Ben Poultney, a man from the Black Country, faced dark days where thoughts of death were a constant companion. His struggle with depression started with relentless panic attacks that he couldn’t understand or manage. He described his mind as an “unpleasant place to live,” where, for years, he was consumed by the idea that death might actually be a relief.
Despite having a loving family, good prospects, and supportive friends, Ben’s mental health battle seemed inexplicable to outsiders. “It all started with daily panic attacks I couldn’t explain or control. They dominated my life, sometimes happening several times a day,” he shared. On public transport, his thoughts drifted to crash scenarios, seeing them as a possible escape.
Recovery began through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and medication, but it was art that provided a vital lifeline. “The longer I go without creating art, the worse my mental state becomes,” Ben said. “Art is as essential to me as exercise, fresh air, and a healthy diet are to others.”
READ MORE: EDF Offers £50 Credit to EV Drivers Who Sign Up Before Midnight
READ MORE: My Ring Doorbell Catches My Neighbor Letting Their Dog Pee on My Bin Every Week – It Feels So Rude
Known artistically as Benjibonz, Ben founded Draw My Town and recently partnered with Birmingham Mind, the charity that supported him during his darkest times. He unveiled a modern reinterpretation of Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 painting, Sorrowing Old Man (or At Eternity’s Gate), which he calls Sorrowing Young Man. Ben will donate all profits from print sales to Birmingham Mind to help fund vital mental health services.
“Van Gogh painted the original just months before he took his own life, and his pain is palpable,” Ben explained. “Vincent’s struggles with mental health remain relevant today, and my artwork reflects those enduring issues through a post-impressionist style that conveys raw emotion.”
Ben is committed to turning his experience into action. Through his partnership with Birmingham Mind, he will offer free therapeutic art workshops aimed at helping others find solace and expression through creativity.
“When I was young, I drew chaotic, sometimes violent cartoons that worried my family. But looking back, these drawings were a release valve for the intense emotions I was carrying,” he said. “Without this outlet, my energy might have turned into destructive behaviors. Many of my friends from home ended up battling addiction, facing jail, or have sadly passed away. I’m convinced that creativity helped me avoid that path.”
Art gave Ben hope when everything seemed hopeless. “These workshops will show others that creativity isn’t only about making something beautiful—it’s about maintaining mental health and finding light in the darkness,” he said. “If my story inspires even one person to pick up a pencil, it will have been worth it. Let’s doodle our way toward better mental health together.”