How This Artist Went from Self-Doubt to Becoming an Art Star I Fhionna McGeechan

At Arts to Hearts Project, we’ve always believed that some stories can only be told through art through colour, movement, and emotion that words alone can’t quite hold. This month, we’re thrilled to celebrate an artist whose journey feels both deeply personal and universally moving. Our Art Star of November, Fhionna McGeechan, brings honesty, courage, and tenderness into every painting she creates.

Fhionna grew up in a small mining village outside Glasgow, surrounded by creativity long before she knew what it would mean for her own life. Her father a stone mason with the soul of a poet taught her to slow down, to “look up,” to notice the beauty carved into old buildings and the stories held in ordinary places. Her mother opened the world of theatre and galleries to her, planting a quiet love for art that would return years later in the most unexpected way.

Today, Fhionna paints from the west coast of Scotland, where sunsets spill over the sea and inspire the colours that fill her canvases. Her process is gentle, intuitive, and rooted in feeling. She doesn’t plan her work in advance; instead, she follows whatever emotion rises first. A splash of colour becomes a beginning, a mark becomes a direction, and soon the painting takes on a life of its own. Some days are full of flow. Others bring doubt. But even in those moments, painting remains a place where she can breathe, reflect, and simply be herself.

Her art carries the depth of someone who has lived through profound change. After facing a major health crisis, Fhionna turned to painting not just as a creative outlet, but as a way to stay close to the beauty of life. This experience didn’t make her work darker, it made it fuller, richer, more honest. Every piece holds a sense of love, gratitude, and presence. She paints not to impress, but to express to create something that feels alive.

What makes her work even more special is how open she is to interpretation. She loves when viewers see something she didn’t expect, when their imagination adds new meaning to a piece. For her, that exchange is the magic of art. It’s a reminder that creativity isn’t one-sided it grows through connection.

Though she only began painting a few years ago, Fhionna stepped bravely into the global art community, even while carrying the natural fears of being “new.” And yet, her courage has opened doors, bringing her into a world of fellow creators who see the heart, skill, and spirit in her work. Being recognised as an Art Star is a celebration of her talent, but also of the bravery it takes to share your story with others.

Today, we’re honoured to highlight not just Fhionna’s art, but the life, love, and resilience behind it. Her journey reminds us that creativity often begins in the quietest places and grows into something powerful when we allow ourselves to feel deeply and create freely.

Let’s step into Fhionna’s world, its colours, its tenderness, and its hope and explore the creative path that shapes her work.

Q1. Can you tell us a little about where you grew up and how your upbringing shaped your interest in art?  

I grew up in a mining village on the outskirts of Glasgow. My father was a stone mason, to trade, but also a wonderful poet. He was always making something, whether painting or writing or shaping sandstone into gargoyles. Whenever I was out, as a child, and young adult, my dad would always tell me to remember to “look up” so I didn’t miss the art of the stonework on centuries-old buildings. My mum took me to the theatre and art galleries, from a young age, too. I was very lucky.

Q2. Many of your works seem to carry emotional weight or personal symbolism: how much of your inner world goes into a painting, and how do you decide what to reveal and what to leave hidden? 

Good question. Yes, a lot of ‘myself’ goes into my art but it can be difficult, at times, to just go with the flow. Sometimes the image I have in my head doesn’t match up to the end result, on the canvas. But that’s part of the fun, I think, and not a bad thing. I’m always learning new techniques, but I also learn new things about myself; as I paint. Some days I just can’t seem to ‘feel’ good about what I’m painting (at that particular time) and put the canvas aside for a while. I’m not terribly sure that I do ‘decide’ what I should reveal or hide. It feels more like a spontaneous process, without much planning, if that makes sense?

Q3. When you begin a new piece, how does the idea come to life? What inspires you and what does your creative process look like from first thought to finished work?  

I’m very much inspired by nature. Particularly sunsets. I live on the edge of a beach, on the west coast of Scotland, now, and the sunsets are magnificent. I’m not terribly good at drawing so I tend not to map or plan a canvas, in terms of drawing my idea out. I do make marks on the canvas but there’s no grand scheme, to start me off. It can be as simple as making a few colourful splashes and working up from there. I can see an image in my head, that I guess guides me, to make those first marks, but after that a painting grows its own legs and arms, as it were. The finishing polish is most often the easiest part of the process but one which takes the longest time; creating shadows, lines, shapes, to add definition to the colours beneath.

Q4. You turned to art after a major health crisis. How did that experience shape what you want your art to say or feel like?

Another great question. I did, yes. I’ve always been ‘artistic’ in some way. I trained as a florist, and also as a display artist, before I went to university, so I’ve always been creative. But the diagnosis of terminal cancer, paired with the beautiful countryside and sea, where I live, spurred me on to try new forms of creativity. I want my art to have ‘heart.’ I want the viewer to feel something when they look at it. I need it to have depth; not just to look pretty, or use bright colours, for example. I guess it’s a cliché to say that learning of a terminal illness brings you closer to loving life, but I can’t think of another way to say it. I want to express that feeling of love in my art

Q5. Have there been moments of doubt, fear, or hesitation in your journey as an artist, especially given how raw or personal your work can be? If so, how did you navigate them?

Blimey, yes. It can feel scary to share my art with other people; in case of rejection, I guess. There can sometimes be that nagging doubt that my art is not good enough for others to enjoy. When that happens, I just paint for myself, my own enjoyment and/or stress relief. It can take the pressure off. But I’m lucky to have friends and family who will give me their honest opinion, about my work, should they get to see it lol.

Q6. How did you find your creative style, what mediums, subjects or approaches felt most natural to you at first, and how have they evolved?  

I tried watercolour first, which nearly put me off painting. It was so difficult. I really admire those that have mastered it. I’ve never tried oil painting but I know that it takes ages to dry and I’m too impatient for that lol. Acrylic paint quickly became my favourite medium. It’s easy to manipulate, it dries very quickly and can be painted over (if need be) and blended really well; which is what I love most about it. From there I started to include the use of acrylic pens in my work. I love the outlines they create but they can also be smudged and manipulated. I very much drawn to multi media, these days. This adds a whole new level of creativity and imagination to my work, I think.

Q7. How do you respond when viewers interpret your work differently than you intended does that change how you view the piece?  

I love it lol. That’s what it’s all about. I love engaging people’s imagination. It also makes me look at my own work differently, which I enjoy. Different reactions fuel my passion to create. It’s always wonderful and interesting to hear other’s opinions about what’s ’going on’ in the work. It adds another dimension I may not have thought of.

Q8. What advice would you give to artists who are just beginning, especially those grappling with doubt, pain, or uncertainty about whether their voice matters? 

Just enjoy yourself. Paint for yourself. Don’t paint for an audience. That can come later. Be as messy as you want. Experiment. Learn what the paint does on the brushes you choose to use, on your hands, on household items. Anything, really. Art is about expression and it doesn’t matter, at the end of the day, if you think it will win prizes or make you famous. As long as you get something out of it, then it’s worth doing.

Q9. Congratulations on being featured as an Art Star by The Arts to Hearts Project! What does a recognition like this mean to you personally, and how do you feel it supports or impacts your growth as an artist?  

Thank you so much. It feels awesome to realise that people enjoy my art. Taking part in your project has meant the world to me. It’s wonderful to see other, international, artists work, too. It makes me feel part of a huge community of creative souls. Painting can feel like a lonely pastime. I must admit, I felt a little scared, entering my art, but I’m so glad that I did. I’ve only been painting for about three years, so I’m still a ‘young’ artist, myself. Being published and supported by The Arts to Hearts Project, seeing professional feedback on my artwork, helps me gain the confidence to develop my skill.

Fhionna’s journey reminds us that creativity is shaped by resilience, curiosity, and the courage to keep creating even when things feel uncertain. Her work invites us to feel rather than analyse, to slow down and truly see, and to remember that beauty can rise from places we never expected.

Her story also shows how art can become a companion through change—a space to breathe, to reflect, and to stay connected to what matters most. In every canvas she creates, there is a quiet reminder that even small moments of expression can open doors to healing, joy, and discovery.

As we close this feature, we hope her journey encourages you to trust your instincts, honour your emotions, and keep showing up for your own creativity. There is power in simply beginning. There is magic in continuing. And there is always room in the world for art made with heart.

We are truly honoured to celebrate Fhionna as our Art Star of November. Her courage, her voice, and her commitment to creating from a place of truth are exactly what this recognition stands for. She deserves every bit of this spotlight, and we cannot wait to see how her journey continues to unfold.

To stay connected with her world and watch her beautiful path evolve, be sure to follow Fhionna and support the work she continues to share.