Abby is an artist based in beautiful North Wales, in the United Kingdom. That part of the world offers her a place of tranquility and serenity, allowing her to focus on her fabulous artwork.
She is 43-years old, resides with her partner, three children (two sons ages 18 and 8, and a daughter who’s 5 years old), and two cats, with an odd squirrel thrown into the mix for chaos’s sake. Abby has been painting since a young child, as she says now, “it was used as a way for her to express her creativity, sparing her from having to connect with peers.
This is a powerful quote from Abby, “Most of my adult years have been lost in addiction to alcohol. I used alcohol as a tool, in an attempt to fix me, to fit in with others, as I felt so different, and suffered from extreme social anxiety.
My artwork, at times, will show darkness due to the despair I felt within this illness. In February 2020, I went into rehab for my addiction which changed my whole outlook on life through a 12-step program of recovery. Incidentally, it is also where I met the love of my life, my partner, who worked there at the time, is also in recovery, a photographer and who has been my rock in a storm.”
Abby was diagnosed with autism at 40-years of age and then learned her 8-year old son is also autistic. She believes suppressed emotions and trauma, along with our anxieties and unprocessed life experiences, are the source of all that leads to compulsive and destructive behaviors, as a way for releasing pressures.
Adding to the stresses and anxieties, she was disfellowshipped from the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination at 16-years of age.
Abby attributes her sobriety to the 6-week rehab and her membership in AA, restoring relationships with her children that she was close to losing and setting her free from insanity and suicidal thoughts.
One of her favorite quotes is from Pablo Picasso, “Art washes from the Soul, the dust of everyday life.”
Her amazing art and other information about her journey can be found on her website: https://abbybrowne.art
acourageousrecovery.com