To step into the world of Laura Stowers is to be engulfed by a collision of colour, motion, and exuberance. Her paintings do not sit still; they pulse, vibrate, insist on being felt. Spray paint drips slide into stencilled patterns, acrylics and oil pastels collide in a layered frenzy, and figures emerge from a backdrop of neon hearts and stars, as if mid-dance. Her work is at once structured and untamed—a visual playground where abstraction meets the raw energy of street art.
Stowers’ canvases evoke an ethos of celebration, an unfiltered embrace of self-expression that she describes as being “unapologetically yourself.” And unapologetic they are. Saturated hues—pinks that burn, blues that hum—radiate a warmth that feels both personal and universal, an insistence on joy even in the face of life’s messiness. Beneath the surface, there is a deliberate tension between form and improvisation: stencilled motifs impose order, while paint drips and erratic linework introduce an electric spontaneity.
Image courtesy of the artist
The beginning is my favourite part of painting; I start with a base layer, and I find it therapeutic to build from that
Laura Stowers
Yet, this is not chaos for its own sake. Stowers’ work is deeply personal, rooted in her own path of self-discovery. Her paintings serve as visual diaries, capturing moments of struggle, healing, and, ultimately, resilience. In her journey to sobriety, the act of creation has become not just an outlet but a means of survival. “Art is a wound turned into light,” Georges Braque once said, and in Stowers’ case, that light is both dazzling and defiant.
Originally trained in art and design, Stowers took a detour into finance—a path encouraged by family expectations. Years spent in the corporate world and raising two children eventually led her back to the studio, this time with unwavering commitment. Now based in London, she works as a full-time artist, her canvases finding homes in galleries and private collections.
But Stowers’ impact extends beyond the art world. In October 2024, she launched the #FeelItOnTheFirst campaign in collaboration with the Pink Ribbon Foundation and Women in Art, advocating for breast cancer awareness and urging women to perform regular self-checks. Her paintings, already infused with themes of empowerment and self-love, have become vehicles for something even greater—community, activism, and the radical act of visibility.
In a conversation with Stowers, we explore the intricacies of her process, the inspirations that drive her, and how, in an often chaotic world, she continues to paint with relentless, joyful conviction.
Your work is known for its vibrant colours and layered textures, each piece carrying a sense of depth and movement. Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you know when a piece has reached its final form?
Laura Stowers: I always have an idea in my mind. The beginning is my favourite part of painting; I start with a base layer, and I find it therapeutic to build from that. It is then a process—I add different layers before removing parts. I’ll consider how layers will look, whether they’re going to clash or not, and how it will all come together.
There’s a piece that I have been working on called Love Wins. I had done a sketch of what I wanted it to roughly look like, but I just didn’t know how the process would go beforehand. I wanted a noughts and crosses type design, but then the bit underneath is kind of free flow.
There is a feeling when it’s done for me, which is hard to explain, but you know when you want to give more, and you also know when to step back.
Emotion is at the core of your work – you’ve spoken about wanting viewers to “feel something” when they encounter it. How do you translate raw feeling onto the canvas in a way that resonates universally?
Laura Stowers: Typically, when somebody looks at a piece of art in a gallery, it might create an emotion in them. That can range from creating an emotion that moves them to buy a piece, or they may want to stay and look at it for a while longer.
When I paint, it is such an emotional process. I find it incredibly therapeutic, and if something is going on for me, then I need to paint it out. This emotional process makes it difficult to let go of some of my pieces—I become very attached! But I use ‘happy colours’ and have a ‘happy type’ of art, and I think that translates.
Outside of art on a canvas, I’m also expanding into campaigns, and that brings emotions to where people are. My last campaign, #YouMakeMyHeARTMelt, involved handing out free ice cream on the streets of London. I love that it will cause a reaction in that person and could make them smile, and I like the idea that a small gesture or moment could cheer them up.
Acrylic & spray paint on canvas
48in x 36in
Laura Stowers
Image courtesy of the artist
Your practice blends acrylics, oil pastels, spray paints, and markers, creating a layered and dynamic surface. What draws you to this multidisciplinary approach, and how does each medium serve the final composition?
Laura Stowers: The way I paint with many layers means I consider different colour combinations and how the piece will look once some layers are removed. I use different techniques together to create the final effect, working at speed in some sections to create those effects.
But it’s not just canvas I focus on, as lots of my art has expanded into different mediums, including partnerships and items such as playing cards with artwork, and things like my art-wrapped ice cream truck from my latest campaign.
Themes of identity, freedom, and self-discovery run through your work. How much of your own journey is embedded in what we see on the canvas?
Laura Stowers: My journey is inherent in what I create. I started out with a career in finance to fulfil my parents’ wishes, even though I’d studied art and design at school. I used to paint at home, and it really helped me through some of the emotional times, and it’s still what I turn to now.
Once I had my children, I got a studio and decided to pursue this full-time. It’s something I love, and I’ve been so lucky to have the freedom to do it. I’ve worked on it every single day, and my emotions and journey come through in every piece I create. I can always tell when I look at my work what emotion I felt as I worked on it.
Image courtesy of the artist
You describe your work as a celebration of being “unapologetically yourself.” Were there pivotal moments or artistic influences that shaped this perspective?
Laura Stowers: A real part of my journey that’s evident in my work too was getting sober, which became a pivotal moment for me. I was scared for a long time to show my work, and that was really what stopped me from getting a studio in the first place, but becoming sober helped me to make that jump. I painted with my door shut for a year and a half because I was so nervous about anyone seeing it.
When I stopped drinking, I learned a lot about myself, and I learned a lot about fear. I had spent a lot of my life in fear and worried about other people’s opinions, instead of just being authentic and true to myself. I’ve learnt that not everyone will like everything, and that’s ok.
Acrylic & spray paint on canvas
120cm x 90cm
Laura Stowers
Image courtesy of the artist
Beyond traditional canvases, your work extends into fashion, textiles, and everyday objects. Do you see this as an act of accessibility, or as a challenge to the exclusivity of the art world?
Laura Stowers: I want art to be accessible to everyone that otherwise might be intimidated to walk into a traditional gallery.
I always say, ‘life is art’. Everything can be seen as an act, from how a room is put together to how your outfit has been chosen. There’s an amazing quote I love by Helena Bonham Carter, and she says, ‘The way you dress, the way you speak, the way you write your shopping list, everything’s art.’ It’s an amazing quote, and it’s a really nice thing to live by if you’re able to.
For me and my art, it’s seen me move into different mediums, and last year, I think it all started with my campaign for International Women’s Day, which then led to beach towels and inflatables, and it’s gone from there! I’ve put art on all sorts of things—hair scrunchies, bottles, playing cards, and even now an ice cream truck. It’s a way of seeing art that can be everywhere.
Art should be accessible, and whilst that might mean canvases for collectors and galleries, there can also be ways to have art for others, including prints or items like a tote bag or a t-shirt.
Acrylic, leaf, spray paint on canvas
30 inches x 24 inches
Laura Stowers
Image courtesy of the artist
Your work balances chaos and structure, spontaneity and intention – a duality that feels both deliberate and instinctive. Do you see this philosophy extending beyond your art? How does it shape the way you navigate life and relationships?
Laura Stowers: I’m not always great with balance, so that contrast comes from who I am in life, not just on the canvas. For me, I’m passionate and intense, as well as creative, but I do try my best to find harmony.
I try to manage my home life, the kids, and my recovery. I attempt to keep it all in check, but there are moments when I’m not very good at it! I thrive on a bit of chaos, but I also need structure. I think this shows through in my art and my pieces because that’s where the magic really happens.
Laura Stowers
Image courtesy of the artist
You’ve collaborated with brands like Lady A Rosé and the Pink Ribbon Foundation, blending art with commercial and philanthropic spaces. Do you see these partnerships as an extension of your artistic vision, or do they exist in a separate realm?
Laura Stowers: I like exploring how my art can impact other things and other areas, and I found it incredibly powerful that my campaign with the Pink Ribbon Foundation was able to reach people who were looking at artwork in terms of breast cancer awareness. The fact that my artwork was helping raise awareness of such an important issue, and receiving so many messages from people, meant so much to me—that I could help in some small way.
My work with the Pink Ribbon Foundation originally came from meeting a woman who said to me, ‘I think it’d be great if you did a breast cancer campaign.’ We got Pink Ribbon involved, and they were so happy with it, and it was something that I’m so proud of.
With all of my work, including partnerships and even with the wine boxes for Lady A, it’s showing the many different forms of making artwork visible.
Acrylic & spray paint on canvas
48in x 36in
Laura Stowers
Image courtesy of the artist
There’s often tension between artistic integrity and commercial success. Have you ever had to navigate that space, and where do you draw the line?
Laura Stowers: I’ve been lucky in that I have not had negativity around my work, and it has always been received positively. I’ve worked with brands and campaigns that have had a positive impact, and I’ve always been so grateful to see the effect it has—even if it’s small.
Social media has reshaped how contemporary artists engage with audiences. Has digital culture influenced your creative journey, and if so, in what ways?
Laura Stowers: I like being able to share my art widely, and social media is a big part of that. It really has helped with feeling connected and creating connections with people that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.
Image courtesy of the artist
Your artistic path has been anything but linear. Looking ahead, where do you see your work in the next five years?
Laura Stowers: I see it continuing as it is now—tapping into emotions and creating pieces that change how people feel. I’d like to keep expanding into different mediums, not just being on canvas, and see where that takes me.
If there’s one lasting impression you hope your art leaves, what would it be?
Laura Stowers: I suppose I want to leave people with a sense of emotion, and ideally, happiness from the art that I create.
©2025 Laura Stowers
Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.
