Hayley Crossley

Growing up my mother always got me involved with her art pieces, we would always be painting and creating together. From a young age I always had a passion for the world of art. It was always a positive part of my childhood. Creating has always been therapeutic to me in the hardest/darkest of times. Its my comfort. When I paint I grow attached to my artwork, as if the painting is coming to life with each brush stroke. That’s why I’ve always wanted to paint on a bigger scale to show people my feelings and passion. Art is how I express myself and how I view this world. I want to bring those feelings of joy and happiness to people who view my murals, just like I do.

 

My journey with murals started about seven years back, but it wasn't an instant "aha" moment. I dabbled in murals here and there, but it wasn't until the pandemic hit that I realized how much I craved art in my life. I was stuck in a dead-end job that sucked the joy out of everything, and it was time for a change. That's when I took my passion seriously and decided to follow my heart.

 

The turning point came when I got the chance to create my first major public mural. It was nerve-wracking, a "make" or "break" moment. But it turned out to be the breakthrough I needed to fully embrace this colourful path.

Facing a massive 65' wide by 35' tall wall was thrilling and terrifying, a lot went into getting that wall and executing it. Getting my working at heights, learning to drive a boom lift, and conquering my fear of heights, but it taught me so much about resilience and pushing boundaries. I'm just an ordinary person with an extraordinary love for art, and that mural became a testament to what's possible when you put your heart and soul into something!