What Art Workshops Have Taught Me About Creativity

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2025, there were many things I expected to put on hold.

Surprisingly, my art workshops weren't one of them.

Friends and family questioned whether I would continue running them during treatment, and if I'm honest, there were times when I questioned it too. Chemotherapy, hospital appointments and the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis have a way of making life feel much smaller.

But something unexpected happened.

My workshops became one of the most important parts of my recovery.

For a few hours, I wasn't a patient.

I wasn't thinking about blood tests, scan results or treatment schedules.

I was simply an artist, helping other people discover their creativity.

Those few hours became a welcome break from cancer.

People often assume that I teach workshops because I enjoy sharing techniques or helping people improve their painting skills. Whilst that is certainly part of it, the real magic happens elsewhere.

It happens when someone arrives convinced they can't paint.

It happens when they stop apologising for every brushstroke.

It happens when they relax, experiment and surprise themselves.

It happens when they leave with a smile on their face and a painting they never thought they could create.

Over the last few years, my workshops have taught me that creativity isn't really about talent.

It's about permission.

Permission to play.

Permission to make mistakes.

Permission to enjoy the process without worrying about the outcome.

Those lessons became incredibly important during treatment.

Cancer forces you to accept that you can't control everything. There are appointments you can't avoid, side effects you can't predict and outcomes you can't guarantee.

Creativity offers a different way of thinking.

When we create, we learn to work with uncertainty. We adapt. We respond. We find another way forward when something doesn't go to plan.

In many ways, the same skills that help us paint also help us navigate life's challenges.

Throughout treatment, my workshops gave me structure and purpose. They gave me dates to look forward to and positive things to focus on. They reminded me that life was still happening beyond hospital walls.

They also reminded me that creativity brings people together.

Some of my happiest moments during treatment weren't spent painting my own work. They were spent watching other people discover their creativity, gain confidence and enjoy a few hours away from their own worries and responsibilities.

Looking back, I realise my workshops have taught me something far bigger than how to paint a seascape, a hare or a kingfisher.

They have taught me that creativity is not about producing perfect artwork.

It's about finding joy.

It's about connection.

It's about resilience.

And sometimes, it's simply about giving yourself permission to focus on something beautiful for a little while.

During treatment, I needed that reminder just as much as anyone.

Perhaps that's why I continue to love teaching.

Every workshop is a reminder that creativity can help us through far more than we realise.