MAGAZINE
t s i t r a
Meet the
Abby Browne is a local artist who finds inspiration from the beauty in our world…
When people purchase a work of art they often wonder
(Asperger’s) late in life. Being autistic, I believe, has gifted me
about the person behind it, because every artist has a story.
with my artistic abilities as I seem able to focus on attention to detail and observe patterns in life everywhere I look.”
For Abby Browne, an artist based in Hawarden, her story is
Abby’s paintings are said to be passionate, romantic and
one of challenges and, more importantly, how she overcame
atmospheric.
them. “My hope is that the viewer takes something positive away “I have been painting since a young child, preferring
from viewing my paintings while also allowing a subjective
to create than connect with my peers,” reflects Abby.
experience in regard to the work. I would dearly hope the
“Something I was to realise in later life stemmed from my
viewer will connect with the emotion I attempt to portray in a
being on the Autistic spectrum. Most of my adult years have
piece and thus to feel a part of that painting. If I can achieve
been lost in addiction to alcohol. I used alcohol as a tool, in an
this, then I believe the painting has served its purpose.”
attempt to fix me, to fit in with others, as I felt so different, and suffered from extreme social anxiety. My work, at times,
While Abby’s early work stemmed from her lack of
will show a darkness due to the despair I felt within this
understanding and fear of her autism, leading to her artwork
illness. In February 2020 I went into a rehab for my addiction
portraying a sense of darkness, sadness and pain, her latest
which changed my whole outlook on life through a 12-step
paintings are focused on the beauty in the world around us.
program of recovery. Incidentally, it is also where I met the
“Art is a never-ending discovery, and I seem drawn to
love of my life, my partner, who worked there at the time, is
perceiving the beauty in our world, beauty we can too often
also in recovery, a photographer and who has been my rock
miss while contending with our busy lives – a smile, a flower
in a storm.”
– then sharing it with others,” she says. “I use art to express my emotions. Art is beauty of freedom. Free expression
Today Abby creates emotional interpretations of art from
of human mind and senses. I would hope my art inspires
themes and experiences of her life.
people, touches their souls and brings as much joy and connectedness to them as I feel while creating the piece.” n
“I have always known I have difficulty expressing my emotions verbally and much prefer to express them on
You can find out more about Abby at abbybrowne.art, as
canvas,” she continues. “I was diagnosed with Autism
well as view the latest work that she has for sale
NWM 2021 Page 43
