What were you doing before the Artist's Way? What was your life like?

I had always known that I wanted to be an artist, even as a child, but somewhere between leaving school and graduating from university I decided that I probably wasn't going to be able to make ends meet in that sort of a career path . After I graduated from university, I spent a few years doing a 'proper' job working in marketing but there was always something missing and one day I woke up and decided - to hell with it - I'd give it a go. So I was about at that point when I read the Artist's Way.

How did you come across the Artist's Way?

I was actually eight months pregnant with my daughter when my mum recommended that I read the Artist's Way (she is an accomplished textile artist). I was feeling down in the dumps (as you do with a 42 inch waist and swollen ankles) and not sure how I was going to cope with juggling being a mother and an artist. 

Did it sit on the shelf or did you dive in straight away?

I read it straight away and got started. And somehow the inspiration and creative development just flowed. I've produced so much work since that point it's unbelievable. 

What is your life like post Artist's Way?

Since reading the Artist's Way I have been a founding member for the Abu Dhabi arts collective "Fanaan" and we have staged several successful shows together. I've also been part of numerous other group shows across the UAE and I had my first solo last November - at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi - and I have another solo scheduled for September 2011 in Dubai. I also have growing number of loyal collectors who now follow my work and buy from me regularly, which is fantastic.

In terms of my work's evolution, I could never have envisaged when I started this journey I would even get to the stage I am at now but, on the other hand, I feel like I'm only at the beginning. I pretty much live and breathe art at the moment which is just a tremendous relief knowing that I could have been very unhappy if I had continued doing something else. I should point out that my early career in marketing was not without use as it has given me some invaluable tools which I couldn't do without when it comes to promoting myself in the right manner.

What Artist Way philosophy or technique do you still use?

I write the "morning pages" almost daily. I find them central to my creative process now so I think I will always use them. I never really had time to do the artist dates but maybe one day when my daughter is older and things aren't so hectic! I often go back and have a look over the chapters every now and again to remind me of some of the tools.

Would you recommend it?

Without reservation. It has been a massive catalyst in inspiring me and providing common sense advice on how to get my art career up and running. It's not a book you can just read through and then shelve. It is a book you need to, and should, delve back into often so as to benefit from the many nuggets of wisdom and advice that may be relevant to you as an artist at that particular time.