Emotional release is the driving force behind the artworks of Watford artist Bryony Reeves, who was first featured in these pages last summer when she held an exhibition at Café Cha Cha Cha in Cassiobury Park.

At the time, Bryony had been undergoing a course of art therapy sessions following a period of severe depression and found an outlet to what she was feeling by putting it on to canvas. One year on, she has returned to teaching and has not one but two exhibitions of her latest work on show – at Café Cha Cha Cha again from Friday and a second show, Emotion, comprising more than 15 paintings, at Watford Grammar School for Girls from next Tuesday.

“It was just a hobby to start with,” says Bryony. “After my show in Cassiobury Park last summer I’d sold several paintings and decided to hold another exhibition at a gallery in Hitchin. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback and this has improved my self esteem.”

Bryony says she enjoyed art from an early age and she went on to specialise in it as part of her teacher training degree before falling ill two years ago.

“I became ill with depression and began a course of art therapy at Watford General Hospital in order to help me express my emotions,” she says. “I found this extremely helpful in expressing feelings which I was unable to put into words.

“I began painting at home. I had never painted a canvas before and was amazed at what I managed to achieve. At this point, my paintings were intended to be viewed only by myself; however, my husband James encouraged me to display my work on the walls of our house. Later, with the encouragement of a friend, I approached the owner of The Potato Oven in Watford, who agreed to exhibit my art work. My work first went up for sale in January 2007 and I sold my first painting eight weeks later.”

Bryony says she doesn’t set out with any particular theme or subject in mind but just waits to see where the mood takes her.

“I’m just like a three year old really. I wonder what will happen if I do something like dip a piece of string in paint or put my whole hand in it and randomly pat the canvas. I never, ever have any idea as to what colours I’m going to use. My hand does it without thinking and I find I switch off the language side of my brain and let the creative side come through. My work reflects whatever I’m thinking at the time.

“I might stand back and see an area of a picture I like and then try to develop that.”

Looking at Bryony’s recent works, there is a bolder tone and more confident use of colour at play. Bryony can trace this to her recovery process.

Art therapy is when art making is used as a creative outlet for people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Since finishing with her hospital sessions, Bryony has developed considerably as an artist and finds her art also helps at the education centre where she works part time giving tuition in maths and English for primary school children.

“As I began to get better my work turned to more vibrant colours,” she says. “It is unfortunate that I suffered ill health; nevertheless I am grateful for the opportunity to rediscover my lost talent for and interest in art. I am happy to say I also returned to teaching and absolutely love it.

“Working on a one-to-one basis is easier to manage than a classroom situation and I can be quite artistic and imaginative in lessons. I try to make it fun and creative and visually positive and I’ve had good feedback on how one child’s confidence has improved as a result.

“It not like just using worksheets – we might be writing on posters or playing a game.”

Bryony’s work is on show at Watford Grammar School for Girls until Thursday, December 18 and at Café Cha Cha Cha until January.