Rescue from a life of misery and pain
- Bear witness to suffering
- Re-home in sanctuaries
- Show kindness, compassion and humanity in an inhumane world
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #animalliberation #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #pigs #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #activists #pigfarm #pigrescue #acrylicpainting #portraitpainting

New work in progress. Using a laptop (computer), a

New work in progress. Using a laptop (computer), a lap top (legs), acrylic paint, and lots of coffee and swearing, I'm on a steep learning curve with painting techniques as I create my series of 'Activist' artworks. This is the tenth one. Maybe five more to go.
Who knows where this will end?
Hopefully it'll result in an exhibition in the future.
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#activist #activism #govegan #crueltyfree #savetheanimals #veganism #savetheplanet #veganlife #vegansofinstagram #directaction #animalrights #factoryfarming #protest #painting #instaart #artoftheday #animalrightsactivists #artistic #contemporaryart #illustrator #fineart #arts #animalrescue #veganartist #veganartivist #animalrightsartist #acrylicpainting #eggfarm #workinprogress #chickenrescue

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Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork which is not for sale in this shop. UK orders only. For all overseas shipping please contact me before purchase. Dismiss