At the beginning of this year I set myself the goal that I'd hold my first exhibition.
My third is now looming. Say what?!
Following Cheltenham Open Studios in June, where I sold Ready For Take Off, it was open house at Tamsin Stuart Art headquarters (AKA our gaff) in August. This was a private view in its true sense and a lovely, relaxed evening where Flower Shower and Over There found new homes.
So it's all systems go for the next one, Paint, Punch and Positivity, to be held at Cheltenham Martial Arts, the place where one life-affirming experience led me to another.
It is so fitting as one of the main reasons I became a professional artist is down to the confidence and self-belief kickboxing and martial arts have given me. The mindset to be brave, harness the fear, step out of your comfort zone and go after what you want to get out of life.
Another is the ongoing support shown to me, not only by my family and friends, but also my martial arts instructors.
I've come to the conclusion that a lot of people have a creative desire burning inside them, be it writing a book, taking to the stage, cooking for a living, a secret something they harbour but feel unable to set free, because they haven't got the time or they're too apprehensive.
I definitely needed a nudge to take the leap into the unknown with my art but what scared me more was the thought of not doing it at all, always wondering what could have been and not living at my full potential. And that motivated me to at least try, come what may.
If you need that kick up the bum that I did I only hope you seek it out before your time is up so you have no regrets. But be warned, surrounding yourself with positive people who genuinely want you to succeed can seriously increase your happiness and take you places you never thought possible.
So yet again I find myself in a situation where I have to pinch myself. I often feel like I'm watching someone else's life play out as I talk about my latest commission or next exhibition. But hard work and motivation have got me this far and will keep driving me on because I have set my dream free and there's no putting it back in the box now.
And that's why I'm grasping every opportunity that comes my way with both hands. So I never look back and think if only I'd been a bit braver.
Surely we owe it to ourselves to pursue our passions and release our inner ambitions.
A solo show on this scale is a daunting prospect for me but the excitement and possibilities are stronger than the fear and fretting.
The team at Cheltenham Martial Arts have given me this fantastic opportunity to use their premises to showcase my work. Their ongoing support has spurred me on and I can't thank them enough.