Lecturer’s Self-Portraits Featured by British Association of Art Therapists

Self-portrait series blends art and therapy

A powerful series of self-portraits by Simon Reekie, artist, art therapist, and lecturer at UHI Perth, has been selected for feature by the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) as part of their online gallery initiative, Art Therapists Art.

The featured works, now live across BAAT’s social media platforms and gallery page, explore themes of psychological fragmentation and reassembly. Reekie’s pieces are deeply personal, reflecting a period of intense personal and professional transformation.

“This self-portrait series explores the tension between cohesion and collapse,” explained Simon. “Each piece can be read as both disintegration and integration, reflecting a process of psychological fragmentation and reassembly during a period of personal and professional intensity. As an artist, lecturer, and art therapist, I’m interested in how real-world creative practice can enrich teaching, and how students can be supported to see art as a powerful tool for communication and reflection.”

Simon’s work is not only gaining recognition in the wider art therapy community but also shaping innovative practice at UHI Perth. He recently led a pilot research art therapy group for students, which had a significant impact on participants.

“At UHI Perth, we recently ran a pilot research art therapy group for students, which had a powerful impact, helping participants use image-making as a way to reflect, connect, and grow,” Simon added.