At least that’s what happened to landscape artist, Cathy Wagstaff, as she drove with her husband to the cancer unit at Ninewells Hospital. What they saw gave her a new perspective on art and life.

Cathy Wagstaff is a French-born landscape artist that has developed a reputation for the quality of her interpretation of Scottish landscapes and seascapes. She has always loved working with colour and light to build incredibly atmospheric canvasses that she hopes have the power to lift the mood of the viewer.

This essential emotional attribute of her work became even more important when her husband, Stuart, was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Art has long been recognised as a very effective way to handle stress and anxiety but, for Cathy, it was about to become an integral part of how her and her husband managed his treatment and built hope for the future. All because of a long and worry-ridden journey between their home and the hospital.

Stuart began his treatment in the autumn of 2022, which meant that there were regular trips to Dundee. Often the appointments were either early in the morning or at the end of the day so the couple had to get going at the crack of dawn or travel back late at night. But, what should have been the most horrible of experiences would actually have an incredibly positive impact on Cathy’s artistic direction.

“It was the sunrises and sunsets. They were amazing. They were so alive with drama and possibilities that I knew it was something that I wanted to capture in my work. It really did change the way I saw things,” explains Cathy. “I started creating smaller paintings so I was more able to capture the moment in the limited time I had and I started using more mixed media so I could really build the drama of what was in front of me.”

For Cathy, dealing with the mental side of cancer is a huge part of the process. She believes that the way she approached her art reflected the different mental stages she went through from the initial diagnosis to treatment to recuperation.

She says: “Initially, I found that I used my landscapes to create a sense of calm to meet the need for calmness I had at the time. As the treatment progresses that changed and I think I was looking for hope and that’s what those sunsets and sunrises gave me.”

Today, Cathy has continued to develop smaller canvasses with a major emphasis on the dynamic and dramatic nature of the Scottish landscape. She feels that there is an important message in something that’s both ever-changing and timeless at the same time for people going through their cancer journey.

Cathy comments: “When you look at our skies, you can begin to see the vastness of the universe. You get a sense of what a short time we’re here but how incredible it all is. It has given me a new perspective. I want to give you a sense of the silver lining in my skies and clouds. I hope my works tells you that we all have rubbish days but there are great days too. You just need to keep positive and look for the good moments in every day. That’s what my sunsets gave to me.”

Cathy will be showing ‘Pink Mist’ – one of the works she produced during Stuart’s treatment – at this year’s Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show taking place from 10am-4pm November 22-23 at the Cornerstone Centre in central Edinburgh. An online store will also operate during and after the show. You can find more information here.