Half way through chemo

It feels like a great milestone!

I writing this from the Oncology ward at Cheltenham Hospital whilst I receive my 4th infusion of chemo treatment, with 4 more to go. I have a course radiotherapy to follow but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Chemo brings with it an uncertainty of how your body is going to react and when that will happen. Of course I’m a few in now and I’ve got a sense of the patterns emerging and with that a slow growing confidence of how to manage my days.

Reaching the halfway point has brought a surprising sense of momentum. My body is tired, yes—but I’ve painted through it, sketched through it, and shared more of the process than I ever thought I might. What’s emerging is not just resilience, but a deeper trust in slow creativity.

Sketch With Sam — A Place to Create Together

This is the heart of what I hope to grow: a gentle, welcoming space where we sketch together every two weeks. It’s called Sketch with Sam and it's for anyone who finds peace and purpose in picking up a pencil. Whether you're rebuilding a creative habit or just looking for a little time that’s yours, you’re so welcome.
We sketch not to impress, but to express. To support each other. To improve, yes—but more than that, to reconnect with the joy of looking closely and making marks. Our first sketch together is bright, chirpy and colourful - the theme is “Party Parrots”!

This is a new session starting Wednesday 7th May 2025 at 7pm on Zoom and every-other Wednesday thereafter with occasional breaks. It's a gentle 1 hour fortnightly drawing practice to support our creativity with prompts, stories and a space to draw together.

Prepare ahead of each session by gathering your favourite art materials, take a look at the references attached in the extra information when you join Patreon. I'll be mixing it up with sketchbooks, loose cartridge paper, inks, coloured pencils, neo-pastles, gouache, charcoal - basically mixing all up like a bit experiment! It doesn't matter what you have, use what you have and I'm sure as the weeks go on we will chat about materials that we all love and inspire one another.

You can join here if that sounds like something your creativity needs.

I Finished My Lion

Another creative milestone: my Lions at Large sculpture is complete. Painting that lion was a meaningful process—symbolic, hopeful, and at times unexpectedly emotional especially when I added the cracks. I can’t wait for you to meet him out in the wild this summer, part of a beautiful trail raising money for cancer care. I’ll share the launch date and extra information with you very soon! It’s gonna be in time for the summer holidays!

New Vlog — Chemo at Halfway, Rooftop Bath & Studio Reset

And finally, I’ve just uploaded a new vlog. It’s all about those quiet moments of observation—the in-between spaces where inspiration often hides. This one’s especially close to my heart, as it captures how I’m navigating creativity through treatment: gently, honestly, and with space for whimsy.

Watch Artist Vlog - Chemo at Halfway, Rooftop Bath Sketch & Studio Reset

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Thank you, as always, for being here.
For reading, sharing, sketching, supporting.
It all matters.

Here’s to quiet moments, wild ideas, and finding strength in the middle.

With love,
Sam x