Normal psychology patient 7 - "Dr Will"

12 artworks identified by Rita Simon's pseudonym "Dr Will". The descriptions of the artworks are taken from notes written by Wellcome staff during conversations with Rita Simon between 1995 and 1997. Rita Simon's case notes are in PP/RSI/A/3/3.

Not all the styles written on the back of the artworks correspond to those written in notes by Rita Simon about Dr Will's pictures. These were written for the use of Wellcome staff at the time of deposit.

The majority of works are classified as either Archaic linear of Linear transition

An adult male, aged 70, a professional man (a doctor). Rita Simon offers two slightly varying histories for Dr Will. In notes taken by Wellcome, Simon suggested he was "a person off the street with no diagnosis, therefore "normal" psychology", He was a participant in community art from 1989, which Rita Simon saw as "kitchen art". An artist had left her studio to the community for this purpose, but her executors put it on the market and money was raised to buy it. "People came and just played with the pencil, clay or brush: as recreation. But people could go deeply into themselves for an hour and come out in greater control of themselves. It was self-psychotherapy. " (Rita Simon)

In Symbolic images in art as therapy, page 112 Simon suggests he was suffering from Parkinson's disease and lived in either a geriatric hospital or residential home.

Dr Will died very unexpectedly from a brain haemorrhage after completing the last of the paintings. Rita Simon questioned whether he had a subconscious knowledge of his imminent death. This information is taken from conversations between Rita Simon and Wellcome staff between 1995 and 1997.

Dr Will is discussed in Rita Simon's book Symbolic images in art as therapy, pages 111-119.