May 7th 2024.
Amanda Hayler has always had a deep connection with art. From a young age, she found joy in drawing various subjects such as cats, castles, trees, and princesses. As she grew older, she even considered pursuing a career as a medical illustrator. However, it wasn't until she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 47 that she truly made art a central part of her life.
In 2003, Amanda had been diagnosed with primary breast cancer, but her main focus was on being there for her young children. It wasn't until nine years later, when her cancer returned and spread, that she realized there was no cure and the possibility of her passing away became very real. In order to process her emotions and find an escape from the harsh reality, Amanda turned to art.
Creating art became a reason for Amanda to keep living. She started with art journaling, writing down her feelings and then using layers of paint and collage to turn them into pieces of art. This helped her cope with her emotions and find a sense of sanity in the midst of all the chaos.
It was during this time that Amanda discovered her signature style - bright, colorful, and whimsical houses. Her art is full of life and joy, whether it's her unique houses or beautiful landscapes inspired by the area she lives in. Color plays a crucial role in her work, stemming from her love for combining different shades and shapes. She carefully plans out her color palette for each piece, especially when using watercolors, to prevent ending up with a muddy mess. Her go-to colors are magenta, turquoise, and orange yellow, as she finds them to be uplifting.
In 2021, Amanda moved to Stranraer and finally gained the confidence to showcase her art publicly. She now considers it her full-time occupation and works mostly with watercolor and pen. Her studio, a converted caravan named Gertie, is a bold and colorful space that her husband helped renovate for her.
Amanda's studio, Gertie, is her happy place where she can get into "the zone" without any distractions. She loves having all her art supplies easily accessible and being able to leave her workspace in a mess without having to clean up at the end of the day.
This year, Amanda will be showcasing her work at the Spring Fling exhibition in Dumfries and Galloway. She hopes that her art will bring a sense of joy and happiness to those who see it and make them smile. To learn more about Amanda and her work, visit www.spring-fling.co.uk.
Join us at Spring Fling to experience Amanda's colorful and whimsical art for yourself from 25-27 May. And don't forget to subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field and discover more from our Life With series.
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