I’ve always enjoyed drawing and painting since I was a wee slip of a thing and when anyone ever asked me what I wanted to be when when I grew up I would say with absolute certainty, an artist. This didn’t change for years and I even got as far as a foundation course at St Martins in my quest for a bohemian, paint splattered life but then I did better than expected in A level English Lit, there was a pervy tutor on my art course and my fellow students hung actual used condoms off gnarled tree roots (which I innocently twanged asking “so what did you use to make such convincing sperm? PVA glueeeeeewwwww.” and soaked mattresses in pig’s blood and there was that day I had to spend drawing crumbs and thought maybe I’d go down the writing route instead…
Decades later (who hoovered up my life please?) I started painting large scale pictures for my kids as I couldn’t find any decent enormous posters or prints that would fill the space I wanted and I got the painting bug again. I barely feel that I finish doing anything in life at the moment so to start a project and finish it felt amazing and just the physical act of painting feels very relaxing and satisfying. My paintings aren’t perfect by any means and they never turn out exactly how I want them to but they’re bold and bright and they make me happy and my friends have been very supportive and starting commissioning the odd piece too!
When I noticed that our local ice cream café had stopped exhibiting work for a few months I emailed them to ask if they would consider my work. A meeting later, I had three weeks to create enough work to have an exhibition!!! I was absolutely bricking it but I managed to get it done and the work is now up for everyone to see! Which is also terrifying. If I sell something it will be a huge bonus but ultimately I am so glad I gave myself a challenge and went for it. it may sound trite but if you’re thinking of going out on a limb and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone I can thoroughly recommend it!
My exhibition is up until the end of September at Riley’s Ice Cream Cafe, Crouch End, London N8. Please visit and say I sent you! x
