A Scottish Crew Commander has helped raise over £17,000 after his artwork was chosen by rock band The Cure for a tour poster.
Pete Dunlop, who works in the Learning & Development team for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, began drawing in 2018 to support his mental health. Since then, he’s explored different techniques and says he can “lose hours” to the hobby – which he says is a form of meditation for him.
“I’d always had mental health challenges throughout my life, but I’d never realised it was linked to me being autistic until I was diagnosed a few years ago,” he says. “I’ve always had creative outlets like music which have helped my mental health, then I started drawing in 2018.
“Art is like meditation for me. I can become completely absorbed in it and lose track of time. My wife can be talking to me and I won’t even hear her!”
Source: Eden Gallup
Pete now enjoys cyanotype printing, a process that uses layers of negatives exposed to light to create a final image. It was while experimenting on a photo of Edinburgh Castle that he created the design for the band.
The Cure regularly showcases work by local artists on its tour posters, so Pete submitted his design and was delighted when it was chosen for the Edinburgh show.
“I couldn’t believe it, I’m so honoured,” he says. “I’d almost given up hope, then I got an email saying Robert Smith loved the design and would be very happy to support Fire Fighters Charity. I was delighted.
“They originally thought poster sales might raise more than £10,000, so knowing the total has reached £17,445.83 is incredible.”
That amount could fund a full day of physical and psychological care and support for dozens of people from across the fire services community.
Pete generously chose to donate his design fee to us, while the band donated all net profits from poster sales. And the decision came as we’re incredibly close to Pete and his family’s hearts.
“My dad sadly died of cancer in 2009 and him and my mum went to Jubilee House in his last year,” he says. “It gave my mum some really valuable respite at the time.
“The amount of my colleagues who have had both physical and mental health support from the charity is huge – raising awareness of the mental health side, in particular, is really important to me.”
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