About me

Hi I’m Susan Grundy and I have created a colouring book for adults, to help you de-stress in this very trying time. I thought it would be useful to know a bit about me and how this book came into being.

I have the good fortune to live in North Wales, in an area of outstanding beauty. The area I live in greatly influences my work and is often the starting point for my ideas.

I started my career as a mainstream teacher, moved into special needs and retired a few years ago.

I am now a stained glass artist, I love the vibrancy of the colours and the versatility of the medium. In my career I have dabbled in Pottery; creating hand raised pots, Acrylic paints, Printing, Silversmithing (not very well) and so much more. All of  these disciplines feed into my designs.

It was during Lockdown that I became aware of the Indian folk art known as Madhubani. I was captivated by the intricacies of the designs, and the use of sticks or reeds to draw them. After studying the art form I set myself the challenge to create a drawing a day throughout November 2020, to give me a daily focus. I applied the techniques of Madhubani to traditional pictures and my own more personal subjects.

Doing this exercise has confirmed  how engaging in a creative activity benefits your mental health. It concentrates the mind, and blocks out the every day paraphernalia we have to deal with, giving one a sense of calm thus helping to cope with the current situation.  I concluded that if this activity worked for me, it could work for others and so the book was born.

It has been an interesting journey, from concept to publication, with the help of wonderful people on the way.

I hope you find my book helps you as much as it has helped me to deal with enforced  isolation and that it unleashes your own creativity!

I would like to thank Ray Lipscombe for the design of my book cover, Sue Kelso Ryan for checking my text and Toni Tingle of Mereo books for endless advice, and for thinking my book was worthy of publishing.

Signed books are available to order online:- Cost £10.  

See product page for order form and postage prices.

How I de-stress

I turn off my phone, make myself comfortable, brew myself a cuppa or pour a glass of wine, put on some calming music, and claim the next hour or so for myself. You will find the routine that best suits you and your situation.

I like to use a variety of colouring mediums to fill in my pictures. Dual Felt-Tip pens are versatile allowing for broad brush strokes and fine detail, plus I like their vibrancy.  Ink brush pens offer a wide range of colours and the brush like nib allows you to colour large areas, and also fill in fine detail. Promarkers are another option allowing you to blend your colours. Pencil crayons allow you to blend and colour more delicately. You don’t have to spend a fortune on equipment but buy the best you can afford.

I then just go with the flow. Choose a picture I like and colours that appeal to me. I also explore possibilities on the Doodle Page, and allow myself to become absorbed in the activity.

Pages are perforated to make it easier to remove them from the book depending on what you prefer. It also makes it easier to display your work so you can look at, and appreciate your achievements.

After a colouring session I feel revived because I have focussed on a task, engaged in a creative activity and by so doing have relaxed and de-stressed.