Breathe

After last year’s COVID hit paint at the Cheltenham Paint Festival, I was thrilled to return, but my experience was a mix of highs and lows, offering a tale of two very different stories.

On the bright side, I absolutely loved ‘Breathe’ the painting I created this year. The rough wall surface challenged me, but it pushed me to work more freehand, and I feel I overcame those challenges. The final piece turned out even better than I had hoped, filled with expression, energy, and spirit.

However, the festival atmosphere wasn’t the same. I was placed in a remote Cheltenham football ground location with just one other artist, Grafoflarge . The vibrant energy and social buzz that I usually associate with the Cheltenham Paint Festival were absent. Being so far removed from the main action took away the joy of the event, making it feel isolated and less fun.

It’s unfortunate that the location dampened what is usually one of my favorite weekends of the year. Street art thrives on community and connection, and I hope future festivals can bring back that sense of shared creativity and energy.