Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Goodenough

Hi Sharon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

It all started with a brush, water and a magic painting book!

Like most children drawing, painting and creativity touched my daily life and as this continued into my teens I chose to study art and photography. On entering the workplace my first role was a photographer’s assistant, followed by a photographic technician then later a make-up artist. By my early twenties and in order to support myself, I moved into sales in the financial services sector, where I remained for many years. Although unfulfilled, I enjoyed the interaction with clients, I picked up some incredible life skills and built my resilience around knock backs and no’s!

In my early thirties and with a little more freedom timewise, I enrolled in a Diploma of Higher Education – Fine Art. This pathway covered a range of subjects including painting, printmaking and art history. I absolutely loved it and on completion I was offered a fine art degree course however at this point I was pregnant and with the overwhelm of a challenging conception (ICSI), a body pumped with hormones and incredibly strong maternal yearning, I threw myself into motherhood full-time.

By the time my son started school, my creativity was rekindled, prompting me to enrol in various courses, including life drawing and interior design and by 2017, I received personalised tutoring from an established professional artist with a focus on land and seascapes in oils. This marked a turning point, as my art found its voice and began to resonate with others. With the onset of lockdown, I seized the opportunity to paint full-time, I showed my work regularly on social platforms and exhibited through a gallery in Madrid who also represented my work internationally.

Navigating the complexities of managing a small business, establishing myself in the art world, and marketing was daunting. Being constantly bombarded by platforms to sell your work, exhibit your work, find your brand identity, print on demand and numerous other avenues, I needed help and it was time to truly invest in myself. With a huge nudge from my husband, I found the “solution magnet,” in Jessica Hughes Fine Art. Jess is an incredible visibility coach and spiritual leader. She has helped me to overcome my limiting beliefs, scarcity mindset and lack of self-worth, which has not only positively impacted my business it has also rippled out into the rest of my life. Now, fully loaded with tools for a healthy mindset and a regular exercise regime I get to be part of an incredible group of female, creative entrepreneurs and we share our wins, challenges, and ideas on visibility and business in our weekly calls.

In line with my newfound insights on visibility, I now say “yes” to new opportunities, I’ve had several articles published about my journey to becoming a full-time artist, and this year I’m thrilled to share that, I was honoured to be recognised by Premier Magazine as a “Woman to Watch 2024.”

Additionally, I am now a 2x #1 International Bestselling Author! Co-authoring these remarkable books, part of The Creative Lifebook Series, offer perspectives, conversations, and wisdom from over 100 thought leaders, experts, artists, coaches, and heart-led entrepreneurs. “Radical Freedom” was launched on 08/08/24 and has achieved #1 bestseller in 4 x countries and in #15 categories, we are truly grateful and blown away by this outcome.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Overcoming several limiting beliefs has been my greatest challenge. I know that with the right thoughts you can put your mind to anything and so thankfully, with pure determination, my husband’s support and some insightful reset coaching, I’ve worked incredibly hard to dismantle as many of these barriers as possible. This journey is ongoing, but simply recognising these limitations in the first place has been a revelation. Every time a new opportunity pushes me out of my comfort zone, I begin the work anew, embracing the process with renewed strength and a touch of nervousness, fully aware that it will ultimately lead to growth.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I am a British fine artist and author, specialising in marine artwork and nature. As an artist I’m fascinated by the never-ending shifts in the natural world and I thrive on change. As most things in our lives are temporary, the light, the weather, the ebb and flow of the sea, I aim to capture the fleeting moment and suspend it in time. Once I have edited the image for composition and colour, I then sketch it out loosely on the canvas in charcoal or diluted paint. As the layers of oil paint are applied the painting comes to life. It’s then the energy of the overall composition I am interested in.

Numerous international galleries have expressed interest in my work, and I currently exhibit locally. In May I was invited to showcase my seascapes at the Mangusta Super-yacht Launch in Soho, London, an event that beautifully aligns with my vision going forward.

As I’ve transitioned from not displaying my work at all to being represented both overseas and in the UK, my confidence and mindset have transformed. What I’m most proud of is this journey, from being invisible to becoming visible and embracing this profound shift. Understanding exactly how this feels and realising that I am a catalyst for creativity, I am now exploring ways to use this experience to serve others.

Connect with me here – https://www.shzstudioart.com/ as I continue to grow my practice, offering insights and inspiration on thriving as an artist with painting classes also opening up soon.
Join my community to stay updated on my latest collections, exhibitions, and collaborative projects.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?

A heartfelt thank you to my husband for his unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in me. His steadfast support has nurtured my confidence and empowered me to invest time, energy, and resources into myself and my art practice. My very close friends have cheered me on continuously and been there with thought provoking and supportive feedback as different aspects of my business unfold. And to my inspirational mentor, Jess Hughes for her palpable love, support and guidance, always delivered with a mindset of abundance within our soulful community, Jess leads us towards taking those bold leaps and creating a life on our terms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shzstudioart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonstudioart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHZstudioArt

Image Credits

Brand Photos by Abi Moore.

https://www.instagram.com/brandphotosbyabimoore/