I didn't always paint. Painting came to me, whilst I was having some time out to recover from surgery for my endometriosis. I was bed bound for an extended period of time and needed to switch off my busy brain. My partner bought me a painting set and I started to paint everyday... I never looked back.
There’s something magical about watching paint swirl into water, releasing control and letting the water do it thing, blending effortlessly into soft, flowy shapes.
The moment my brush touches the paper, I feel my mind quiet, it's like my body does a big sigh out and the stresses of the day wash away.
In a world that moves too fast and demands too much, watercolour painting has become my sanctuary—a space where I can switch off my brain and simply be.
I didn’t start painting with the intention of creating a masterpiece, it was purely as a way to relax- I didn't know at the time that it would become such a life line for me.
Some of my early attempts were little more than a brown mess and unexplained shapes. But that didn’t matter, because the process itself was the reward. Watercolour is unpredictable; the way the pigment spreads, the way colours merge, it all feels organic—like nature. I realised I was having a similar feeling to when I immerse myself in the sea.
Painting has become a form of meditation for me. Instead of being lost in an endless cycle of overthinking, my focus shifts to the movement of the brush, the way the water pools on the page, the delicate balance of colour and light. When I paint, I’m fully present, and in that presence, I find calm. I find myself loosing hours at a time, not looking at my phone or speaking to anyone else (full disclosure; sometimes I now paint with friends on in the background)
Unlike many other forms of art, watercolour encourages letting go. If a shape doesn’t turn out as expected, it can be blended, reshaped, or simply embraced as part of the piece. I have a very fluid style which I think is a product of this. There’s no need for perfection—just a willingness to explore and accept.
Watercolour painting isn’t just an artistic skill—it’s a tool for mental wellbeing. It’s a way to reconnect with yourself, to slow down, to breathe. Whether you’re an experienced artist or someone picking up a brush for the first time, I encourage you to give it a try... who knows the adventure it might take you on.
But don't start for the sake of creating something “good,” do ir for the experience of simply creating, I promise you won't regret it.
For me, painting has become a ritual of self-care, a time to release stress and find balance. And maybe, just maybe, it can do the same for you.
If you'd like a hand getting started, I'd be more than happy to show you.
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