The Story Behind 'Strength from Within'

Back in 2024, I created a 100cm x 100cm acrylic painting titled Strength from Within for my solo show, PAINtings, at Peterborough Museum. This body of work explored themes of mental health, vulnerability, and inner resilience. Out of all the pieces in that exhibition, Strength from Within stood out as a personal favourite.

There was something about the balance it struck between realism and abstraction that felt just right. The piercing blue eye in the portrait seemed to look straight through you—intense, defiant, yet calm. I received a lot of positive feedback throughout the run of the show, with many visitors sharing how deeply it resonated with them.

So I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed when it didn’t sell.

When Art Doesn’t Sell (At First)

After packing down the show, I moved into my new Peterborough-based studio—a fresh space filled with potential, but also the lingering question every artist quietly carries: Will this piece ever find a home?

One of the most surreal aspects of being an artist is learning to live in that space between creation and recognition. It’s easy to doubt yourself when something you poured your soul into sits silently, waiting. But one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that success in the art world isn’t always immediate. Sometimes, it's about showing up consistently, putting your work out there, and having faith that the right people will eventually see it.

How Consistency Opens Doors

Staying active and connected as an artist—online, offline, in conversations, and communities—often creates opportunities where you least expect them. In this case, it came in the form of an email.

It was from the husband of an artist I’m connected with on Facebook. He explained that they run a gallery in Hamburg, Germany, called Antikult, and that they’d love to showcase my work. Axel, the gallery owner, said he wanted to start by exhibiting Strength from Within. He even offered to organise collection and shipping.

That message changed everything. The painting was finally going somewhere new—and it wasn’t just anywhere, it was going international.

The Art of Shipping Art (and Not Freaking Out)

Axel provided a detailed packing method they’ve used many times before, and I carefully wrapped the painting according to his instructions. DHLexpress picked it up, and the tracking began.

Three days later, I got the message I was hoping for: the painting had arrived in Hamburg in perfect condition. Panic over.

With that relief, I got back to painting and, to be honest, I pushed it to the back of my mind. I’ve learned that the best way to stay sane as an artist is to keep moving forward.

A Surprise Email – It Sold!

Just under a month after its arrival, I received an email from Antikult: Strength from Within had sold. That moment of quiet belief paid off.

After all that time sitting unsold back home, it found its buyer in a completely different country, thanks to connections, persistence, and a little serendipity. And now there’s talk of Antikult featuring my work at an art fair in Hamburg this November—an opportunity to get even more eyes on my paintings.

How to Sell Art Internationally: What This Taught Me

This whole journey reaffirmed something I try to hold onto: selling art isn’t about chasing quick wins—it’s about building momentum. If you’re wondering how to sell art internationally, it begins with showing up and keeping faith in your voice and vision.

Sometimes the hardest part of being an artist isn’t creating the work—it’s keeping the belief alive when nothing seems to be happening. You can feel like you’re shouting into a void. But every post you make, every painting you finish, every connection you nurture—that’s groundwork. That’s the long game.

There’s no telling which piece will resonate with someone in Berlin, New York, or Tokyo. But it will—if it’s out there.

Keep Showing Up

It's difficult to explain to someone outside the creative world just how much patience, determination, and inner belief is needed to keep going when the results don’t come instantly. But for those of us making art, it’s a way of life. The silence doesn’t mean failure. It just means the right person hasn’t seen it yet.

Strength from Within found its way into the world and, in doing so, reminded me that it’s not about how fast something sells—it’s about where it ends up and what doors it opens.

Keep painting. Keep sharing. Keep turning up. With consistency comes reward—even if it takes a little longer than you'd hoped.