Podcaster and media personality Abbie Chatfield has formally stepped into the art world, unveiling a series of her own paintings and launching a dedicated Instagram page for her creative endeavours.
A Swift Social Media Success
The new Instagram account, named Bug Doing Art, amassed thousands of followers within just 24 hours of its creation. On Monday, the 30-year-old shared a collection of her completed works with her substantial online audience, prompting an immediate and passionate response.
Admirers quickly flooded the comments section with enthusiastic praise and even concrete offers to buy her abstract pieces. "Oh my god, I would totally buy your art!" one fan exclaimed. Another asked, "Um, these are great! Would love to know if you will do commissions." Further support came from her boyfriend, Adam Hyde, who wrote, "I'm so proud of you. It's just the beginning."
Not All Critics Are Convinced
However, the reception was not universally positive. A contingent of social media users delivered scathing reviews of Chatfield's artistic output. One critic compared her work unfavourably to children's art, stating, "I've seen better finger painting from five-year-olds." Another questioned, "This is pure delusion, have you seen a Picasso or a Rembrandt painting?" The critique extended to comparisons with other celebrities, with one commenter suggesting the work was reminiscent of "that dreadful piece of rubbish she calls art" by Meghan Markle.
Art as Anxiety Relief and a Nod to the Past
Chatfield first revealed a finished painting—an abstract, psychedelic portrait of a slug—to her followers via Instagram Stories on Sunday. She disclosed that she has recently taken up painting as a method to manage her anxiety.
This foray into visual arts is not her first connection to the field. During her previous relationship with former Bachelorette star Konrad Bień-Stephen, he also experimented with painting. In a post last year, widely interpreted as a subtle dig, Chatfield wrote, "When the guy you're dating is actually talented and you don't have to pretend to like his art." The pair broke up amicably in September 2022, with both stating they had moved on.
The launch of Bug Doing Art marks a significant new chapter for Chatfield, proving that her ventures, much like her opinions, are guaranteed to generate conversation and polarised reactions.
