I am Natalie Mills, but for as long as I can remember people have called me ‘Millsy’. I grew up in Birmingham but moved to London in 1995 to study BA Hons in Fine Art at The Byam Shaw School of Art, graduating in 1998. in 2022 I moved back to Birmingham.

 

In the 15 years after graduating I never so much as picked up a paintbrush. Life got in the way! But 8 or so years ago I started painting once again.

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My work documents a very personal journey, a therapeutic reconnection with art. After not painting for so long the initial phase was quite daunting. 

 

My titles are generally quite poignant to what is happening in my life at the time or experiences I’ve had that are still fresh in my memory and my every day journey to try and process them. A lot of my work, I suppose, symbolises turning something good from the sometimes challenging.

 

As I progressed creatively I became freer, worrying less, learning to look at things differently; a mirror to that point in my life in general. It was then I actually started to enjoy the process of painting again.

 

‘What’s the Worst That Can Happen?’ Mistakes are inevitable; and we learn from them. If it doesn’t work first time, you can start again or try something else and go back to it later. This has given me a lot of creative and personal freedom. Everything happens for a reason.

 

"You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens" - Unknown

 

My works are about being spontaneous and freeing the mind in the process. About paint movement and the unknown. About allowing the paint to flow and take a life of its own. Almost 'Accidental'. About investigation and behaviours. 

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My newer pieces further explore the juxtaposition of fear and freedom; embracing change, honesty and new beginnings.  They are colourful, vibrant and hopefully thought provoking, which would be unique to every individual viewing them as everybody see's things differently.

They are all part of a story from within; my story and yours.

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“Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it” – Danny Kaye (1911-1987)