Meet a group of artists with brain injury who refuse to behave!

Submit to Love‘s latest exhibition Lines That Refuse To Behave was held at the Bomb Factory Foundation pop-up gallery in Shoreditch, from 11 to 22 March 2025 — an extension beyond its original one-week schedule due to its outstanding success!

“To all the artists, congratulations on an incredibly inspirational exhibition! It is amazing to be able to see the creativity and skills. Love the co-creation.” – Visitor

Lines That Refuse To Behave was an exploration of artistic freedom – of marks that wander, ideas that shift, and creations that refuse to conform. 

Over 500 people walked through our doors, immersing themselves in the works of ten Submit to Love studio artists, each of the presenting a unique and deeply personal approach to making art: Affiong Day, Jason Ferry, Simon Halliwell, Sam Jevon, Billy Mann, Dave Mercer, John Myers, Mohammed Sharif, Trevor Small and Calvin Hill.

Artists Affiong Day, Sam Jevon and Billy Mann at Lines That Refuse To Behave

Submit To Love

Submit to Love Studios is home to a group of artists living with a brain injury. All artists are members of Headway East London in Hackney — a local charity supporting brain injury survivors, their families and carers. 

The act of making is an empowering and hopeful one. In making something, you’re discovering – new gifts, new culture, new connections and new identities. That’s why our mission is “discovery through art”.

At Submit to Love we challenge perceptions of who gets to be an artist. Our studio is not about conformity but exploration—where creativity unfolds in unexpected ways, and the act of making is as vital as the final piece.

The work our artists make demands to be seen. We have presented group exhibitions of our artists at galleries including Southbank Centre (Making Faces, 2017), Autograph Gallery (Common Threads, 2021), and the Barbican (differently various, 2023). 

“Losing your abilities takes away your identity, but it also takes away ego… I do art because I can, and because it’s something I don’t mind failing at… In art I can find a use for my mistakes” – Affiong Day, Artist

Workshops and art table

Visitors were invited to sit at the art table, where they could colour, draw, and stitch alongside our artists. The conversations that followed enabled many people to learn about our artists’ stories, find inspiration in their creative journey and become more aware of life with brain injury.  

“To learn the artists’ stories, where their work comes from and understand the skill and hard work put into it, this is incredible.” Visitor 

Our workshop series was a highlight of the show for all ages, offering hands-on opportunities to explore different artistic techniques: 

• Artist Sam Jevon hosted Queen of Wonky, encouraging attendees to let go of perfection and embrace creativity by adding their own imaginative touches to “Sam’s legs”. 
• We then invited the public to join our artist Trevor Small at the Stitching Cowboys workshop, a popular session where Trevor shares expert stitching techniques and insider tricks 
• A Handful of Clay, hosted by Alex Sherlock, provided visitors with small clay balls to shape into unique three-dimensional sculptures. 

“Thank you for holding such a beautiful and calm space Trevor! Wonderful to stitch with you.” – Visitor

Artists, staff and visitors at the art table in the Bomb Factory pop-up gallery. @MarkO’Brien

Enjoy the photo gallery of the show. 

Follow us on social media for more information about events and exhibitions.

To contact the studio, email submittolove@headwayeastlondon.org.