A bit about me....

Hello!

I thought i should let you into the world of me as you have been so incredibly kind, to buy my Art work. You at least deserve to know a bit about the person who painted it! And catch up to how i ended up here writing this, and then we can move forward together.

It is a bit of an essay!

I was born in Sussex on 31st August 1980.
I moved to Maidstone, Kent when i was 13.
I had a troubled school life and moved to a few secondary schools as i was bullied.
I exceeded in Art from Junior school, winning awards and having my Art Work Exhibited. It was an obvious route for me.
When i was 16, i was advised that i should pursue an Art Based career. I was desperate to leave school so i applied to the Prestigous Kent Institute of Art and Design Designers & Artists such as
Zandra Rhodes, Karen Millen &Tracey Emin have also been students. They had a low acceptance rate and i was below the average intake age.
I was 15. walking into a big scary college with my portfolio, i remember not being able to speak with nerves, But They accepted me!! and i was the youngest in the College, having only just turned 16.
I LOVED IT!! Creating everyday was heaven. This is it!! What i am meant to do for the rest of my life.
Sunny Days sat drawing people, buildings, trees.... Whatever. Then came the time to decide what we had to specialise in. It was the start of the digital era, A lot of us were ushered into Graphic Design.

Bad times. I never felt happy trying to be creative on a computer. And the thought of sitting in front of a computer made me feel sick. Things were said like "You cant just paint and make money from it!"

Well, maybe they were right! So i decided to try to forget Art as a career. To do this i needed to go completely "Cold Turkey" -Plus being young everything was soo dramatic.
I remember burning all my artwork! When you are young. You also lack confidence and belief in yourself.
.
I did try a Graphics based job in the city for Ted Baker. This was soo incredibly stressful and such long days with a long commute at the end. It just didnt work. One night i went to bed and didnt get up for 2 weeks.

Exhaustion!!


So this is when you make changes, I got an apprentice job and worked within healthcare. I also studied therapies and that is still a big part of who i am, and what gave me the strength to pursue what is truly in my heart. (A Story for another day!)

During this time i would make curtains, cakes and candles and cards...!! Anything that i felt i could make for someone for an occasion i would do it. if i had a pencil and paper in my hand i would doodle. But, i never picked up a paintbrush. I spent a wonderful year making things for our wedding.

13 years later my daughter Florence was born. She was born quiet poorly. We didnt know if she would survive.She was transferred to a specialist unit. It was the toughest time of our lives. But she made it!! and we are so grateful to the Staff of the Neonatal unit that helped her. I promised i would do something to help repay them. The unit is charity funded and is the biggest unit in the southeast.

I was wracking my brain, thinking of ways in which i could raise money (As i am not the most athletic).
And painting came up!! What is strange, is that i remember looking out the window whilst sitting next to Florence's incubator. There was such an amazing view. On the horizon was my old Art College.

So i started to sell painting and raise money for the Hospital Unit. I try to do it every year around Florence's birthday.

Well thats kind of it. Ive slipped back into it with soo much passion it is as if i never stopped.
I feel so lucky that we have Florence. It is totally amazing. Our little fairytale.

This year hasnt been easy for us. And i do use Art as Therapy. It is how i express myself. How did i ever live without it for so long!

Unfortunately i witnessed a fatal accident on New Years day.  This experience pushed me forward.
Live for today, grasp life. Dont be afraid to do what is in your heart. Dont waste time doing things you dont love. Life is to be lived.

So here i am. I set up my page. and here you are. all 2000 of you. Thank you soo much for your support.

I promise i wont do another long post about myself.

Next time i shall focus on my previous work moving forward to today.

I hope i havent bored you too much!

Lots of Love

Heidi xx