Kent, England, United Kingdom
About the Fine Artist
Kenyan born of British parentage on Mvita the 'Island of War', known to anyone who has holidayed on the East African coast as ‘Mombasa’, Sonia Hayes’ interest in wildlife and the natural world became her passion early on in life. As one of the youngest of five siblings, she spent her younger years on frequent camping trips to Tsavo (East and West) and Amboseli National Parks developing a natural eye to detail by ‘spotting’ cleverly camouflaged exotic birdlife and the elusive lion or leopard.
With the privilege of living on the intense white crunchy coral sands of Nyali beach, Sonia would accompany her father and older brother on marine tank ‘fishing trips’; not in the conventional sense of fishing but in a dinghy with transparent portholes on the floor, safely anchored over beautiful coral outcrops she’d watch as they chose and caught exquisitely coloured fish with small nets to add to one of the three marine tanks which were centre pieces in the living room.
In her formative years, when the family moved to Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, Sonia’s artistic talents were developed in the classroom which finally led to her studying Fine Art at University. Here she studied painting and drawing, greedily lapping up the history of all the great artists, architecture and culture of Europe coupled with her passionate love of African cultural art. Being raised near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) meant that family holidays were spent between the coastal Game Reserves and Kruger National Park. It was also of huge benefit when she completed her studies to be able to visit family in the UK and Italy; as well as travel around Africa to more remote locations like Zimbabwe, Lokichoggio (Kenya), South Sudan, Botswana and Zanzibar to visually explore different African landscapes and cultures in person.
On completion of her degree, Sonia began her working life as a full time artist and then managing an Art Gallery at a Butterfly Farm in Pietermaritzburg, KZN. Following this, she moved into Interior Design and within 18 months she was running her own Sonia Hayes Interiors business providing stunning upgrades and expert advice, to clients in the Corporate and Private sectors.
Motivated by a family member’s terminal illness, Sonia relocated from South Africa to Tunbridge Wells (UK) in 2018 where she continued with her Interior Design and Decorating career until Covid-19 Lockdown in 2020. During that time, in the confines of home, she reignited her passion for Art using her talent to brightly paint the outside world and her nostalgia of Africa.
Over the past two years Sonia’s life turned on its head with a diagnosis of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) which was triggered by being involved in an abusive and controlling relationship, the diagnosis of Cancer in late 2021 and the sudden loss of ten of her close friends and colleagues (through COVID 19, other health issues and horrific car accidents).
Whilst she was already eating a healthy diet, a vegetarian from nine years old, Sonia made changes to her everyday lifestyle in order to stabilise her personal health and wellbeing. With a daily commitment to comforting her inner peace and soul through meditation, art and prayer, Sonia began exploring Art on Purpose; whereby she would be painting the unconscious and conscious triggers of C-PTSD which expanded her already varied Art styles and subject matter by incorporating intuitive, inner child work which has helped her to evolve personally and artistically.
The conception of Soul Comfort 365 was initiated when Sonia realised, through her own journey back to recovery and balance, that she would be able to offer help to others battling on a similar path of mental stress through the freedom of Art.
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