My first ‘if’ painting was during covid. Someone close to me was going through a season of challenges and reluctantly had to move. We couldn’t meet in person so I posted a brochure through her door, offering to paint for her something infused with hope based on her aspirations. I asked her, “if you believed in God, what three things would you want to ask for at this time?” And what are your favourite colours?

I turned her hopes into a painting. ‘Essence of Lucy’, working in an intuitive and loose style in acrylic with bold colours and sgraffito lines. Around the back of the painting I added a silk backing with favourite quotes and an envelope to add a record of favourite memories.

I wanted this painting to be an icon of hope to last the years. 

When Lucy moved I gave her the painting wrapped carefully in brown paper and asked her to open it when she was settled. She hadn’t seen the picture yet.

After a few days, I’d heard nothing and doubts crept it… what if she didn’t like it? 

And then finally she called, exclaiming “It’s a miracle!” She was thrilled because one of her dreams had been fulfilled; her daughter had unexpectedly been offered a place at the school around the corner, something which had looked impossible. Her painting took pride of place in her living room, which happened to be painted in a complementary colour.

Every now and then over the years she has messaged me to say she is looking at ‘Essence of Lucy” with a friend, and they are in tears. One recently said, “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”