Retirement gave Pat Thomson something she had never truly had before… Time.

Rather than slowing down, she has used it to discover a passion that has filled the past decade with colour, creativity, and countless memories. Although she had always considered herself artistic, balancing work and raising a family meant painting remained a dream waiting in the wings. That changed after she retired. “I didn’t want to be one of those people who shrink when they retire.”

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She added that now that she had the time on her hands, she would find something to do. After spotting an advert for an art class, this Fairland resident enrolled and began learning the fundamentals of perspective, shading, and composition. What started as curiosity soon blossomed into a passion. “It fascinated me that you could make something on a flat piece of paper look far away or close by. You start noticing the way light catches the edge of a tree or how shadows bring a landscape to life.”

Many of Thomson’s paintings are inspired by her travels, with each destination offering its own colours, light, and atmosphere. “If you’ve been there, you can paint the mood as much as the scenery.”

One of her most treasured travel memories is arriving in Venice for the first time. “I stood on the bridge outside the station and realised, ‘It’s me. I’m here’. I was in tears. If you can paint that feeling, you’ve done well.”

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Now, preparing to paint a scene from a recent trip to the Imfolozi Game Reserve, Thomson hopes her journey encourages others to embrace new opportunities. “It really is never too late to discover something new that you can do.”

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