This week’s post is a little more honest and a little less about the pretty side of being a small business owner. Sometimes, you can spend hours preparing, pack up all your creations, invest in a stall, pay for the petrol, turn up with so much hope and excitement… and go home without selling a single thing. And honestly? It’s demoralising. It makes you question your art, your products, your pricing, and sometimes even yourself. You start wondering whether what you create is g

It's funny how life can change, and how sometimes the thing you think you want most can take a little getting used to when it finally arrives. For years, my life was full to the brim. I worked in a corporate role in the NHS, a job that often involved travelling and meant my days could be busy and demanding. Alongside that, I was a mum and a wife, looking after our animals, keeping up with everyday life, studying and completing a course, and trying to find time to paint whenev

There is something quite lovely about settling into a new routine, especially when you begin to realise that you don't have to rush through it. Lately, life has been moving at a much slower pace for me, and rather than feeling the need to fill every moment or push myself to be doing more, I am learning to enjoy it. To take my time, breathe a little deeper, and allow life to unfold without the constant pressure of feeling I should be further ahead. I am finding joy in doing wh

This week brought one of those emails that every artist gets used to receiving, but never quite gets used to reading. I wasn’t selected for the Haworth Open Exhibition. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Of course I am. Whenever you submit a piece of work, there’s a small part of you that imagines it being selected — seeing it hanging in the exhibition, wondering how it might sit alongside the other work, and feeling that little sense of recognition that comes with

Next chapter, last chance

The Struggles of Selling Art I’m going to be really honest here—lately, I’ve had those dreaded thoughts about giving up. Not on painting, because I love the process too much, but on the whole messy, confusing, exhausting part that comes after: selling. Painting has always been my high, my way of looking after my mental health. When I pick up a brush, I feel calm, grounded, and connected to nature. Each animal I paint brings me back to myself, reminding me why I create in the

Finding Time for Art in a Busy Life Life has a way of filling up quickly—work, family, responsibilities, and all the other parts of “adulting” that demand attention. Among all of this, carving out time to paint can sometimes feel impossible. But I’ve learned that when I set myself a deadline—an exhibition, a commission, or a market—it gives me the push I need to prioritise my art. Right now, that deadline is the upcoming Lancaster Makers Market, and it’s been the motivation I

Insight into artist corporate life and challenges

Fun morning crafting This past week has been one of the hardest I’ve faced in a long time. As many of you know, alongside my art, I work...

Last weekend, I had the joy of taking part in the Cope Creative Collective Exhibition , part of this year’s Rossendale Art Trail — and...

With just days to go before the Rossendale Arts Trail, I’ve finally come up for air—and what a whirlwind it’s been. Between working...

This week has been a real lesson in overcommitting. I often wear many hats—mum to a busy 4-year-old, full-time NHS professional, wife,...

Last Sunday, we hosted a social sketching event—and it reminded me just how powerful it can be to carve out time to create and connect with others. These kinds of gatherings are more than just about art; they’re about mindset. Giving yourself the opportunity to come together, to share your creative journey, and to listen to others talk about theirs can truly help solidify your own direction and purpose. Hearing about someone else's ambition often lights a spark in your own. P

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with Charlie from Digital Boost—and honestly, it was exactly what I needed. Sometimes when...

When someone commissions me to create a piece of art, it fills me with pure joy. It’s not just about making a living—though of course,...

Life feels a little uncertain right now — for many of us. As someone working in the NHS and also building an art business from the heart,...

If you read my last post, you’ll know that I’m going through a time of uncertainty with my job in the NHS. This has led me to reflect on...

Finding Calm in Creativity: How Painting Helps Me Cope with Uncertainty Right now, life feels more uncertain than ever. My job in the NHS...

Why I wanted to building a Community Through Creativity

Snippet of my creative life