I was told I couldn’t do art. My school, like so many, didn’t exactly teach art, but put us in a room with art supplies and told us to draw a thing , or paint a something, without teaching us technique. Then told us it was a bit crap. As a young person with no self esteem and almost no sight in one eye, my sense of perspective was utterly screwed in all the ways, so I believed them. I did ‘expressive arts’ (a bit of everything and nothing) instead, and assumed my creativity was of no value to anyone including myself.

And then many years later I did some compassion focussed therapy, which introduced the amazing concept that not only do I matter as much as the people around me (dubious), but I’m allowed to enjoy things, just because they’re fun and I’m allowed fun.

I picked up a pencil. Then paintbrushes. Then inktense pencils and watercolour pencils. Fineliners. Markers. And started using polymer clay again. Even lino cutting happened. The next thing I know I’m actually creating, for the joy of it, and while I’m doing arts and crafts I feel, for a time, alive.

It was the start of something huge for me. Drawing and painting, sculpting, making mistakes, swearing a lot. Searching books and YouTube for tips on the technique we should have been taught, getting inspired and awed by the amazing work out there, and just seeing where this takes me.

Strangest of all to me, people like my work. I’m over the moon about that. Each piece feels like a glimpse into a world I’ve created, or into my strange mind, and it’s a huge compliment that people want a little bit of that in their homes.

When you buy from an artist running a small business you should know that each sale, no matter how small, is time for a huge celebration.Thank you for your support.