For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the idea of freedom not just as a concept, but as a feeling, a place, a moment. Freedom is different for all of us, and that’s exactly what inspired my latest collection of paintings. I wanted to explore how we connect to our own experiences of freedom, how we celebrate it, and how we carry it with us in our daily lives from our homes to our offices.
Why this Collection Inspires me
I’ve been dreaming of this collection for some time. Over the past four years, life has been wonderfully full, rich with projects, experiences, and creativity. My husband and I launched Wandering Palate, a business that blends our love of food, travel, and culture, and I’ve also been immersed in countless art projects that have stretched and inspired me. But amid all of this, I daydream of a chance to slow down for a moment to pause and to reconnect.
This collection is my way of creating that pause. It’s about stepping out of the noise and into moments of clarity, reflection, and joy. It’s about simplifying life, soaking up what really matters, and rediscovering a sense of peace and connection. Freedom is everywhere in the mountains, in quiet walks, in shared adventures, and even in the spaces we create for ourselves at home. I wanted my paintings to reflect that, to be daily reminders of the freedom we all seek.
What Freedom Means to Me
For me, freedom is deeply personal. It’s the love of travel, the thrill of exploration, and the connections we make along the way. It’s walking in hills and mountains with no phone, no distractions, just the rhythm of one foot in front of the other, breathing in fresh air, and feeling fully present. Freedom is about being connected to yourself and to the people around you.
This collection is also a love letter to my husband and our shared journey. It reflects our adventures, our dreams, and the excitement of discovering new places together. Each painting carries a memory, a feeling, a sense of wonder and possibility.
A New Palette, A New Approach
For this collection, I made a deliberate shift. I put aside my signature bright colours and embraced a more natural, earthy palette inspired by nature. I wanted the colours themselves to evoke calm, connection, and the sense of space and air that comes with being outdoors. I drew inspiration from photographs of past travels, from landscapes that made me pause, breathe, and smile.
The process of creating these paintings was as important as the final pieces. I started by mind-mapping everything I wanted the show to represent, what I wanted to feel while creating, and what I hoped the viewer would feel when looking at the work. I thought deeply about how the collection could serve as a gentle reminder of freedom, a visual pause in a busy life.
This time, my approach was about simplifying. Less became more. I stripped back the layers, allowing the work to breathe. In my studio, it’s easy to fall into the habit of adding and adding — reworking endlessly, but this collection was a lesson in letting go. It was about trusting the process and finding freedom in restraint. As the series progressed, my paintings grew calmer.
The Creative Ritual
Creating this collection was a ritual in itself. Each session began with lighting a sandalwood incense stick, a small act that signals to my mind and body that it’s time to focus and be present. Classical music filled my studio, offering connection and calm, guiding me through the brushstrokes and the colours. This combination of scent, sound, and movement became part of the work.
What I Want You to Feel
Art has the power to connect us to our own freedom. I hope that when you see this collection, you feel calm, inspired, and reminded of your own moments of escape. I want these paintings to invite you into your own version of freedom, whether that’s in a quiet corner of your home, in an office, or in a shared space where pause and reflection are needed.
Each piece is a gentle invitation to slow down, breathe, and reconnect to think about what freedom means to you, and how you can create it in your life. I hope that these paintings don’t just hang on the wall, but serve as reminders to celebrate life, plan adventures, and embrace joy wherever it can be found.
A Personal Journey
This collection has been more than just a series of paintings; it’s been a personal journey. It’s a reflection on simplifying, connecting to what brings me joy, and embracing nature, adventure, and relationships. It’s about being fully present, celebrating the ordinary and extraordinary moments, and finding peace in the process
Through this work, I’ve learned that freedom isn’t a destination; it’s a practice, a feeling, and something we can carry with us in every moment. By stripping back, simplifying, and trusting the process, I discovered a new form of artistic freedom that mirrors the life I want to live.
The Art Preview
I am excited to share this collection with you at the preview of Freedom. It’s happening on:
23rd October 2025 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
King Street Townhouse
10 Booth St, Manchester M2 4AW