Effie Purple Bean Autistic Artist
Nominee Profile
Location: Nottingham
Effie aka Flynn-Frances, art name Purple Bean, is a physically disabled artist who has just survived their fourth brain surgery in four years. They have been an internationally successful artist for years. They are currently published twice as a professional illustrator; their most recent book is to purely raise awareness for craniotomy survivors through the use of art and poetry, even though they struggle massively to communicate right now due to aphasia (a symptom of their brain surgery). They have also been raising awareness online for aphasia and Brain Injury Awareness Month recently.
The year before, Effie released, illustrated and co-wrote the autism book Violet, which is about a non-binary young adult who is also autistic, ADHD, and has EDS, just like Effie. It shares information and has helped children to see that there is a future for them beyond age 18 as autistic people. It has also helped autistic adults to see that it is ok for them to be who they are. There has been a lot of positive response to this book, which has sold worldwide including Japan, Israel, Italy, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and all over the UK.
All profits from the second book, The Inky Art Month Journey: A Craniotomy Survivor's Recovery In Real Time, will be donated to the brain injury charity Headway, and there is another book planned for this year with a similar theme, also purely for charity, and with a fellow artist possibly collaborating, out of the goodness of their beautiful heart.
Even though they are incredibly physically disabled due to missing an entire inner ear including the audio nerve and all balance organs on the left side, which along with EDS makes them need mobility aids to get anywhere, Effie still wants to help as many people as they can, especially with their art, and often uses their art to raise awareness for specific causes like EDS, brain surgery, aphasia, autism, ADHD, gender identity, queer relationships and more.
Effie wishes you all the love and light!
The year before, Effie released, illustrated and co-wrote the autism book Violet, which is about a non-binary young adult who is also autistic, ADHD, and has EDS, just like Effie. It shares information and has helped children to see that there is a future for them beyond age 18 as autistic people. It has also helped autistic adults to see that it is ok for them to be who they are. There has been a lot of positive response to this book, which has sold worldwide including Japan, Israel, Italy, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and all over the UK.
All profits from the second book, The Inky Art Month Journey: A Craniotomy Survivor's Recovery In Real Time, will be donated to the brain injury charity Headway, and there is another book planned for this year with a similar theme, also purely for charity, and with a fellow artist possibly collaborating, out of the goodness of their beautiful heart.
Even though they are incredibly physically disabled due to missing an entire inner ear including the audio nerve and all balance organs on the left side, which along with EDS makes them need mobility aids to get anywhere, Effie still wants to help as many people as they can, especially with their art, and often uses their art to raise awareness for specific causes like EDS, brain surgery, aphasia, autism, ADHD, gender identity, queer relationships and more.
Effie wishes you all the love and light!