THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

I LEARNED. I BECAME. I CONQUERED.

How a paintbrush became another way of telling stories

Finding My Way Back To Myself

The moment I realised I wasn’t starting again, I was rediscovering myself. I think, sometimes, life has a way of bringing us back to the person we were always meant to be. When I look back at the little girl I was, I remember someone who believed anything was possible. A girl who was curious, creative, and full of imagination. A girl who didn’t spend time wondering whether she was good enough; she simply tried.

I remember feeling like I could do anything. That feeling stayed with me into my teenage years too. I had energy, ambition, and a belief that the world was full of possibilities waiting to be discovered.

But then life happens. We grow up. We take on responsibilities. We follow paths that make sense at the time. We listen to advice, expectations, and sometimes the opinions of others. Slowly, without even realising it, we can start to become a little quieter. We put parts of ourselves to one side while we focus on the people we love, the responsibilities we carry, and the life we are building.

And that is exactly what happened to me. I built a career. I raised my family. I supported others. I worked hard. I created relationships. I spent years celebrating other people and helping them share their own stories. But somewhere along the way, I think I forgot just how much I was capable of.

Then something changed. A small moment. A feeling I hadn’t experienced for many years. It felt like a light switch had been turned back on. I started to see myself differently, not as someone starting again, not as someone trying to become someone else, but as someone rediscovering all the parts of myself that had always been there: the curiosity, the creativity, the determination, the belief, and the ability to learn.

At 58, I picked up a paintbrush. At first, it was simply something that brought me joy, a way to explore colour, a way to experiment, a way to create something that was just for me. I had no idea where it would lead. I didn’t set out with a business plan. I didn’t know that one day my artwork would sit alongside luxury brands, exhibitions, and collaborations. I simply followed something that made me happy.

What I didn’t realise then was that the paintbrush would become another way of telling stories. Because storytelling has always been part of who I am. Long before I painted, I was drawn to people’s stories, through my work, through writing, through building Love Leigh-on-Sea over the last 14 years, and through sharing the passion of local businesses, independent traders, and the wonderful people who make our community special.

I have always noticed the little things: a beautiful café, a carefully created cake, a stunning floral arrangement, a place that makes you stop and smile, a person who has poured their heart into creating something meaningful. I think I have always collected moments without realising it. And now, through my artwork, I have found another way to capture and share those moments.

This series is about that journey, not just the paintings, but everything that brought me here: the lessons, the challenges, the people, the doubts, the opportunities, and the moments where I had to believe in myself, even when I wasn’t completely sure where the path was leading.

I have called this series: I LEARNED. I BECAME. I CONQUERED. Not because I have conquered in the sense of beating anything or anyone else. This is not about competition. This is about a personal journey, learning from every chapter of my life, becoming more confident in who I am, and conquering the things that can hold us back: the fear of being judged, the worry that it might be too late, and the moments where we question whether we belong.

Because the biggest thing I have learned is this: it is never too late to discover another part of yourself. Sometimes the person we are searching for has been there all along, waiting patiently, waiting for us to believe again, and waiting to bloom.

And perhaps that is the most unexpected part of my journey: I wasn’t starting over; I was finally coming home to myself.