As the new year quickly gains momentum, it’s easy to be swept back into the noise and pace of everyday life. At the heart of Samantha’s art is a lasting commitment to the wellbeing that comes from nurturing a connection with nature - and particularly the coast.
Samantha's Story
Growing up in Southend, my connection to the coast has always shaped my life, nurtured from early childhood memories of running wild and watching insects, crabs, and jellyfish on the beach with quiet curiosity. I was always in awe of how, from the surface, the sea can appear mysterious - or even intimidating. However, underneath the surface, there lies a space of calm and unexpected joy.
When injury meant I could no longer run along the coast as I used to, art became my grounding outlet in order to escape anxiety. My painting of coastal wildlife nurtured my lifelong connection with the ocean and anchored me in that space, creating my own little ocean of calm and contentment.
My art not only anchors me but also enables remembrance; within my paintings, I can inscribe the depth of feeling that nature evokes in me; joy, clarity, and quiet wonder. The activity of painting is therapeutic, and yet the permanent result creates a constant reminder of my connection with the coast, and that no matter what I am facing in life, that beauty still exists, even in uncertain times.
This remembrance, and the power of my depth of feeling, is inscribed in my art through texture and bold colour. The space around my subjects evokes the expansive calm of the ocean, which contrasts with but also cradles the vivacious, vibrant, and sometimes unexpected sea creatures at the very centre of my art.
I am grounded in the fact that no matter how noisy my mind - or the fast-paced world around us - can get, my art is a visual anchor that grants me access to the calming sanctuary evoked by the ocean.
How And Why Should We Connect With Nature?
If you are interested in how nurturing a connection with nature can benefit your wellbeing, I would recommend The Science of Happiness podcast episode titled ‘The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife’. It includes a brilliant interview with environmental researcher Liz Lev, who spoke with a number of park visitors and found that carving out time to connect with wildlife both created a safe space for experiencing emotions and deepened connections with those who spent time in nature together.
Therefore, alongside the mental health benefits that the Wildlife Trust also emphasises in their blog - where they reflect that engaging with the natural world ‘helps you be more present and mindful’ - connecting with nature can also help nurture your relationships.
So, what are the different ways you can connect with nature? The WWF website features a lovely article that highlights various activities, from the more obvious options such as hiking and gardening to the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, also known as ‘forest bathing’.
Most relevantly, the WWF also notes that a key way to nurture this connection is through creative inspiration - whether that is ‘through painting’, as demonstrated by Samantha, or perhaps through 'drawing, crafting, photography, or writing. The possibilities are endless.'
Conclusion
All in all, there is a profound sense of calm and powerful reflection to be gained from reconnecting with nature. This is why Samantha paints wildlife: it anchors her in a grounding space where feelings are free from judgement and the noise of everyday life momentarily subsides.
Explore Samantha's collections.
Written and Edited by Erin Churchman and Samantha Frances
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