2026 Spring Recap

2026 Spring Recap

I have been attempting to be more mindful and aware of life as it passes, and yet this year has flown and somehow is already halfway through! So I thought it was high time I collected together some things that have happened so far. You'll notice I'm not including much from January and February, and this is because those early months I find I'm still processing the year before and my body is in winter mode. I always feel like the year really gets started in spring, when the days finally begin to brighten and the sap rises.

Start of the year: hibernating and learning

This year started out with resolutions, changes to adapt to and a new mindset. I was lucky enough to get some business support and access to some marketing training in January, so I began with my head deep in the books, trying to formalise the self taught strategies and various processes I repeat annually into a more traditional business plan. Anyone who knows me, or who has any form of neurodivergence, will know this is by no means a simple task! I learned a lot and improved my routines, but I also know that I'll never have a pristine schedule or easy to follow 5 year plan. Neither my brain nor my profession are suited to these things, and I just have to use the tools that work while they suit me.

However, I have learned to value that difference, because without the unique structure of my brain, I also wouldn't be able to create the artwork I do. I might not be a marketing machine, but the best business people can't necessarily see the world the way I do. So I'm practising being glad about who I am and how I work, and focusing on working with my nervous system instead of following the traditional patriarchal capitalist patterns.

March

RECLAIM YOUR POWER Confidence Workshop & Connecting Conversations for Women

In addition to the business and marketing learning, I began this year to break out of my comfort zone with a bit more networking. Networking has never come naturally to me, and this is worsened by the naturally solitary lifestyle of an artist, so this was a big challenge. The most joyful and enduring of these connections has been with the Creative Women Stockport group, a new collective striving to empower and give voice to the women of Stockport in all their creative stripes with monthly talks, workshops, celebrations and collaborative events. One particularly powerful event was a confidence and connection workshop in March, led by comedian Kerry Leigh, where I met even more artists, musicians and makers and we were encouraged to take up space and use our skills and creativity to be our most genuine selves. This was later followed in May with a creative mindset and confidence workshop, which also helped shape how I approach my work and self talk.

 

a pencil and chalk drawing on grey paper of a woman in her late 80s slightly smiling to the camera

Meanwhile, over winter I had been slowly germinating a project idea inspired by my grandmother. I began painting her portrait as a personal tribute, but in the process I found myself meditating on the complexities of identity and beauty in society, and how age can make women invisible. I decided this idea was too big for just one painting, and began to plan how I could paint portraits of more older people. I started talking and bouncing ideas with my networks, and slowly the seed of the idea grew...

 

 

The first sketch I drew of my grandmother, in 2023 after we took pictures for her new disabled badge.

April

Things got busier in April, beginning with me being invited to take part in a Creative Conversations event hosted by Creative Women Stockport. I was not at all certain about taking part, as I'm not a natural public speaker, and I'm often struck down by imposter syndrome. It's also not easy to speak openly about something so personal as art making and the struggles one faces by taking an alternative career path.

photo of three people in a panel speaking to an audience in front of a screen featuring Sophie Hall Artist's logo and work examples

But the lovely Sally McFerran and my fellow conversationalists made it easy, and suddenly I was speaking about my work and creativity in front of crowd of creative women with ease, like I was just having a chat with friends. It turns out that when you find a community of like minded people, the things that seemed impossible and scary get much easier.

In conversation at Creative Women Stockport event in Stockroom, April 2026

A pencil sketch of an older woman looking to the left of the paper. a pencil and eraser rest on the sketchbook.
I also had the confidence after this to ask the same creative network for help in finding models for my portrait idea. I was delighted to discover that many were inspired by the concept and began to suggest relatives as models. It was through this that I met a wonderful woman called Nora who allowed me to conduct a photoshoot in her home as we chatted about her life. After a period of ill health her daughter had been looking for something to interest Nora and take her out of her shell. I later learned that from our conversation about singing (we both had been members of choirs in the same place) she decided to return to her choir and start singing again. If nothing else ever comes of my project, this seemingly small achievement will always be a win in my book! 
I soon started drawing out my favourites from the photos (picture right) with the intention of developing a new oil portrait.

May

Another opportunity came along from being part of a network of creatives: the chance to take part in some group coaching hosted by Sandi Marshall of the Potting Shed. This process has been really enlightening and valuable for me in connecting with why and how I make my work. It's so easy to forget the reasons I chose this path in my life, and I've never before examined the specifics of where my creativity comes from and how to best encourage it. It's also been invaluable to spend time talking honestly with other artistic women about the struggles they face and to see how much we have in common. I'm really excited to see where this process takes me next!

Perhaps inspired by these sessions, or maybe just the warmth of spring, I started making more work around this time. I had begun developing my portrait of Nora, including gridding up onto canvas, but I seemed to have more in the well. A detailed painting of a clump of forget-me-not blue flowers above a dark green blurry backgroundOne day when I should have been working on marketing, I took a walk in my local green space to reset my head. Along the way I snapped a few pictures of wild flowers and weeds, thinking about how to capture these joyful bursts of colour. On my return was so inspired I ditched the admin and started painting the intricate details of a tiny forget-me-not cluster hovering above a green jumble of leaves. The process was so engaging and meditative that I didn't eat much that day (I don't advise this!) but the result was exactly what I had pictured on my walk.  detailed painting of a pink herb robert flower by Sophie Hall with a blurry dark green backgroundThis experience was an object lesson in the values of following the dopamine, and of the benefits of a good walk when one is stressed. Following this painting I started collecting more images of wild and possibly unwanted flowers, with the idea of painting a short series on gardening vs wilding. So far I've just completed one other painting, of a tiny Herb Robert flower, but hope to have more on the way soon.


June

By June my portrait painting was coming along nicely, as was the creative coaching, and I was beginning to gain confidence in myself and my ideas. I had been sharing my portrait painting methods online, partly as a record for myself but also as a bit of education for any interested followers. My time was generally short due to gardening commitments and my involvement in a One Act Play festival, but the opportunity arose to find some more potential models for the project, thanks to fellow coaching participant Becky. We met at her mum's accommodation and played games with a lovely collection of residents, who between rounds of uno and cups of tea were gracious enough to let me photograph them. I'll soon have more portraits to work on!

realistic oil painting portrait by Sophie Hall of an older woman with short grey hair, looking to the left, with a blue backgroundAlso encouraged by my coaching group I decided to enter the first portrait of my ongoing project into the Stockport Open Exhibition. With my grandma's permission I submitted the now completed oil portrait of her and titled it "Blue Badge Renewal", in honour of the original photos we took which inspired the painting. You can see the painting in person at Stockport War Memorial and Art Gallery until the end of August - look out for A79! I chose not to include a sale price as I'd like the painting to feature in an exhibition of the full collection, when it's created. I don't know yet whether that will be a solo show or a collaborative venture, but I'm excited to make progress.

Blue Badge Renewal (2026) Oil Painting, 45x60cm 

What's next?

I've got various plans in motion to further my main project, including applying for some funding which will allow me more time to focus on the work. I'm also hoping to offer some workshops for my models and their communities as a thank you, which is another thing which will need funds. I'm still collecting models too, so if you know a women over 70 who would be interested in having their photo taken get in touch!

As for upcoming events, I've booked to host some markets again, after taking a few years off from this side of the business. I'll be hosting a stall on Adlington Walk in Stockport centre on the 8th August from 10-4 as part of the Creative Women Takeover in Stockroom. Then later in the year I'm taking part in the Stretford Arts and Crafts Fair at Stretford Public Hall on 22nd November from 10-4. I'm hoping to get a few more events in motion so keep an eye on my socials!
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1 comment

What a few months! So glad to have met you and I am joyous in seeing all your massive achievements. Be proud x

Becky Field

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