My Story
I was very unwell
I created Checkmates during a challenging period of my life, when I was deeply unwell and didn’t know how to find my way forward.
I began painting patterns instinctively, almost meditatively. It not only brought colour back into my days, but quite unexpectedly patterns became a language that I used to speak to myself and process my experiences.
What began as a simple activity to fill the time during my recovery actually became healing. Painting patterns made me feel connected to who I am, and I began experiencing profound moments of both clarity and hope.
A twist on the position in chess
Checkmates takes its name from the position in chess where there is no way forward. It is all about those periods in life where we feel stuck, overwhelmed or lost.
My lived experience has taught me something powerful: when everything around you feels uncertain, the most important connection becomes the one you have with yourselves. For me, painting patterns became the space where that connection could happen.
Through self-connection came clarity. Through clarity came purpose. And through purpose came transformation in my outer world.
In other words, I started to get better.
"Through self-connection came clarity. Through clarity came purpose. And through purpose came transformation in my outer world."
How does self-connection look?
The painted patterns in my work visually express the feeling of self-connection. Some are chaotic and fragmented; others are balanced and expansive. Together, they capture the full journey of becoming who you are.
Checkmates is a Mindset
The emphasis of Checkmates is on building a mindset that champions self-connection. I want you to use these patterns as inspiration to turn inward and discover who you are. When you prioritise self-connection, you begin to live with a greater sense of purpose, and you inspire others to do the same.