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I was born in Reading, UK (1988) and pretty much came out the womb as an artist. Throughout school I always favoured the creative classes and other than receiving comments on my work like ‘nice drawings but you didn’t get round to writing because of too much talking’ or ‘good job but you have the potential to do better if you focus’ I never suspected ADHD as I flew under the radar with pretty good grades and no major problems. (Like most ADHD women)
I have a National Diploma in ‘Art & Design’ from Reading College which included painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, photography, pretty much anything creative, but after being introduced to creative film-making there, my new dream of being a famous film director was put in motion!
I went on to study a Bachelor’s degree in ‘Film & Digital Screen Arts’ where I indulged in writing and directing short films. For my graduation film I made a short film about anorexia and inadvertently healed a lot of my own body image issues, which planted a seed for me about how powerful creating can be as therapy.
I then spent 6 years in the Film & Television industry. I worked in production and then assistant director’s department as a floor runner and occasionally 3rd AD, sometimes also dabbling in locations, costume and art department. These 6 years were insane and magical, and also the downfall of my mental health. Working with a crew of 50 people for 6 months at a time, 6 days a week had it’s ups and downs. It was such a beautiful, deep and fulfilling experience to get so close with these people, and see each-other at our best and worst, working as a team, feeling like family. But these intense conditions don’t always bring out the best in people and the hierarchy and strict rules in place were stifling. Don’t talk unless spoken to by those above, don’t question authority, do whatever is asked of you no questions, no excuses, work overtime and drive 3 hours home whilst falling asleep and repeat the process again in 4 hours or loose your job and your reputation or be blacklisted from the industry.
I spent most of my time at the bottom of the ladder and my job was to be the peace maker and go-between all the departments. The cool skills I gained from this was learning to read people from all walks of life very quickly and learning how to adapt my language to get the best from and for everyone, mend conflict, put out fires and keep everyone happy. I was really good at this but it unfortunately it was at the cost of my own mental health.
Looking back, I can see how ADHD helped to fit into this world – good under high pressure situations, don’t need much sleep, different locations every day – no time to get bored! Strict schedules – minimal decision making, hyperactivity, endless supply of caffeine, great people skills… but the high pressure was so constant that I didn’t notice the anxiety, overwhelm, stress, burnout or over-sensitivity for a long time.
I took a break to go travelling and during these 6 months in South east Asia I started my own journey of healing and self reflection spending time in ‘the mindfulness project’ with talking circles, meditation and yoga, and 10 days in a buddhist monastery, meditating 12 hours a day, and I found my way back to art, writing and journalling. I found that with a new approach – using art as a form of self expression, drawing my feelings rather than trying to draw something in particular, I found a new passion for it again. When I was home I tried out a few film jobs again, to test the waters, but it confirmed my suspicions that for me personally, it was not worth the detriment to my mental well being again.
I then spontaneously ended up in Rostock, Germany to visit a friend and had a summer job making glitter tattoos in the street of this holiday town! Falling in love here meant that 7 years later I’m still here! It was being here in a different country and different culture, away from everything that felt familiar, that I reached my ‘tipping point’ and the biggest depression of my life hit, but it was also thanks to the health system in Germany and the support of my new friends and boyfriend, that I had the resources to start psychotherapy.
I was diagnosed first with PTSD and Bipolar 2 disorder, and then 6 months later with ADHD as-well. I’ve also been living with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition for years, (along with all the women in my family) and throughout the last 5 or 6 years I have worked with multiple psychotherapists, psychiatrists, hypnotherapists as well as doctors and physiotherapists for pain.
In that time I worked in body art, as a freelance artist, an art teacher and now I continue to make art from my studio. I studied online art therapy courses and have re-trained as an ADHD Life Coach. I run workshops called ‘ADHD Art Jam’ which is a cross between a support group and art workshop, creating a safe space for neuro-divergents and teaching them how to heal through arts & crafts.
Outside of work I love to travel, hike, go camping and spend lots of time in nature. I’m very passionate about reading and spending hours in old book shops, constantly buying and collecting new books and reading about 10 % of them, about 12 at a time, and sometimes finishing them. I dabble in some ukelele playing when my hyperfocus allows and I love to make illustrated stories in a dark nonsense style. I also love foraging, herbalism and learning about witches, magic and all things spiritual, spooky and mysterious.
My wish is to combine all my skills to help creatives and those in the film industry to work through their ADHD (or non ADHD) challenges and using art therapy approaches to support people in a creative and fun way towards finding their strengths, skills and growing their self awareness. For me, just making art for the sake of it was never fulfilling enough, I always felt the calling to help people in some way and I feel very passionate about using art in this way and empowering others to do the same.
The Long Version
The Short Version
(For those who just wanna get to the point!)
I’m an artist, art teacher and ADHD Coach from England, living in-between Germany and England, and my biggest passion is using art and creativity as a form of art therapy: for myself, and teaching others.
I studied art and film and worked in the film industry for 6 years before reaching a stress tipping point which led me to my diagnoses of ADHD, PTSD & bipolar. Once I learnt about my conditions, especially ADHD and the Brain, it changed my life and allowed me to start down a healing path. Learning about the reasons behind my symptoms helped me to eliminate self blame and now I want to help others in their own healing journey.
Hello! My name is Kayleigh and I’m an artist, art teacher and ADHD Life Coach with a lived experience of ADHD, PTSD & Bipolar 2, and I live in-between Germany and England.
The Short Version
(For those who just wanna get to the point!)
I’m an artist, art teacher and ADHD Coach from England, living in-between Germany and England, and my biggest passion is using art and creativity as a form of art therapy: for myself, and teaching others.
I studied art and film and worked in the film industry for 6 years before reaching a stress tipping point which led me to my diagnoses of ADHD, PTSD & bipolar. Once I learnt about my conditions, especially ADHD and the Brain, it changed my life and allowed me to start down a healing path. Learning about the reasons behind my symptoms helped me to eliminate self blame and now I want to help others in their own healing journey.
Hello! My name is Kayleigh and I’m an artist, art teacher and ADHD Life Coach with a lived experience of ADHD, PTSD & Bipolar 2, and I live in-between Germany and England.
The Long Version
I was born in Reading, UK (1988) and pretty much came out the womb as an artist. Throughout school I always favoured the creative classes and other than receiving comments on my work like ‘nice drawings but you didn’t get round to writing because of too much talking’ or ‘good job but you have the potential to do better if you focus’ I never suspected ADHD as I flew under the radar with pretty good grades and no major problems. (Like most ADHD women)
I have a National Diploma in ‘Art & Design’ from Reading College which included painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, photography, pretty much anything creative, but after being introduced to creative film-making there, my new dream of being a famous film director was put in motion!
I went on to study a Bachelor’s degree in ‘Film & Digital Screen Arts’ where I indulged in writing and directing short films. For my graduation film I made a short film about anorexia and inadvertently healed a lot of my own body image issues, which planted a seed for me about how powerful creating can be as therapy.
I then spent 6 years in the Film & Television industry. I worked in production and then assistant director’s department as a floor runner and occasionally 3rd AD, sometimes also dabbling in locations, costume and art department. These 6 years were insane and magical, and also the downfall of my mental health. Working with a crew of 50 people for 6 months at a time, 6 days a week had it’s ups and downs. It was such a beautiful, deep and fulfilling experience to get so close with these people, and see each-other at our best and worst, working as a team, feeling like family. But these intense conditions don’t always bring out the best in people and the hierarchy and strict rules in place were stifling. Don’t talk unless spoken to by those above, don’t question authority, do whatever is asked of you no questions, no excuses, work overtime and drive 3 hours home whilst falling asleep and repeat the process again in 4 hours or loose your job and your reputation or be blacklisted from the industry.
I spent most of my time at the bottom of the ladder and my job was to be the peace maker and go-between all the departments. The cool skills I gained from this was learning to read people from all walks of life very quickly and learning how to adapt my language to get the best from and for everyone, mend conflict, put out fires and keep everyone happy. I was really good at this but it unfortunately it was at the cost of my own mental health.
Looking back, I can see how ADHD helped to fit into this world – good under high pressure situations, don’t need much sleep, different locations every day – no time to get bored! Strict schedules – minimal decision making, hyperactivity, endless supply of caffeine, great people skills… but the high pressure was so constant that I didn’t notice the anxiety, overwhelm, stress, burnout or over-sensitivity for a long time.
I took a break to go travelling and during these 6 months in South east Asia I started my own journey of healing and self reflection spending time in ‘the mindfulness project’ with talking circles, meditation and yoga, and 10 days in a buddhist monastery, meditating 12 hours a day, and I found my way back to art, writing and journalling. I found that with a new approach – using art as a form of self expression, drawing my feelings rather than trying to draw something in particular, I found a new passion for it again. When I was home I tried out a few film jobs again, to test the waters, but it confirmed my suspicions that for me personally, it was not worth the detriment to my mental well being again.
I then spontaneously ended up in Rostock, Germany to visit a friend and had a summer job making glitter tattoos in the street of this holiday town! Falling in love here meant that 7 years later I’m still here! It was being here in a different country and different culture, away from everything that felt familiar, that I reached my ‘tipping point’ and the biggest depression of my life hit, but it was also thanks to the health system in Germany and the support of my new friends and boyfriend, that I had the resources to start psychotherapy.
I was diagnosed first with PTSD and Bipolar 2 disorder, and then 6 months later with ADHD as-well. I’ve also been living with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition for years, (along with all the women in my family) and throughout the last 5 or 6 years I have worked with multiple psychotherapists, psychiatrists, hypnotherapists as well as doctors and physiotherapists for pain.
In that time I worked in body art, as a freelance artist, an art teacher and now I continue to make art from my studio. I studied online art therapy courses and have re-trained as an ADHD Life Coach. I run workshops called ‘ADHD Art Jam’ which is a cross between a support group and art workshop, creating a safe space for neuro-divergents and teaching them how to heal through arts & crafts.
Outside of work I love to travel, hike, go camping and spend lots of time in nature. I’m very passionate about reading and spending hours in old book shops, constantly buying and collecting new books and reading about 10 % of them, about 12 at a time, and sometimes finishing them. I dabble in some ukelele playing when my hyperfocus allows and I love to make illustrated stories in a dark nonsense style. I also love foraging, herbalism and learning about witches, magic and all things spiritual, spooky and mysterious.
My wish is to combine all my skills to help creatives and those in the film industry to work through their ADHD (or non ADHD) challenges and using art therapy approaches to support people in a creative and fun way towards finding their strengths, skills and growing their self awareness. For me, just making art for the sake of it was never fulfilling enough, I always felt the calling to help people in some way and I feel very passionate about using art in this way and empowering others to do the same.
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