Film Director Garry Fraser, whose film Everybody’s Child about his own extraordinary story of addiction to recovery won a Bafta in 2014, is to open an exhibition of photographs by local photographer Patrick Keast on 2nd December at 4pm in the My Front Room Café, 5 Salisbury Place, Edinburgh. Patrick is himself also on a journey of recovery from addiction, supported by Cyrenians Recovery Hub in Bathgate, and his work reflects much of his recovery story. According to Patrick, photography has played a huge part in his recovery journey.

Patrick said: “My photography is like art therapy for me. Being absorbed in a creative process is very liberating. My hope is that my photography can provoke thoughts in others as it has in me.”

Garry Fraser, who most recently worked as assistant director on Trainspotting 2, said: “I think it’s great to be part of an exhibition that highlights the importance of creating a link between creativity and recovery. It’s a subject that’s very close to my heart.”

My Front Room owner Nick Keenan said: “I am really excited about being able to display this work this month. From the moment I met Patrick, his journey inspired me, and I feel it can resonate with anyone who wants to make a change to their life. Patrick and I have painstakingly sifted through countless images to portray the three stages of his journey: the immersion in addiction, the realisation that there was something more out there and the tough but rewarding journey he’s still currently on. This exhibition is designed to inspire others to realise that it’s never too late to make a change. I hope people enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.”

Cyrenians Chief Executive Ewan Aitken said: “We are very grateful for Garry finding the time to open Patrick’s exhibition and to Nick Keenan for hosting it in his café. Patrick’s photos are an extraordinary insight into the journey of recovery and I can’t recommend them highly enough. It is a brave thing he has done in putting this exhibition on. Hopefully it will inspire others to tell their story and increase the understanding about the reality of addiction and the need for support in recovery for the whole community, as Garry and Nick have shown.”

Cyrenians Recovery Service worked last year with around 200 people on a recovery journey to move away from alcohol and drug addiction. It features two facilities: the Recovery Hub and the Telephone Recovery Service.

Based in Bathgate, Cyrenians Recovery Hub service works holistically – working with, not for service users – individually and in groups. They develop recovery plans that ensure social, emotional and practical support is given alongside any medical treatment. They link people up with the resources and help they need to make their recovery. And they give people a chance to learn and develop. The Recovery Hub is a safe place for people to meet and help each other with their recovery following addiction. Open 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday, it offers a wide range of recovery-focused, mostly peer led, activities, including mutual aid support meetings (like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Opioid Replacement Therapy), auricular acupuncture, keep well clinics, reiki, music therapy and guided relaxation.