'Picking up paintbrush helped my burnout recovery'

A woman who only picked up her paintbrushes again after "burning out" with stress said she was "shocked and overjoyed" to be named Lancashire Artist of the Year.

Kathryn Olley, from Lytham St Annes, said her deep love for painting and the arts emerged and developed while at school, and she went on to study graphic design.

Now 43, she said she had not painted for many years before returning to it after speaking with her doctor about "emotional and physical burnout as a result of chronic stress".

Kathyrn has since enrolled at the London Art College and exhibited her work in Blackpool, at both the Grundy Art Gallery and Hive Arts for International Women’s Day.

Kathryn said art had helped turn her life around after a period of feeling "completely exhausted, emotionally drained".

She said life's stresses really began to take their toll about 18 months ago, which led to her seeking professional help for emotional and physical burnout as a result of chronic stress.

"I felt completely exhausted, emotionally drained and this in turn was triggering my arthritis with painful flare ups," she said.

"I was no longer my usual self, I knew I could no longer carry on feeling like this so reached out for help."

She explained: "My GP asked me one simple question: ‘What did you enjoy most as a child?’ The answer was immediate - art.

"From that moment, I picked up a paintbrush and haven’t stopped since.

"Art has truly changed my outlook on life and have recently come to learn that art or any creative activity can play a significant role in managing anxiety and stress by providing emotional expression, mental distraction, and therapeutic benefits."

For the Lancashire Artist of the Year awards, members of the public were asked to vote for their favourite pieces from each of the four seasons.

They were hugely impressed by Kathryn's depiction of Blackpool Tower on a summer's day, with a stunning golden sky being reflected in the sea below.

Kathryn said she was "incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for me – your support means the world".

"This recognition celebrates not just my own journey, but all the talented artists across Lancashire," she added.

Kathryn's winning entry, Beautiful Blackpool, will grace the front cover of a special calendar for 2025 that will also include work from 11 other local artists.

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