Donations of £10 or more will enter you into the draw, with the custom guitar going to one lucky winner. Make sure you have ticked the box to share your contact information when donating and share the page via Facebook for entry. The competition closes on the 30th July at 12:00pm and the winner will be informed shortly after via email. 

A collaboration between Irish artist Terry Bradley and Chris Moffitt of Kithara Guitars, in aid of Action Mental Health.

Terry and Chris were first introduced by Simon Cordner,
owner of Windmill Guitars and neighbour of the Bradley Gallery in Bangor, Co.Down. Terry and Chris found common ground in their love for art and music and realised they had also gone through similar experiences suffering with poor mental health. This inspired them to combine their experience and open up the conversation about how many men suffer with mental health issues and, more often than not, keep it to themselves. So they set out on a project, using Terry’s emotive art skills to paint a gorgeous electric guitar, handcrafted by Chris, with the hopes of using it to reach more men and de-stigmatise the topic of their mental health. 

Terry’s artwork depicts the colourful front of the guitar
showing the upbeat, bright face that many people use to mask how they are really feeling. The back of the guitar represents the darker side of mental health, a lone figure against a full moon. The moto of ‘Never Give Up’, which is something Terry lives by, is hand painted along the neck of the guitar.

Terry Bradley

Irish artist Terry Bradley has been painting professionally for 25 years and has had past collaborations with Harley Davidson, ABSOLUT Vodka and Nokia mobile phones. His work is held in collections worldwide and he has two successful galleries in Northern Ireland. Terry has been open in the past about his own mental health struggles and has long been an advocate for men’s mental health, in particular believing that men often struggle with an inability to express their emotions or deal with the stresses of modern life. Terry personally suffers from depression and anxiety and uses his art as therapy for his illness. Followers of his art often feel this connection with his art and collect pieces that they find express their own emotional journey. To further this connection, Terry has been producing a series of interviews and stories with his collectors, called Life Stories, inviting them to talk about how art has helped them through their struggles and darkest moments.

Chris Moffitt

Chris Moffitt is a successful Luthier, working in Northern Ireland and using his skilled craftsmanship to create bespoke guitars. Chris struggled with insecurity over his body image growing up and was diagnosed with depression during his time in university. Through a sense of helplessness and worthlessness, Chris was led to nearly take his life on two occasions. He found that it was his faith that played a large role in his recovery, after being inspired by the words of a song “Create in me a clean heart, I’m not finished with you yet”. Chris began to believe he was indeed created to create, using his hands to make instruments that would bring others the joy he had felt by playing the guitar as an escape. This creative release from all the anxiety he had felt for years became the birth place of Kithara Guitars. Chris enrolled in Lutherie College and now proudly uses his creations as a testimony to how far he has come.

Simon Cordner

Simon Cordner held a corporate career for nearly fifteen years and found himself in a dark place a few years ago when the pressure of work was rapidly taking over his life. Having a creative release and his passion for guitars led to get away from the corporate world for the sake of his mental health. Windmill Guitars allows Simon to meet people of all backgrounds, and around a shared love of all things six-string, they often discuss just how important music and playing guitar is as an escape.

Action Mental Health

Action Mental Health is a local charity that supports people of all ages across Northern Ireland. Two of the key services they provide are their Men’s Sheds and their counselling service: AMH New Life Counselling.

AMH New Life Counselling provides a range of high quality therapeutic counselling interventions for people of all ages. The specialist team offers services to children and young people; couples; families and individuals. Action Mental Health operates three Men’s Sheds based in Antrim, Downpatrick and Enniskillen. The Sheds are open to men over the age of 50 and they provide the ‘Shedders’ with a chance to share skills, socialise and connect with their wider community to support their mental health and well-being.

As a local charity, Action Mental Health relies on the generous support of the local community to help provide these vital services.”

Entries into the competition can also be made by emailing info@terrybradley.com.