BY STEPHANIE CUMMINS
You are probably a bit confused to why I associate myself as an artist outside looking in. Well I see everything a tad differently.
When I talk to other creatives like myself about what art is or means to them, they often explain how it had given them a new lease of life. I thought how brave! I really wish I could do it. For years I felt I was held back by my own self-doubts. And then I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease in 2017.
Before being diagnosed, I was doing a lot of photography work, weddings, portraits and even had my own small studio in my kitchen. I did all this between working and looking after my two children. My eldest, who very much loves media and photography and my youngest who loves being creative in Art and Design. It wasn’t until we were having a conversation about what we all wanted to achieve in life, about our life goals, that it was clear that both of my children had self-doubts too. Suddenly I had this drive, I needed to try and achieve one of my goals, to prove that, ‘if mummy can do it, so can I’. I often say to them, ‘there is no T in my can, but there is T in my try.
Then lockdown happened and I was finding myself on Facebook more often than I was before. Mostly to check on families and friends and our community. While this was a worrying time for everyone and only allowed us out for one hour to exercise. I took that time to know Chertsey more. This led me to produce a painting I had wanted to do for a long time, London Street. I’ve always loved that area, and this inspired me to paint more of my hometown.
Recently, I was fortunate to be asked by the headteacher from Chertsey high School for my work to be displayed in the school. Which I hope will inspire the children to follow their hearts.