Women in Business Awards Night

Creative Woman of the Year: An Evening I’ll Never Forget

There are some moments in life that make you stop, take a breath and think, “How did I get here?”

For me, being named a finalist for Creative Woman of the Year at the Women in Business Awards 2026 was one of those moments.

I walked into the awards evening feeling incredibly proud, slightly overwhelmed and, if I’m honest, a little bit in disbelief.

Me. A finalist for Creative Woman of the Year.

It felt like a very long way from where my creative journey began.

From painting as an escape to being recognised as a creative businesswoman

For more than 20 years, painting has been part of my life.

It started as something I did for myself — a way to switch off, to be creative and to escape the pressures of everyday life. After spending so many years working in a demanding career, painting became my quiet space.

Something that was simply mine.

Over the years, that little creative outlet slowly grew into something much bigger.

I started sharing my work. I started selling paintings. I built my website. I created collections. I began to believe that perhaps this could become more than a hobby.

And eventually, I founded my own art business.

There have been plenty of moments of self-doubt along the way. Plenty of times I’ve wondered whether I’m being unrealistic by dreaming about becoming a full-time artist.

But I kept going.

So to find myself sitting at an awards evening surrounded by incredible women in business — and to know that someone had looked at what I was building and thought it deserved recognition — meant more than I can really put into words.

The most incredible evening

The awards evening itself was something very special.

There was such an amazing atmosphere from the moment we arrived. Everyone was dressed up, excited and perhaps a little nervous about what the evening would bring.

And then there were the women.

So many talented, ambitious, creative and inspiring women, each with their own story.

That was probably one of my favourite parts of the entire evening.

I had conversations with women from completely different industries and backgrounds, but there was something wonderfully familiar about so many of our stories.

The challenges.

The self-doubt.

The long hours.

The decision to take a chance on ourselves.

The juggling of business, family and life.

The determination to keep going even when things don’t always go according to plan.

It reminded me that behind every successful woman in that room was a story.

And I loved hearing them.

More than an award

Being nominated for Creative Woman of the Year wasn’t really about winning a trophy for me.

It was about recognition.

Recognition for the courage it takes to pursue something creative.

Recognition for taking an idea and turning it into a business.

Recognition for putting your work out into the world and allowing people to judge it.

And perhaps most importantly, recognition for believing in myself enough to try.

Because starting a creative business can feel incredibly vulnerable.

You’re putting something deeply personal into the world and hoping that somebody else will connect with it.

Every painting I create has a little piece of me in it.

Every collection represents hours of experimenting, learning, making mistakes and trying again.

And every sale, every new follower, every lovely message and every opportunity reminds me that this dream might actually be possible.

Finding my brave

One of the biggest things I’ve learned through building my art business is that you have to be willing to be brave.

Brave enough to try something new.

Brave enough to put yourself out there.

Brave enough to share the imperfect parts of the journey.

And brave enough to say:

“Actually, I think I might be capable of more than I thought.”

Surrounded by inspirational women

One of the things I will take away from the Women in Business Awards is just how powerful it is to be surrounded by women who are doing amazing things.

Women who have built businesses from the ground up.

Women who have completely changed careers.

Women who have overcome enormous challenges.

Women who are creating opportunities for other people.

Women who are quietly building something extraordinary.

And women who are still figuring it all out — just like me.

There was no sense that anyone had completely “made it”.

Instead, there was a real sense of encouragement.

Of cheering each other on.

Of celebrating each other’s achievements.

And I think that’s incredibly powerful.

Sometimes you don’t realise how much you need that kind of community until you’re standing in a room full of women who understand exactly what it feels like to take a risk on yourself.

So, did I win?

The short answer is…

It doesn’t really matter.

Of course, being named the winner would have been incredible.

But being a finalist for Creative Woman of the Year was already something I was incredibly proud of.

Because when I think about where I started, I realise just how far I’ve come.

From painting quietly in my spare time.

To building my own art business.

To creating collections.

To putting my work out into the world.

To dreaming about becoming a full-time artist.

And now finding myself nominated for a Women in Business Award.

That’s a pretty amazing journey.

And I don’t think I’m finished yet.

What’s next?

If there’s one thing this experience has given me, it’s an even bigger belief in what might be possible.

I’m still figuring out exactly where this journey will take me.

There are new collections I want to create.

New ideas I want to explore.

New people I want to collaborate with.

And, hopefully, one day, my first solo exhibition.

I’m still balancing my art business alongside my career and family life, and I know there will be plenty more challenges ahead.

But I’m learning not to be quite so afraid of them.

Because perhaps the point isn’t to know exactly where you’re going.

Perhaps it’s simply to be brave enough to take the next step.

So, to everyone who nominated me, supported my business, bought a painting, shared my work, followed along with my journey or simply sent me an encouraging message…

thank you.

You have no idea how much it means.

And to all of the incredible women I met at the Women in Business Awards — thank you for reminding me just how powerful women can be when we support and celebrate one another.

I arrived at the awards feeling proud to have been nominated.

I left feeling inspired to dream even bigger.

And I think that’s a pretty wonderful thing.

Here’s to taking chances, backing yourself, finding your brave and seeing just how far a dream can take you. 

— Jo x