Thatcham artist Sue Lee, who rediscovered her passion for painting during her battle with breast cancer, launched a month-long residency at Howarth’s Gallery in Newbury on Monday (September 15).
Every single penny from sales will go directly to Newbury Cancer Care, a charity providing practical support to local people living with cancer and life-threatening illnesses.
Owner of Howarth’s Gallery in London Road, artist Claire Howarth, said: “Sue’s work is bold, intricate and full of joy.
“It’s incredibly moving to see how her journey with cancer has been transformed into something so positive. We are very proud to host her first residency and to help raise funds for a cause that touches so many families locally – bigger charities are doing fantastic work, but we should never forget the smaller ones who are grafting at ground-level.”
Sue was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer after a routine check that she was invited to earlier than normal; while she could have put it off for another month or two, she decided to go ahead and book in to get it out of the way.
The diagnosis was shattering, and being an aggressive type of breast cancer, she received equally aggressive treatment, but she was incredibly thankful that she had found out early – and for the care she received.
It was during Sue’s treatment that she began painting again, creating vibrant hand-drawn, hand-painted, mandala-style pieces inspired by nature and different cultures. It was a creative escape from the mental and physical toll of the illness, but also the chemotherapy.
“It can leave you feeling really nauseous, weak and exhausted, and while I’m usually a very happy-go-lucky, positive person, it’s really hard to stay upbeat about these things all of the time – especially when you don’t feel well,” said Sue.
“I’ve always been drawn to bright colours – whether it’s in clothing, home décor, my nails, or hair accessories – I had lots of different coloured headscarves during my chemo journey.
“When I started painting, I used those colours deliberately. They lifted me when I was at my lowest, and I wanted to create work that could do the same for others. These pieces are about bringing joy and brightness into your home, even when life feels dark and heavy.”
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, with nearly 56,000 people diagnosed each year and around one in two patients reporting anxiety or depression during treatment.
Local services like Newbury Cancer Care play a vital role, offering free hospital transport for patients across West Berkshire, also helping with counselling, complementary therapies, coffee mornings for escapism, and respite care for families – you never know how much of a difference these things make until you need them yourself.
Sue said: “Cancer is a really scary illness, and it’s very taboo in a way, as nobody wants to talk about it – it makes it a very lonely situation if you don’t have a strong family network. You also can’t drive during treatment, so Newbury Cancer Cares free transport, where friendly volunteers pick you up and take you to treatment – really does mean the world.
“It’s for this reason that I really want to give something back to them. I couldn’t have been more grateful for their support.”
