Meet Diane Simpson - The Heart Behind JoyfulNiftyArt

I grew up surrounded by creativity. My grandmother painted, my aunts quilted and knitted, and my mother—an incredibly skilled seamstress—shared her own talents with me. Making beauty with our hands was simply part of life, and that love of creating has always been in my blood. For me, art is the perfect balance of expression, colour, and form.

My first love was fashion design, which eventually led me to sewing costumes for theatre productions. While exciting, the work was seasonal and difficult to sustain, so I later found myself working in a hospital—a place where creativity seemed absent at first glance. But even there, I crossed paths with playwrights, actors, and storytellers. Their presence nudged me back toward my own creative spark. I began writing short stories, then novels, and eventually found my way to children’s books. Writing for kids was liberating—no rules, no judgment, just boundless imagination.

It wasn’t long before I started illustrating my own stories, and that’s when everything shifted. Painting brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years. Hours would slip by as I worked, my mind quieting into a meditative rhythm while my hands brought colours and shapes to life. It felt like coming home to the joy of my childhood.

That’s how JoyfulNiftyArt was born. For me, art is more than just creating—it’s happiness, healing, and connection. I find joy in every brushstroke, and even more joy in sharing my work with others.