Hello
Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by to take a little look at my work. My name is Rachel Joy and I am from the UK, but have been living in Japan for 20 years. I work in the Arts as an illustrator, Artist, Writer, Art Therapy facilitator and Coach.
My Story
As a little girl I made costumes for the fairies out of leaves and scrap material, and shrunk crisp packets in our Aga. I made magazines out of my favourite toy - a kind of pink, plastic, barbie style printing press and used to do pretend radio shows on cassette tape. I am an HSP and so sounds, noise, colour effected me but it wasn`t until I grew up that I learned more about neurodiversity and what I had found really hard became a kind of "special power". I believe that Children`s stories have a unique way of transporting us back to that time of wonder and delight and I still love reading them as well as creating them.
I was born in Chelsea London, but grew up around the green hills and beaches of Devon, in the south west of England which was so much fun - climbing trees and getting lost in stories of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Studying Fine Arts in Oxford I went on to work in Primary Schools and as a Youth Arts worker where I facilitated arts based projects and helped children to love reading. Moving in 2004 to Tokyo Japan I was immersed in the visual culture of the city where lights flash, and where words are visual too. I sometimes felt overloaded but living in such a visually rich culture has influenced my personal practice. I am inspired by my travels and life in Asia and time spent in Mexico - with the delicate colours and changes of seasons here as well as bold bright colours in Mexico and I have family in Fiji <3
I have participated in Art therapy projects and as a first responder. During the Great Eastern Earthquake and the Kumamoto earthquake I got to see first hand the power of Art. Completing Post Graduate studies in Global Trauma and Art Therapy I have gone on to integrate my love of arts and healing and conduct workshops in person and online. My Coaching services - Ray Joy Creative Coaching and Oubaitori focus on helping clients process emotions and find clariy and focus through the Arts and Somatic interventions.
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I am connected to the Forest Therapy HUB and the Neuro Arts Movement and an associate member of the Society of Children`s Book Authors and Illustrators (SCBWI) Japan chapter. I am also a Poytner ACES Certified Editor!
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My Art work has featured in exhibitions in the UK, Japan and Vienna. I also work on specialist commissions and projects.
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Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.