About Robin

Robin received his surgical and prosthetic treatment for head and neck cancer in Greater Manchester.

When we were setting up IMPRESSeD, we reached out to patients to ask if they would help oversee the study. Robin enthusiastically agreed to become a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) contributor. He played a pivotal role in the independent advisory group making sure that the study addressed patients’ priorities.

Robin co-created I’m Still Me as an opportunity to share patients’ lived experiences and disseminate research findings with a wide audience. He worked diligently with the artists and wider team to ensure that patients could share their experiences with maximum impact.

Robin was keen to support and inspire other people going through head and neck cancer treatment and rehabilitation as well as raise awareness of face equality and the psychosocial impact of visible differences.

In 2015, I noticed a scab on my nose, which my GP burnt off. In 2019, it had come back and was bothering me, so I was referred to dermatology. When the doctors eventually found out I had cancer, I had to undergo multiple operations.

They tried to save my nose, but I ended up losing my nose, left eye, part of my cheek, and most of my top teeth. I was left with scarring down my left cheek and under my chin. I looked like a road map. That really set me back mentally, as I didn’t expect to be left with so much facial scarring.

I was initially told that the process of providing a facial prosthesis would take nine months. I had implants placed to help retain it. However, the pandemic led to multiple delays, and I had to wait even longer. The maxillofacial prosthetists tried to make me a temporary adhesive prosthesis, held in place by medical glues, however it wasn’t successful.

While I was waiting for my implant-retained prosthesis, I rarely left my house except for hospital appointments. Even just to put the bins out, I had to put on a baseball cap, a mask, and an eye patch so that I didn’t scare the local children.

It was shocking for people to see my face and I even stopped getting the district nurse to clean the area. Instead, my wife, Phyllis, did this for me. She’s 75 and my absolute rock.

In Spring 2024, I received a denture and facial prosthesis to replace my eye, nose and cheek. The doctors and maxillofacial prosthetist attached magnets to the implants inside my eye socket which helps hold the prosthesis in place. I only need a little glue here and there.

“There’s life after surgery.”

I’m very happy with it and I am getting used to my new face. My daughter lives in America and five years ago she bought her own house. I’ve never seen it, since I couldn’t set foot on a plane looking the way I did. We are now planning to visit her, hopefully for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The prosthesis is already massively improving my mental outlook. It’s giving me the freedom to live my life and I feel more positive.

I took part in the advisory committee for IMPRESSeD because I was interested in the work, and I wanted to help people going through similar challenges.

At first, when we discussed creating an art exhibition to share the findings of the study, I did wonder who would want to see these portraits. But now they have been made, I am hoping I’m Still Me will help people see the person behind the prosthesis and understand their tough rehabilitation journey.

“Cancer has many faces – this is mine.”

Prostheses act as a shield for the public who might be upset if they found out what we really looked like – they provide a level of public acceptability. By being painted without my prosthesis, I hope people will gain a better understanding of head and neck cancer.

I am probably one of the most outgoing people you’d ever meet but waiting for a facial prosthesis wore me down and impacted my mental health. I hope people who have a facial part removed for cancer are informed that they won’t wake up with their prosthesis and it will take some time.

I also want patients to know that there’s life after surgery; having a prosthesis has massively improved my outlook. I think we should be putting these portraits on bus stops to get people talking about face equality. My tagline can be “Cancer has many faces – this is mine.”

Alison created Robin’s artworks as traditional, representational portraits. Robin and Alison initially met over a videoconferencing platform during the co-creation of the project. Once the project was underway, Robin and his partner Phyllis met Alison at her studio in Stockport.

Through her artworks, Alison aimed to achieve an objective likeness of the couple along with her own subjective impressions from meeting them. The artworks have been created to show different aspects of Robin’s personality and experience while also conveying his character, strength, and dignity.

The ‘Portrait of Robin and Phyllis’ shows the bond between the couple during a smiling, relaxed, and informal moment. The ‘Portrait of Robin, night’ shows a deeper, darker reality where tension is evident in his face and hands, which are the only illuminated elements of the artwork. The background tone suggests a nighttime scene and alludes to classical portraits. Robin makes direct eye contact with the viewer as it is his wish to be seen to raise awareness in society.

For Robin with Prosthesis, Alison wanted the painting to portray Robin looking well, relaxed and comfortable in his own skin, and the painting is much lighter in tone both visually and metaphorically.

Robin is a remarkable man in many ways with his warmth and life-affirming spirit. Alison found he was an inspiration to paint and to live one’s life by. Robin enthusiastically engaged in the portrait process with patience, selflessness and humour and has generously given his time and support.