Manx Artist Says Creating Art Helped Her Rebuild Life After Chronic Illness

A Manx artist has said the process of creating art slowly helped her reconnect with herself while recovering from a long and debilitating illness.

Bethany Williams, from Douglas, is currently exhibiting her work in London in a show titled This Wild, Achingly, Beautiful Place. The exhibition draws directly from her personal experience of illness, recovery and emotional renewal.

Williams was first diagnosed in 2013 with new daily persistent headache, a rare condition that causes constant and often severe head and facial pain. Although her symptoms later went into remission, the illness returned in 2022 in a more aggressive form, leaving her largely bedbound and forcing her to step away from everyday life.

She said the return of the condition was both physically and mentally overwhelming. During that period, she began creating art at a slower pace, without pressure or expectation. Over time, the creative process became a way to reconnect with her sense of identity and purpose.

Williams described the exhibition as deeply personal, calling it a reflection on the land that supported her, the pain that reshaped her, and the person she became through that experience. Many of the works explore themes of fragility, endurance and quiet strength, shaped by months of isolation and recovery.

The exhibition is being shown at Bethlem Gallery, a space known for showcasing artists whose work engages with mental and physical health. Gallery organisers said Williams’ work resonates with many people navigating long term illness or recovery.

Williams hopes the exhibition will encourage others facing chronic conditions to find their own paths back to themselves, whether through art or other forms of expression. She said creativity did not cure her illness, but it helped her rebuild a sense of self that illness had taken away.