I can’t really put into words how difficult I’m finding prison. Even though I like writing these articles, I do get frustrated that I can’t properly communicate the extremes of emotions that I experience. Words themselves seem surprisingly useless sometimes and this is why I, and many other prisoners, seek refuge in creativity.

I truly believe in the power of the creative arts – poetry, drawing,, creative writing, music and dance. I know so many people in here who never dreamed of reading poetry before imprisonment and yet in here they find that it enables them to draw together different elements and communicate with others. This in turn allows tensions and frustrations to dissipate.

Painting a scene portraying a storm over a Hebridean island can really help some guys to release that inner storm which prevents them from progressing and writing that song about the heartbreak of being away from your children can attend to that need to shout from the rooftops that you are a wonderful parent.

We are surrounded by a regime that attempts to squash us down and restrict us but the arts can truly set us free. Sure, I’m being held in captivity right now but it is not just walls that imprison us. Our minds to a very good job of restricting our ability to be free.

Creative arts give us the realisation of the link to the only thing that we truly have – ourselves. We don’t need anyone else to write a poem or to make up a dance. We don’t rely on anyone else to write a rap and we can draw a scene representing our dreams for the future without anyone else.

Conversely, to rely on others is a really dangerous thing because it gives power over our inner contentment and emotional balance to other people so relying on our lawyers to do a good job, the jury to establish the truth or your football team to win a game are all unwise. It is weak and any happiness that does arise will be brittle and impermanent.

There seem to be two main sources of encouragement for creativity in here – the education department ad the chaplain. I agree that many prisoners rely on staff in those departments for support which may sound like I’m putting forward an argument against what I just said about reliance on others. I’m not really – these staff are enablers but the power to be creative is still within ourselves.

I must make mention of the Koestler Arts Awards. I might have written about them before but I don’t mind repeating myself because Koestler is a brilliant scheme. If you don’t already know about them, please check them out and if you are able to attend one of their exhibitions, please do.

Much of what I write is only about things behind prison walls but the power of the creative arts is available to all. Many, many people are living on the outside but still are imprisoned for a variety of reasons. You, too, can find your release with the creative arts. I believe that they can be the saviour of all those who are imprisoned.

NaN.