I had a lovely wander around the latest Manchester Open Exhibition at HOME this week. It’s such a welcome reminder of the huge variety of talent in the region, and I came away feeling inspired and reinvigorated.

I was lucky enough to be selected for the inaugural Manchester Open back in 2020. Walking around the current show, it was nice to be reminded of that immense feeling of pride I had to see my work in the gallery. Not only are these Opens a genuine boost to us as artists and creators, but they are testament to the sheer talent all around us – whether or not someone considers themselves a pro.