An artist is preparing for a trip to India to lead workshops and provide art therapy sessions to small communities.

Natalie Mills, 39, from Welwyn Garden City, who exhibits her work at the Nude Tin Can Gallery in St Albans, has decided to live in India for six weeks to work with communities.

She will head to India on September 18 and hopes to work with schools and hospitals for those with mental health issues.

She said: “I am a strong believer that art is an amazing therapy in many different ways and can improve your wellbeing and mental health.”

Ms Mills stopped painting after completing her BA Hons in Fine Art at The Byam Shaw School of Art. She only began painting again three years ago when she became ill and experienced the benefits of art therapy first hand.

“If I’m being honest I was a little bit miffed when I left art college. It was the Damian Hurst era so I didn’t really understand it. So I fell into focusing on earning money and worked in recruitment.”

After struggling with her mental health, Ms Mills volunteered at Recover, a furniture up-cycling for vulnerable adults, from 2012 to 2015.

She said: “People would come in and spend a couple of months at Recover and you just see the colour come back to their lives.”

Inspired by the work of Recover, Ms Mills took a foundation course in art therapy and has been working as an artist for almost a year.

“I think expression, freedom, colours and simple things like that can bring someone out of themselves.

“People with drug and alcohol problems have turned their lives around by just picking up a paintbrush. I remember looking at a blank canvas and feeling terrified, but the Nude Tin Gallery built my confidence.”