At the end of February 2026, I held my first art exhibition at Sixteen Gallery in Cheltenham. If you are here, there is a good chance you have already heard quite a lot about it and thank you for being part of that moment with me!

I sold over 45% of the collection (which is bonkers coconuts bananas), but I have many works still available here in my gallery.

After months of preparation, pouring in time, energy, emotion and (hyper)focus, I felt incredibly proud of myself for doing it. Putting work into the world in that way is vulnerable, exciting and slightly terrifying all at once. The exhibition was everything I hoped for and more. It genuinely exceeded my expectations!

It is also true that by the time it opened, I was pretty burnt out.

That combination surprised me. Pride and joy at sharing my work with the public, mixed with the need to run and hide away. I am learning that success does not always arrive neatly wrapped and perfectly timed. The complicated mix of emotions sent me into an overwhelmed teary mess on day 4 of the show! My poor husband still has the mascara marks on his t-shirt.

I was quite literally overwhelmed with the joy and kindness shown to me, I did not know how to process these feelings in abundance - what a great problem to have, hey! I feel weirdly shameful about this too, which is something I am still figuring out. Any therapists out there know what this is all about!?

Bringing the exhibition to life asked a lot of me. While I was lucky to have brilliant support along the way (big shout out to Brand Geenie), nothing would have happened without my own clarity, decision making and commitment. I showed up consistently, even when it felt hard, and I gave the work what it deserved.

Since then, things have been busy in the best possible way. Commissions have been coming in, much of the collection has sold, and I have had some wonderful conversations with collectors about future work. There are exciting projects ahead and opportunities I once could only imagine! I am deeply grateful for all of it and hugely proud of what I have built.

At the same time, I am human(ish). I have an intense mind and a sensitive heart.

As someone with ADHD, I know my brain works in seasons. I can be intensely focused on a goal for a long stretch of time, and once that chapter is complete, my brain wants to shift gears very quickly. Right now, I am practising staying with this moment, tending to what has grown, and gently redirecting my energy rather than immediately chasing the next shiny idea. Which is soooo hard as I have so many ideas right now!!

That takes effort. Especially when everything has moved quickly… Well, quickly after over 12 years of dedication, mistakes, risk taking and persistence.

What I know for certain is this: I want to create. That is the heart of everything. Money matters because it allows me the time and space to do this work properly, but it is never the motivation. Finding the balance between sustainability and creativity is something I am continually refining, and I am proud of myself for doing it consciously.

So, this is me trying to be open about the fuller picture. Social media can make it all appear easy and rosy. But it isn’t.

Much of my work is inspired by my internal chaotic world, and at the moment that means exploring how ambition, gratitude, fear and joy can all exist together. I will continue to be messy and honest and deeply human, as it continues to shape the direction of my paintings.

Looking ahead, I am feeling energised and genuinely PUMPED. Alongside ongoing commissions, I am beginning to build a new private body of work that will push me in fresh ways. In May, I will be diving into an intensive portrait course with the brilliant Lindy Allfrey, stretching my skills and feeding my curiosity. Learning and challenge are part of what keeps this practice alive for me!

Thank you for following along and for supporting my work in all its forms. Thank you as well for your patience if replies or quotes have taken a little longer recently. I am one person, navigating a very full and exciting season, and I appreciate your understanding more than you know.

Success, Burnout, and the Space In Between

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