Having lived in multiple countries before settling in Woodford, artist Nataly Kenny reflects on the connection she now has with the local environment
I was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where I fell in love with drawing and painting during my secondary school years. Family life and moving countries a number of times in my twenties and thirties, however, meant I did not have the opportunity or head-space to touch a pencil or a brush again for around 38 years.
I eventually settled in England and now live in Woodford with my family. I fell in love with the local area the moment we walked down Snakes Lane East towards our new home 17 years ago. My emotional connection to the area has only grown stronger over the years, having experienced the nature on our doorstep not only through my own eyes and heart but through those of my now late mother, my beloved husband, my daughter and my grandchildren.
I began to paint again after my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The pain of watching her rapidly deteriorate was too strong and I needed to release it somehow, so I tentatively started to experiment with drawing and painting.
The one silver lining of my mother’s disease was that she loved going for walks around the local area, and the one thing she did not rapidly lose was her love of nature. Those walks with my mother kept me relatively sane during those difficult times and also opened my eyes to the beauty of our local park – Ray Park – and the path that runs along the River Roding behind it. And since my grandchildren were born, the local parks and wilder pockets of Epping Forest, including Wanstead Park, have been like a second home to my whole family!
Every flower, creature and scene in the local parks and along the river and forest paths – their vibrant colours and textures – have inspired me greatly and shaped me as an artist.
At first, I was a lone wolf, but over time, as I slowly recovered from losing my mother to Alzheimer’s, I longed to join the local artistic and wider community. So, in 2023, I joined Art Group Wanstead and Essex Art Club and have since formed friendships with some wonderful artists. We have exhibited together and supported each other during exhibitions in Wanstead Park and Wanstead House, Hawkey Hall, Epping Forest Visitor Centre and, most recently, a fayre at Eton Manor RFC. I love the welcoming atmosphere of these events and getting to know the local community.
It is a blessing and a privilege to live on the doorstep of Epping Forest and I love painting it! The beauty of it is everywhere; we just need to look up and see it.
To view more of Nataly’s artwork, visit, natalykennyfineart.com
