But art lecturer, Diane Watson, did just that. She turned the frustration of being car-less into the inspiration for artwork which has just been exhibited at Newcastle's prestigious Biscuit Factory Gallery.

Now back behind the wheel Diane says she has learned her lesson.

EMMA GREENHALGH went to find out more.



GETTING a driving ban is sure to make life difficult for anyone.

But busy mum-of-two, Diane Watson, 39, did not realise just how much it was going to impact on her life.

She said: "I thought it would be awful. I love driving and I love cars and for me it was like somebody chopping off my leg."

Diane, of Church Street, Seaton Carew, was studying at night for a masters degree in ceramics and relied on the vehicle to get her to Sunderland University.

At the beginning of January she received a six-month driving ban after clocking up 12 points on her licence within four years for speeding.

Two of the incidents had happened on the same dual carriageway into Sunderland when Diane was spotted doing 35 and 36 miles per hour in a 30 limit.

The lecturer for Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) was forced to pay the price financially through court fines, but also lost face when she had to travel to work every day on the bus with the students.

Diane, who is originally from Stoke-on-Trent and moved up to the area 10 years ago, said: "I used to work in Church Square, in Hartlepool, but then had to work in Middlesbrough so I used to get the bus from Hartlepool to Middlesbrough with the students so that was all a bit humiliating.

"They knew what had happened."

But it was not long before Diane, who has two children Joe, 13, and Megan, 10, started to look differently on her misfortune.

She said: "I have always been inspired by driving and especially classic designs such as the Citroen DS and Saab 96. My work was always going to be about cars but the driving ban gave it a whole new dimension.

"It made me look at how much we rely on driving and what it feels like to have that freedom taken away from you and the sacrifices you have to make.

"Everything becomes so difficult, even getting to the shops."

Diane said she relied heavily on her partner Jonny Ward, 37, for lifts and felt bad imposing on friends to help her get from A to B.

She started making ceramic casts of rear view mirrors which formed the basis of her work.

"Journeys" comprises an installation of 182 ceramic mirrors crammed together to represent each day of the ban as well as the blandness of modern day car design.

It also features ceramic models of car parts including exhausts, spark plugs and batteries onto which animated, dream-like vehicles grow wings and fly above the traffic jams.

"The rear view mirrors represent reflection and perhaps looking back at past mistakes – and speed cameras," she said.

On July 2, Diane's disqualification was lifted and she was able to get behind the wheel of her new car, a Ford Ka.

"It was great the first time I got in the car and went somewhere and did what I wanted."

After a bad start to the year she is back on track and passed her Masters degree with the exhibition at Newcastle's quayside, marking the end of two years' hard work.

She said: "It was incredibly annoying to be banned from driving especially as I was only a few mph over 30 each time.

"I was very annoyed at the magistrates because the fact that I am a single mum who works full time and still manages to study for a Masters degree counts for nothing.

"But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that the ban was a real inspiration to Journeys and especially how driving has become so important in our lives."

Diane formerly taught at Hartlepool Sixth Form College before completing a degree course in textiles at CCAD.