LUXE Serendipity magazine

Beyond Monet: An Immersive Journey Through Colour Helped Me Rediscover Creativity

By Donna Richardson

“Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” Claude Monet once said.

There is something quietly extraordinary about the way art finds us again. Sometimes it returns after years have passed, after life has taken us in different directions, after brushes have been put away and sketchbooks have gathered dust. Creativity does not disappear. It simply waits, changing alongside us until the moment we are ready to discover it again.

That was the feeling I experienced stepping into Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham – surrounded by shifting colours, delicate reflections and emotional landscapes created by one of history’s greatest painters.

I was not simply viewing Monet’s work. I was entering his imagination; I was stepping into the mind of an artist who spent his lifetime trying to capture something impossible: the fleeting nature of light, the changing mood of landscapes and the emotions hidden within a single moment. Without realising it, I was also stepping back into a creative part of myself I had left behind.

A Nottingham evening where art filled the arena

The VIP opening of the immersive experiences Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh transformed the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham into a vibrant celebration of art. I plan to revisit the Van Gogh exhibit on Monday. Produced by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group, these shows have attracted seven million visitors worldwide, including over 250,000 in the UK since Beyond Van Gogh premiered in Liverpool in 2024. This year marks the centenary of Claude Monet’s death; he passed away at his home in Giverny, Normandy, on December 5, 1926, at the age of 86.

Guests were welcomed with a champagne and canapé reception before entering the exhibition space, where artists, civic leaders, cultural figures and invited guests gathered to celebrate an exciting new chapter in Nottingham’s cultural calendar.

Notable figures from Nottingham, including the CEO of Motorpoint Arena, Martin Ingham, and the Mayor of Nottingham, Cheryl Bernard, attended the event. The Lord Lieutenant, Veronica Pickering, whose husband is also an artist, also opened the event and described the exhibition as “an incredible opportunity to bring art to the people of the city.”

There was something symbolic about standing in a space once filled with Olympic artistry on ice and now filled with artistic expression on walls and floors. Torvill and Dean transformed skating into an art form through movement, music and emotion. Decades later, Monet and Van Gogh were doing something similar – using colour, texture and creativity to move people.

Among the invited artists was Nottingham’s own Tim Mayfield of MAYPOPART, whose vibrant contemporary works celebrate many of the city’s best-known landmarks and cultural icons. It was especially fitting that he should be part of the evening at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, a venue featured in his artwork aboutNottingham legends Torvill and Dean, who trained at the original Nottingham Ice Centre.

The evening felt like more than the arrival of an exhibition. It felt like a celebration of imagination. Sharing this experience with Tim felt like different creative stories coming together at exactly the right moment.

Inside an artist’s mind

One of the most unexpected gifts of the evening was the chance to rekindle my friendship with Tim. We first crossed paths in our GCSE art classes three decades ago, a time filled with vibrant creativity and youthful exploration. I vividly remember those lessons, where we experimented with different mediums and techniques, all while the energetic sounds of Green Day provided the soundtrack to our artistic journey. Looking back, those moments represent the “times of our lives,” a carefree period when we had few responsibilities and were free to express our artistic visions without hesitation.

Sharing this event with Tim felt profound, and it was genuinely fascinating to see his mind at work. His reactions to the art were genuine, and I enjoyed learning about the emotions behind it and its creators. I remember Tim’s passion for art back then, and he stayed true to that. I admire that and his work, which can be found online.

Art will always fascinate me, and I am grateful to my GCSE art classes for giving me the chance to express my artistic identity. Creativity has significantly influenced my career as a journalist. Over the years, my medium evolved from paint to prose and now I capture the essence of people, places, and fleeting moments through carefully chosen words. Now, as I reflect, I feel a deep desire to help other artists and writers find their own narratives and express their creativity.

I have been closely following Tim’s artistic journey, and I am truly inspired by his philosophy centred on the essence of creativity. After completing his education, Tim embarked on a culinary career, training under the esteemed chef James Crossman, who himself is a protégé of the renowned Gordon Ramsay. Through tireless dedication and hard work, Tim has honed his culinary skills and participated in a range of remarkable events showcasing his talent. At the heart of Tim’s creativity lies a unique blend of food and art. The relationship between cooking and painting runs deeper than one might expect; a plate transforms into a canvas, where ingredients become vibrant colours, and the resulting flavours evoke a rich tapestry of textures. For Tim, whether he is crafting a dish or painting a picture, creativity is an art that stirs emotions and forges meaningful connections. Recognised as both a respected chef and a plate artist, Tim has never lost sight of his childhood passion for drawing and painting. I fondly remember the whimsical cartoons he used to create, and it is incredible to see how he has evolved into an artist who not only produces striking Pop Art but also crafts extraordinary culinary masterpieces that are as visually captivating as they are delicious.

In recent times, Tim has made a remarkable shift from the culinary world, exchanging his kitchen knives for artistic palette knives. He has established himself as a prominent figure in the vibrant Nottingham art scene, where his unique and expressive works resonate with locals and visitors alike. His captivating portfolio features vivid paintings of iconic city legends, including the charismatic Steve Cooper, the legendary ice dancers Torvill and Dean, and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. Among his many creations, one of his standout pieces is an imaginative artwork titled “Ayup Me Duck,” which beautifully captures the essence of Nottingham’s culture and humour.

Walking into Monet’s world

I was intrigued to see Tim’s reactions to the night as we experienced the exhibition. The best was yet to come. The lights dimmed, we saw an incredible light display in the Waterfall room, and then Monet’s face appeared.

As we entered Monet’s world, we were captivated as the room transformed around us. The walls became vibrant landscapes, while the floors mirrored the beauty above. The paintings seemed to come alive, filled with movement, and the fleeting light took on a multidimensional quality. This experience enhanced the beauty of Monet’s artwork even further.

My uncle Kevin, Russell, my partner, and my daughter joined us for an emotional journey that lasted approximately 35 minutes. During this time, we explored Monet’s relationship with nature, light, and color as over 400 of his paintings were brought together through projection technology.

Monet, widely recognised as the father of Impressionism, understood that art was not simply about reproducing what the eye could see. It was about capturing what the heart could feel.

He was fascinated by changing light, by the way landscapes transformed throughout the day and by the emotions contained within fleeting moments.

“The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.” -Claude Monet.

Inside the exhibition, that philosophy came alive through moving images of his greatest works. I stepped inside the colours and felt awash with emotions, the Impressionist’s fleeting light moving through me and awakening something deep inside. The journey moved through Monet’s most famous works, including Water Lilies, Poppies and Impression: Sunrise.

Colours flowed around the room, transforming from peaceful blues and greens into dramatic sunsets of gold, orange and crimson. For a moment, I felt completely lost in a sea of colour, indeed adrift at sea when the landscape fell to water, and his ship paintings appeared on the horizon, as I stared at the sunset and enjoyed the beauty of the moment.

Everywhere I looked, images transformed from lavender fields to poppies to sunsets, with colours, people, and places all evoking emotions. On canvas, Monet, the father of Impressionism, captured light and movement; however, brought into the 21st century, this experience was breathtaking. I wondered what Monet would think of this. All around me, people were immersed in their emotions, and soon, I was no longer just observing paintings. I was experiencing the world as Monet saw it. As Monet himself said:

“Every day I discover more and more beautiful things; it’s enough to drive one mad, with such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it”

This quote truly resonates with me. Creative individuals often find artistic impulses overwhelming, leading to a constant struggle for balance. However, during the Monet exhibition, that creative energy was not only welcomed but celebrated. The vibrant colours and stunning brushwork of Monet’s masterpieces ignited my imagination, creating an atmosphere of inspiration. It was a wonderful experience to share this journey with my family and a creative friend, as we marvelled at the artwork together, discussing the emotions and stories each piece conveyed.

Watching Tim experience Monet’s world was incredibly special. He was not simply admiring the beauty around him – he was analysing it, feeling it and connecting with it as an artist, and it was fascinating to watch. At one point, he turned to me and said, “Monet’s colours are ever-evolving, much like our lives.”

This captivating observation resonated deeply with me. It reminds us that while time continues its relentless march, our creativity is like an unstoppable train, weaving its way through the journey of our lives. As artists, we undergo a transformation, embracing our creative spirits rather than yielding to societal constraints. For those who identify as true creatives, the urge to create and express oneself is as vital as the very blood coursing through their veins.

Just as Monet evolved from impressionism to abstraction, we change, but for creative people, the need to make art and express ourselves is part of our DNA; it’s just a matter of finding the right way to channel it.

It was incredible to share this moment with an artist. We walked into the shared room with Van Gogh, and it felt amazing to see the two worlds juxtaposed. Tim also offered my daughter uplifting words, encouraging her to pursue her dreams and nurture the burgeoning artistic legacy taking root within her. After the event, I let her choose a sketchpad and a vibrant set of crayons, eagerly anticipating the colourful creations and imaginative worlds that will surely emerge from her budding talent.

Where it all began

Some of my earliest memories are of watching Uncle Kevin paint mermaids on the bathroom walls; every wall was a canvas, and he loved transforming ordinary spaces into magical places and showing me that art was never limited to a canvas.

Kevin is deaf, and over time his relationship with art has become even more visual. Colour, texture, shape and movement are a powerful language, so sharing Beyond Monet with him was incredibly special. As the Water Lilies transformed into glowing sunsets and waves of colour surrounded us, I saw tears in his eyes.

No words were needed. The colours, movement and art all spoke to me and awakened something in me that I thought had been dormant. Suddenly I wanted to paint again. Perhaps that is the greatest gift art can offer – not only allowing us to admire someone else’s creativity, but helping us rediscover our own.

A bridge into a fairytale

One of the most magical moments came when Monet’s famous Japanese bridge from his garden at Giverny appeared. My partner John, who is also a writer, and my daughter, who is a budding artist, walked across that bridge, surrounded by soft colours, shimmering water, and delicate reflections, and it felt like stepping into a fairytale. On the other side was the starry night; two perspectives were offered, and a meeting between two artists separated by time but connected through creativity. In that moment, it was easy to understand why Giverny became Monet’s sanctuary and why nature remained his greatest inspiration throughout his life. A century after his death, his fascination with light and colour continues to move people.

What I will remember most is not the technology. It is not the size of the room, it is not even the extraordinary beauty of Monet’s colours. It is the people I shared it with. A friend from my earliest artistic years, who reminded me that colours evolve just like our lives, an uncle whose tears showed the emotional power of creativity. My partner, John, who shares my love of storytelling and who made this event happen and my daughter, a budding artist discovering her own creative possibilities.

Art is never truly finished. It changes. It moves. It finds us again. And sometimes, if we are lucky, it helps us find ourselves.

Anna Parry from Annerin Productions highlighted the strong demand for tickets and the opportunity for families to create memorable experiences with the immersive exhibits by Van Gogh and Monet.

Anna Parry said: “There’s been a huge demand for tickets and I can’t wait now to see the reaction as our first Nottingham visitors enter the stunning immersive worlds of Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. And with schools about to break up for the summer, both experiences are an ideal way to spend quality family time together too, creating some very special memories.”

An immersive summer for Nottingham

Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh run at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham from Saturday 18 July to Sunday 9 August 2026, with timed entry from 10am.

The residency has been extended due to demand and will become the longest-running event ever staged at the venue. Next up: Van Gogh.

Tickets start from £14, with family tickets, VIP experiences and flexible entry options available.

Book : Beyond Monet tickets

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