How Wiktoria Found Freedom Through Art

From Law to Watercolour: How Wiktoria Found Freedom Through Art

For five years, Wiktoria Anna built a successful career in the legal industry after earning her master’s in law and graduating in 2018. But by 2023, she realised that being a solicitor was no longer where her heart lay. “It was too stressful, and I just knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do,” she reflected. So, she made the brave decision to step away from law entirely and pursue her passion for art and creativity.

The transition to self-employment took Wiktoria on a journey. She spent her first year focusing on selling her artwork but quickly found that it wasn’t enough to provide her with a reliable income. To diversify her income and connect with others, she began teaching art classes at local rented spaces. That shift not only reignited her creativity but also transformed her business.

“Teaching really changed things for me,” she explained. “It helped me grow as an artist and as a business owner.”

Alongside her classes, Wiktoria continued to sell her artwork and developed her own watercolour kits, giving learners the chance to keep painting at home. Each kit includes an eBook written by Wiktoria herself, guiding beginners through the principles of watercolour painting. “Before, people would come to my workshops, use my materials, and then have nothing to paint with afterwards,” she said. “Now, they can take the experience home and keep creating.”

Her monthly workshops quickly became known for their relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, with all materials, refreshments and professional-grade supplies included. But it was a chance encounter on Instagram that would help take her next big step.

After seeing an advert for FIRST on Instagram, Wiktoria decided to enrol on the Level Two Business Course to strengthen her existing business foundations. The programme gave her the space to refine her strategy, explore new growth opportunities and connect with other entrepreneurs on similar journeys.

Through FIRST, Wiktoria gained a deeper understanding of how to structure and grow her business and even found the courage to launch a new type of art event - one where participants paint freely without step-by-step instruction. What started as an experiment is now a weekly fixture, held every Wednesday, attracting a growing community of creatives.

Her progress didn’t go unnoticed. In 2025, Wiktoria was named a finalist at Startup Awards North East in the Startup category - a milestone she describes as both “scary and empowering.”

“The pitching practice we did in our final Level Two session at FIRST really helped me,” she said. “When it came time to pitch on stage, I already knew what I wanted to say.”

Looking ahead, Wiktoria’s ambition is clear: to secure a permanent space dedicated to creativity and connection. “I want to create a welcoming studio where people can paint, learn and feel part of a supportive artistic community,” she said.

Today, through her business Wiktoria Anna Art, she helps people fall in love with watercolour painting through beginner-friendly classes, creative events and take-home kits designed to make painting joyful and unintimidating. What began as a single workshop has grown into a thriving creative enterprise that helps people slow down and rediscover their creativity.

Wiktoria is now developing online classes to reach even more people and continues to build towards her dream of a permanent creative space - one brushstroke at a time.

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