ABOUT ME

I’m a hobby painter based on the Rutland and Lincolnshire border, in the lovely village of Castle Bytham.

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I started painting during Covid, after losing my mum. What began as something to do soon became a rather important part of my life. I carried on painting through the following years, finding time for it while looking after my dad and juggling family life. We lost Dad in June, and it’s perhaps no surprise that I’ve found myself painting even more.

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I’ve discovered that disappearing into the spare room with a canvas for a few hours can make a surprisingly big difference. Painting gives me somewhere to switch off, escape, process things and feel a little more like myself. My family can always tell when I’ve been painting — apparently I come back happier and noticeably more in control!

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I’m not a formally trained artist. I’m simply someone who gets an enormous amount from making things with my hands. There’s something about creating, experimenting and watching something emerge that makes sense to me. The idea of art as therapy therefore feels very real — sometimes you just need to make something.

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I paint abstracted, imaginary landscapes inspired by the countryside around me. I like experimenting with different materials and I’m determined not to take painting too seriously. I want the work to feel optimistic, playful and uplifting — and hopefully bring a little joy to whoever ends up living with it.

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Thanks for looking, reading and hopefully enjoying the paintings!

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Rachel x