HOPE
: Art to Raise Awareness of Suicide & Support Papyrus.
Out of darkness came a flower of light, its roots in remembrance, its branches in love. This is Hope — eternal, human, alive.
Hope is a deeply personal and collaborative artwork created by visual artist Jai Sol in collaboration with 3 Dads — Mike, Andy, and Tim — who each lost a daughter to suicide.
Papyrus is the UK charity dedicated to preventing young suicide
and promoting positive mental health in our communities.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PAPYRUS & 3 DADS WALKING
Three Dads & Papyrus: Walking Together for Change
Fathers Mike, Andy and Tim each lost a daughter to suicide—Beth, Sophie and Emily. United through their grief, they launched 3 Dads Walking and have covered hundreds of miles across the UK in memory of their girls, raising awareness and over £1 million for Papyrus. Their steps are more than a tribute—they’re a call to action, turning pain into prevention.
Their collaboration underpins the artwork Hope, transforming profound grief into action and hope for the future.
The Beginning — Jai Meeting Mike
A Chance Encounter at Christmas.
At a charity dinner supporting Papyrus, I donated five artworks to help raise funds for suicide prevention. That night, I heard Mike speak about losing his daughter Beth, and how he and two other fathers had turned grief into purpose through their walks across Britain. His honesty moved me deeply.
A Shared Understanding
After his speech, we spoke and discovered a connection rooted in empathy. Having faced my own struggles with mental health, I resonated with Mike’s story. Later, I learned he was my neighbour, we had lived beside each other for years without knowing it.
A Friendship Begins
Our conversations grew into deep reflections about life, death, love, and healing. Through those talks came the seed of an idea to create an artwork that could honour their daughters and bring light to others walking through darkness.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS:
Listening & Feeling
Creating Through Compassion
Unlike my usual process where I see the art in my mind first, I began Hope by listening. I created a detailed questionnaire for Mike about his experiences of loss, grief, and remembrance.
The Power of Honesty
Mike responded with profound openness, describing his emotions from the moment he lost Beth to the slow, painful process of acceptance. He shared not only his story but the stories of Andy and Tim, who had also lost their daughters, Sophie and Emily.
Building from Truth
With their blessing, I collected memories, symbols, and fragments of each girl’s life weaving them into a single creative vision that captured love, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Through this process, he unearthed a powerful visual story — one that blends emotion, symbolism, and humanity to honour the three fathers and the daughters whose memories inspired the artwork.
After twelve creative months of developing sketches, storyboards, and concepts, Jai combined traditional fine art techniques with digital craftsmanship to bring Hope to life.
At its heart stands a symbolic flower of life - its roots emerging from darkness, its branches reaching toward colour and renewal. Around it, subtle references to childhood, music, and time represent the lives of Beth, Sophie, and Emily, honouring their spirits through beauty and meaning.
Every layer of Hope tells part of a story — of grief, resilience, and love that endures. It invites the viewer to pause, feel, and reflect on the power of compassion, reminding us that even in our most fragile moments, there is still light to be found.
JOURNEY
In the artwork, the three dads are shown in their walking gear, moving together along the stem of a large flower. Their torches light up images of their daughters and personal items connected to each of them, such as a teddy bear, a drink, and a toy. A moon casts their shadows, dreamcatchers hang below, and a father and child silhouette appears nearby.
IMPACT
This section shows the moment when Mike’s world changed completely. Everything went dark — time stopped, and life felt shattered. Cracked glass and broken fragments symbolise a world collapsing, while stopped clocks mark the moment everything froze. The globe in his hand has turned dark, and scattered papers reflect confusion and loss. Several Tolkien quotes appear in the background, reminding him to hold on to hope.
HOPE
At the centre of the artwork is the earth, surrounded by a flower with hands growing from its stem. Each hand holds a different object a candle, key, clock, teddy bear, phone, mask, microphone, and scales representing stories, emotions, and lessons linked to suicide and hope. White doves and a clock with many hands symbolise time, life, and remembrance
LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO SHARE HOPE
The artwork Hope can be made available as a limited-edition print to raise funds for Papyrus and to increase awareness around the issue of young suicide. By sharing this artwork and its story, people are drawn to its emotion and meaning, sparking curiosity, compassion, and a desire to understand more. Hope can inspire others to learn, engage, and support the ongoing work of Papyrus.
With over 20 years of experience in selling art worldwide, Jai Sol with our print partners, Love to Frame (family friends of Mike), and a business sponsor to fund a social media campaign, we can collectively
with Papyrus offer Hope to people everywhere and make a significant annual donation to the cause.
JAI SOL –THE ARTIST
CREATIVE PARTNER
With over ten years of international experience, Jai Sol has exhibited, marketed, and sold art worldwide. His team will now lead the launch of an online shop and campaign platform for Hope, producing all marketing materials, visuals, and promotional content to share the artwork’s story and raise funds for Papyrus through print sales and public engagement.
LOVE TO FRAME –
PRINT PARTNER
Founded by Russ, a close friend and former colleague of Mike, Love to Frame in Manchester will produce and deliver the Hope editions worldwide. Russ and his team will work closely with Jai to manage production, fulfil orders, and ensure every print is finished to the highest quality and standard possible.
SPONSOR –
6 MONTH CAMPAIGN
Our business sponsor will fund a six-month social media and marketing campaign to share Hope across the UK and beyond — raising awareness and vital funds for suicide prevention. Our sponsors will align with our vision and help promote and display the original artwork within their office, business, or public space in Manchester.