My Story

My creativity stems from an early age when my Dad used to take me to the library, I started to write poetry and play music.

In my twenties I had two boys a young family and was working full-time in IT, exciting times we were adding the internet onto our computer network!

But in my early thirties everything changed... I became ill. it felt like my life was on pause.

I needed to focus the little energy I had on my family but also needed something for myself.

So I started to paint, at the same time I set up 'Made Specially' a local craft group for the MS Society, here I passed on my love of all things creative.

It was where I learnt to teach. I'd take what I learnt to the group. I told them I'd just been to the library but they didn't believe me! 😂

'I aim to help people see everyday nature in a new way, through detail and colour.'

Following this, despite continuing ill health, I decided to do a creative degree with the OU this gave me a greater understanding of how to be creative.

I took music and creative writing (not art!) I loved it but realised that music wasn't where my passions lay and to be honest there were times when I was so ill I couldn't practice.

I did it! I think it took me seven or eight years but I was a proud owner of a BA (Hons) Humanities Degree with Creative Writing and Music. I was so proud to have managed this.

Debbie Chatfield Art

By this time the children were grown up and I had started to paint again, I mean a lot! This time I was much better at it and I loved it..

I realised that the observations and creativity I had learnt during my degree transferred to new art skills. I started to play and experiment with acrylic and new techniques, others asked me to show them how and once I had a few people asking I decided to run one class. I was worried it would affect my health - it did but for the better!

So in 2016 Debbie Chatfield Art was born. At the time I worked from village halls. At home my third bedroom became an art studio!

It wasn't until 2021 that we converted our garage into my current art studio, you can see it in the video below where I talk workspaces...

'My work starts with a small detail that catches my eye, then I let intuition guide the direction of the painting.'


My Current Art Studio

Art Hub Community

I now have beautiful grandchildren and it is important to me to balance work and family. My health has improved a lot but occasionally it still trips me up. Lockdown was hard, I lost students but it showed me there could be another way I could share what I know online.

And for me sharing is the most important thing about my art, I am trying to connect the wonders of life through my work and that connection includes sharing what I do as well as what I paint.

So what my illness taught me was to observe and appreciate life way more, it's what I want for you too. During the very poorly times I couldn't get out so the outdoors means a lot to me and the more I painted the more I realised the little things are so important and I want to capture not just the moments, it's why they are important.. It's the power of connection.

For those of you who want to paint I want to share the joy of capturing a moment in life with you too.

'I love zooming in on tiny patterns in nature and turning them into art.'

I believe everyone is creative and want to share this with you.

Ask any child they will say they can paint, they are already artists but somewhere we lose ourselves. We lose the ability to tap into the joy of it.

If you have always wanted to be an artist, then do it... ask me I'll point you in the right direction.

But if you simply want to experience the joy of the wonder's of life on a canvas then this is what I truly share. I want you to benefit from my experience.

The illness made me appreciate life, connection and how precious that is. So what I share on canvas is my view of the little moments, the connections we have with nature, what makes me feel truly alive and I love it!

I want to bring those energising connections into your life to bring you that feeling of joy and wonder that nature offers... I want to bring the outside in!

Art Alchemy Podcast

We started Art Alchemy in 2024 and the series ran for a whole year, we ended the season with a couple of interviews with other creatives.

Doing the Podcast with my co-host has been an amazing experience as we have realised just how much our values coincide and our ambitions to reach out to other people creatively and make authentic art. It was this that has rapidly led us both to the next stage of our journey which was setting up the Art Hub Community in August 2024.

If you want to catch our Podcast click on the button below, series 1 can be found on video on Spotify and audio on all Podcast channels.

Season 2 was recorded live and is now also complete, here are both seasons on my YouTube channel. The second season will be out on Spotify soon.

We are currently taking a break before season 3 but you can stay in touch with us with the odd live in our Facebook Group Art Hub, you can find out more or join us by clicking HERE.

Or watch the playlist on YouTube...

Art Alchemy Playlist - YouTube