Knowing When to Walk Away

One of the hardest lessons I've learned as an artist is that not everything you try will become a success, and that's perfectly ok.

At the beginning of this year I displayed a collection of my mini artworks in a lovely independent shop in Leeds city centre. It was a wonderful experience. The owners were incredibly supportive, my work was beautifully displayed, and it was exciting to see my paintings in a different setting.

But after giving it time, I had to be honest with myself.

It simply wasn't making enough sales to justify continuing.

Making that decision wasn't about failure. It was about recognising that time, energy and money are all valuable resources when you're running a creative business. Sometimes something can be enjoyable, professionally rewarding and full of lovely people, but still not be the right fit for your business.

As creatives, we often feel that once we've started something we should keep going. In reality, knowing when to step away is just as important as knowing when to say yes.

Every experience teaches us something. This one reminded me that I want to focus my energy on the places where my work connects with collectors and where I can continue building my own business. It also gave me confidence to trust my instincts and make decisions based on what will help me grow in the long term.

Not everything has to last forever to have been worthwhile.

Sometimes the best step forward is letting go of something that no longer serves your goals, making room for opportunities that do.

I'm grateful for the experience, the support I received, and everything I learned. It wasn't the right path for me financially—but it was still a positive chapter in my journey.

And I think that's an important reminder for all of us: success isn't about never changing direction. Sometimes, success is simply having the courage to.