Should I stay or should I go? (2026)

My illustration is inspired by the question I think every young person living on the Island has asked themselves at some point, ‘Should I stay or should i go?’. My work reflects the nostalgia I feel for having grown up and living on the Isle of Wight. A portrait of my younger self is surrounded by childish doodles of things that represent my love for living here; being next to the sea, the rural landscapes and nature, community and friends and family, all contributing to what makes me feel at home. The subtle text in the background ‘ Should I stay or should I go?’ reflects the nagging voice in the back of my mind frequently asking the ‘all important’ question. One that often causes me to feel quite anxious for fear of ‘not doing enough’. 

 

Living on the Isle of Wight means living a slower pace of life and it’s an enviroment in which I feel grounded and at peace. Whether or not you are moving off Island seems to be the question everyone asks you, especially if you have recently finished school or university. I think there’s an unspoken stigma that if you don’t move off, it means you’re unambitious or a faliure, which I do not think is true at all. Growing up on the Isle of Wight, at times feeling secluded and knowing that opportunities can sometimes can be limited, has made me all the more passionate and driven to work hard, and want to get more involved in the community, as well as contribute to building more of an arts scene on the Island. I thnk there needs to be more encouragement and optimism amongst young people who may choose to stay and make a living here. Staying doesn’t mean we can’t be ambitious, sucessful, driven or passionate, it also doesn’t mean were ‘stuck’ here forever, we can choose to leave if we wish at any time! I think a healthy mix of encouragement and optimism when discussing our options on what to do could really help young people feel less anxious and unsure when asking themselves ‘Should I stay or should I go?’.