Roz Findley

Roz Findley is a self-taught artist driven by a lifelong need to create. Drawing on her diverse background in holistic therapy, fashion, and beauty, her paintings are often led by her dreams, and centre around the evolving female figure as reflections of femininity and change.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a self-taught artist; I just kind of go with whatever. I’ve got a background in holistic therapy – aromatherapy, Reiki, massage – and I’ve also worked on the beauty side of things as well. I’ve done makeup artistry, image consultancy, and bridal and fashion consultancy. I left school at the age of 14 and went into an apprenticeship. I knew what I wanted to do – it had to have something creative. I couldn’t be someone who sat in an office.

Have you always been interested in art?

I’ve always dabbled in art, but I never really had the time to pursue it properly. I’ve always been making things though – crafting, sewing, designing clothes – there’s always been that creative side to me.

There was a period where I was off my feet for a whole year after breaking both my heels. I couldn’t really get out of bed, so I returned to art. That time was a turning point for me. It’s a bit Frida Kahlo, isn’t it?

Who are some of your inspirations?

A lot of my inspiration comes from great women – Frida Kahlo and Lee Miller in particular.

Frida Kahlo has always been important to me. Her work tells a story – her life, her pain, her strength. I went to the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the V&A and it was incredible. I admire her energy, her power, and her voice. She’s become such an important feminist figure. Many of these women had tragic lives, but they grew into something powerful.

Growing up, I loved David Bowie as well. He was such an inspiration – the costumes, the look, the wackiness. He just expressed what he wanted to be, and he kept evolving. I’m always searching for new inspirations.

How would you describe your style of work?

It’s very free. It’s about putting what I feel onto the paper. I’d love it to be more detailed sometimes, but what matters most is whether I can get the emotion across. I’ve learned that nothing is perfect – life isn’t perfect, so why should art be?

What are some of the meanings or ideas behind your work?

There’s often a female figure. I think the woman in the work is always evolving. She takes on different roles, and each role reflects a part of her personality. As you move through life, different parts of you come forward – mother, daughter, self – and the emotions change with each stage. There’s an up and down to it all, and each time you have to evolve and move into a new space.

A lot of the imagery comes to me in dreams. I’ll wake myself up in the night and write everything down, and, recently, I’ve been relying on my dreams more as a source of inspiration.

So, is femininity an anchor in your work right now?

Yes, I think it is. Femininity feels very strong in my work at the moment. I’m becoming more aware of the different stages women go through. My daughters are now mothers, and I see them differently. I have grandchildren, too. It’s amazing to watch how women evolve over time.

Do you think your work as a therapist feeds into your art?

Definitely. Being a therapist makes you so open to emotion. You learn how to sit with emotions and understand them. I worked as a therapist from the age of 15 until about 16 years ago, when I decided to change direction. But that part of me never leaves. It means I’m open to different inspirations and emotions that come through, rather than shutting them out.

What’s your hope for your future as an artist?

I just want to keep making and to continue enjoying that process, and see where it takes me. It’s already taken me on a journey, with ups and downs, but it’s been a good one. I’m happy to keep going and see where it leads.

Roz’s work will be displayed in The Broadway Gallery from Thursday 5 March