Painting the Artist – the home of
HIT: ONCE UPON A FIELD
By James Walker
“I knew the group of five meant for trouble, as they circled me and started pushing me. That soon disappeared as one of them, from the corner of my eye, uppercut me to the jaw. I was out cold – sparked on the street.”
– Stephen Reding, journal entry
A hard-hitting tale of addiction, recovery, and loss
HIT: ONCE UPON A FIELD is the true story of Stephen Reding, an artist from Manchester whose life was forever changed following an unprovoked assault in 1995. One week after the incident, he suffered his first epileptic seizure.
What follows is a tale of seismic proportions, as we trace this promising young artist’s journey into a life of addiction, chaos, and crime. An ill-fated trip to Thailand results in a months-long disappearance, where he is caught up in drug dealing and working for an organised crime gang in Bangkok.
Stephen returns to Manchester with an impressive art portfolio, but this is overshadowed by his growing dependence on opiates – an addiction that leaves him isolated on the fringes of society and running for his life…
“I ordered a beer at the airport bar and put my ticket inside the newspaper. A gent came and sat next to me. We talked. He took the newspaper with the ticket inside and went to make his journey. The job was done.”
– Stephen Reding, journal entry
Read a preview online
HIT: ONCE UPON A FIELD explores the important issues of epilepsy and addiction with a gripping narrative that shifts from coming-of-age biography to true crime page-turner. It features detailed extracts from Stephen’s journals, alongside interviews with his family, close friends, and leading British medical experts.
An unflinching account of one person’s struggle to reclaim their identity in the face of adversity, HIT is set apart by the stunning paintings that frame each chapter. Here, the protagonist’s own artwork guides the reader through this unique tale of addiction, recovery, and loss.
HIT: ONCE UPON A FIELD is available in paperback or ebook versions.