Wild Swimming Art
In 2015 I was part of this really amazing running group called Project Awesome. We'd meet at 6.30 am, do some exercise and then go for breakfast together. There were a lot of people quitting their jobs and going off to do crazy adventures or setting up their own charities - doing what they truly wanted to be doing in their lives. We were each other’s cheerleaders to living our best life, that was the supportive atmosphere and people I was surrounded by.
It was at this time I was building confidence in drawing (an ongoing effort!), as well as spending a lot of time swimming. I've had several bouts of depression and anxiety over the years and noticed that cold water swimming or wild swimming massively improves my mental health.
A friend at Project Awesome said, "why don't you do a drawing series of the places you go swimming". The places I loved to go in London are the ladies' ponds on Hampstead Health, London Fields Lido and the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park.
Anytime I felt really low whilst living there, I would prescribe myself a week of daily swims in the ladies' pond, it would totally sort me out. Many tears have been shed in that water, as well as beautiful moments of solitude and belly laughter with friends.
There is a gorgeous willow tree that hangs over the water. The light reflects up from the surface and dazzles the trunk and underside of the leaves turning it into a little disco tree, such a treat to the weary soul. Impossible not to feel revived after such a playful show of life’s mini miracles.
I often feel like I don’t want to get in because it will be so cold. But after, I feel wholly rejuvenated - no longer in need of a lobotomy! It became an essential part of my London existence, and the only reason I could bear living in the big smoke.
It is my desire to celebrate the healing power and joy that spending time in nature brings to us, especially when fully immersed in an outdoor body of water. We all need to connect more to nature for our wellbeing and for the health of the planet, so even when we cannot get outside, having a visual representation of the spaces we love in our home helps keeps our wild nature alive.
I hope the paintings bring you, your family and your friends as much joy as they do me.