Art By Vanessa has literally been Keeping the Hearts in Hertfordshire. Her business card is a heart bookmark!

Thanks to the Chamber, Vanessa joined us at the Wellbeing Conference back in October 2021 and encouraged delegates to make one with her. Through her engagement, she subsequently secured several clients:

• Optima-Life (World Record-Holding Paper Plane challenge and Heart Bookmark in-person)

• Hertfordshire Constabulary (World Record-Holding Paper Plane challenge and Draw a Cartoon Emu in-person)

• Huunuu Ltd (Draw a Cartoon Emu online)

• Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust (Botanical Zentangle Art online).

In 2015, psychologist and art therapist Dr Cathy Malchiodi cited multiple studies confirming that being creative can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and even improve immune system functioning.

A 2016 study in The Journal of Positive Psychology supported these findings, concluding that “spending time on creative goals during a day is associated with higher activated positive affect (PA) on that day."

PA is the extent to which people experience positive moods, such as joy, happiness, and optimism. A higher PA lowers stress and “expands our perspective so that we notice more possibilities in our lives,” wellness coach Elizabeth Scott says.

Vanessa is also a member of our Entrepreneur Foundation, joining in January 2022, and is being supported by this amazing programme. She has met with Jeremy Bishop and Colin Spiller who endorsed Vanessa’s dream of bringing creative activities to companies to bolster positive team cultures and in turn, a well workforce.

Vanessa is a volunteer with Age UK Dacorum and is also supporting The Blue Tangerine charity for young SEND students.