Every artist was sent a parcel containing a canvas panel sprayed with the feint beginnings of a VW camper van image to decorate or create a work as they wished. I was working to a tight deadline so I opted to use acrylics for their quicker drying times. I often paint with acrylics and, because I love the layering qualities of the paint, I often use it for my abstract artworks that you can see here.

I started by making a rough drawing of a van and layering on colour. I wanted to portray the feeling of peace and tranquility I had experienced in the Schwarzwald forests on my recent camping trip to Germany, as the only time my mind is at rest is when wandering through the woods, listening to the creatures and admiring the warm light of the evening sun glinting through the trees.

But as is often the way with paintings, it just wasn’t working out and I took the big risk of destroying 3 days worth of work by sanding the whole lot back to leave a ghost of the image. The image above shows all the ugly stages of the painting! This create-and-destroy process is pretty normal for me and is often a necessary step in the development of the image I ultimately want to create.

I drew a new van over the top, that was a little smaller than the template, so I could include more of the plants and trees around it, which helped capture the right mood. I then spent a very meditative 5 hours carefully painting this version and feel I have captured the essence of the idea of seclusion and disappearing into the woods. The Germans call it waldeinsamkeit and it is the enlightened, sublime feeling that can come from being alone in the woods

I have called my Samirivan painting ‘Stealth Camper’ and it features the word ‘Shoosh’ on the van, to link in with my desire for peace and quiet in nature. I wanted the van to look like it had been in the woods a long time, but still lived in, perhaps by someone who has opted out of the rat race and is enjoying a simpler life in nature.

In our society, even today, mental health is still something that is not spoken about enough and the provision for help and treatment on the NHS is severely lacking with many waiting lists being years long. Often people with mental health problems are left feeling alone and out of options, so organisations like the Samaritans, that provide a free and non-judgemental service are a much needed resource.