Former Soldier, Ex-Dealer Becomes Award-Winning Artist After Prison Sentence

An individual, previously a soldier and later a heroin dealer, has achieved success as an artist, having discovered his artistic calling during a 13-year incarceration. Kevin Devonport’s life descended into criminal activity and a battle with drug addiction following his departure from the Army at the age of 21. Having transformed his life, he has since earned numerous accolades, showcased his work in London, completed a university degree, and operates a studio located in Leeds. The 52-year-old shared with the BBC details of how he forged a new direction for his life during his time in prison. In 2007, at the age of 35, Mr Devonport was apprehended for selling heroin, identifying himself as a “career criminal” with a history of three prior jail terms. Confronted with the possibility of an additional extended period of imprisonment, he adopted the counsel of a fellow inmate, who advised him: “don’t serve time, let time serve you”. “I tried using the time constructively,” stated Mr Devonport, who previously served as a Chieftain gunner in the First Royal Tank Regiment. He added, “I really wanted to sort my life out by then.” He pursued studies at the Open University, earning a first-class honours degree in sociology; however, it was his discovery of a painting class, arranged by the charity Care After Combat, that ultimately altered the course of his life. “I was never really an arty person,” he commented. “I’d look and admire but I never thought I could do it myself.” Nevertheless, Mr Devonport, who was raised on a council estate in Leeds and departed school at 15 without qualifications, reported that he adapted to the class “like a fish to water”. While his initial painting, described as “a little landscape,” might not have been his finest creation, he noted that the act of producing it profoundly resonated with him. Despite never having envisioned himself as an artist, he secured his first national award during his incarceration. “It’s not been a conscious decision, it’s like life has directed me that way,” he remarked. Notwithstanding his achievements, adjusting to life following his release in 2014, rejoining society, and coping with the stigma of imprisonment proved difficult. His most recent legal issue occurred in 2018, resulting in a jail sentence for cannabis production. Mr Devonport, currently a father to eight-year-old Sinead, stated that his art provided him stability and served as the inspiration for his inaugural exhibition, “Unlabelled”. “Coming into a world where you are not as accepted, you are a bit like driftwood,” he explained. “Being an artist gives me a sense of who I am, a sense of identity. I was lost. It’s given me something to attach to.” Themes frequently explored in his artwork include identity, his encounters with the justice system, and his military service on active duty in Germany and Northern Ireland. “I tell stories, each object has a meaning,” commented Mr Devonport, who also collaborates with offenders and instructs fine art. He added, “When you know my art, you can read it like a book.” A selection of his latest creations is presently exhibited at Leadenhall Market, London, forming part of his “Nothing Ordinary Here” exhibition. He also maintains a studio at Assembly House in Armley, Leeds. Although his entry into the art world was unconventional, he expressed no regret regarding his past. “The things I’ve done with my own life experiences, it’s made me who I am,” he stated. “I think in terms of my art, it’s made me a better artist.”