Wrapping Up 2025: The Hardest, Bravest Year So Far
As the year draws in, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on 2025 — and if I’m honest, it’s been one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life.
This was the year I finally took the leap and went full-time with my art.
Back in May, after five years of painting in the margins of life — early mornings, late evenings, stolen hours between everything else — while working full-time in social media and marketing, I made the decision to step fully into being an artist. It was something I’d dreamed about for a long time… and something that felt equally exciting and completely terrifying.
What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was just how much mindset, resilience and sheer perseverance that leap would require.
There were moments this year where things felt incredibly hard — financially, emotionally, creatively. Days where imposter syndrome shouted louder than confidence. Weeks where juggling everything felt impossible. And times where I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Spoiler: sometimes I definitely had.
And yet, amongst all of that, this year also brought some incredibly special milestones.
One of the biggest was creating a full collection to exhibit at Chalk’s Gallery in Lymington. Seeing those pieces on the gallery walls was one of those moments where the stress just melted away and I thought: this is why I’m doing this.
2025 was also the year I finally launched prints of my original works. This wasn’t a quick decision — it involved months of research, trial and error, paper tests and colour checks to find specialised art printers who could truly honour the originals. It took time, patience and more learning than I expected, but I’m so proud of the end result.
Alongside this, I’ve had the joy of exhibiting at Ballard & Bay Gallery in Swanage, and of having a selection of my work shown at Gallery 65 in Westbourne and Forest and Cove in Romsey — experiences that reminded me how powerful it is to see your work living out in the world, connecting with people you may never meet.
Another real highlight of the year was taking part in Hampshire Open Studios in August at Forest and Cove in Romsey. I spent half a day live painting in the gallery while people popped in to watch, chat and ask questions — and it was such a joy. There was something really special about creating in real time, sharing the process, and having such lovely conversations along the way.
And none of this has been done alone. Alongside his full-time job which takes him away a lot, my husband has made every single canvas and frame for my work this year — a behind-the-scenes labour of love that has made this journey possible in more ways than one.
And all of this happened while selling and buying houses and raising two young children. There were school runs between studio sessions, paintings moved for house viewings, deadlines met with a child on my knee, and plenty of days where progress felt slow and chaotic rather than polished and “successful”.
The truth is, I know I’ve only just scratched the surface of what this journey will ask of me. Going full-time with art isn’t a neat before-and-after moment — it’s an ongoing process of showing up, learning, adapting and continuing even when things feel uncomfortable.
But as I look towards 2026, I feel something that matters just as much as confidence: motivation.
Motivation to keep going.
Motivation to keep learning.
Motivation to keep creating work that feels honest and true.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me this year — whether you’ve visited a gallery, collected a piece, shared my work, sent a message, or quietly followed along. Your support has meant more than you’ll ever know.
2025 stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. 2026 will no doubt do the same. But I’m ready to keep going.
Thank you for being here. ✨
