Art by Kimbo: Inside the Mind of Mania – Kim Cowell’s First Gallery Exhibition on the Isle of Man
For 41-year-old Isle of Man artist Kim Cowell, art has become more than a creative outlet, it’s been a lifeline. Later this month, Cowell will unveil her very first gallery exhibition, Art by Kimbo: Inside the Mind of Mania, at the Castletown Square Art Vault. The show will run for three weeks from 27 September 2025, with all proceeds going to support the charity Samaritans.
Art Born from Struggle
Kim’s path to this moment has been far from easy. Two years ago, she suffered a nervous breakdown that left her grappling with multiple illnesses, including mania. During those intense episodes, she felt compelled to draw every night, translating the vivid imagery of her mind onto paper.
“I do not draw when I am well,” Kim explains. “But when I am unwell, I have to. It pours out of me.”
This isn’t the first time illness has pushed her toward creativity. Sixteen years ago, she experienced a similar six-month period of mania, which also led to a burst of artistic production.
A Unique Style
Cowell’s work is instantly recognisable, colourful, animated, and deeply expressive. Using soft pastels and her fingers to blend, she creates dynamic pieces that established artists have praised for their bold use of colour.
She currently has around 50 framed pieces ready for the gallery, with hundreds more unframed works at home. “My colour usage has been praised by established artists and I would love for you to see,” she says with pride.
Giving Back
Kim is determined that her first exhibition should give back to the people who helped her most. Samaritans played a vital role in her recovery, offering her support at her lowest point.
“They helped me so much I can’t put it into words,” she shares. To show her gratitude, she plans to donate the proceeds from the gallery to the charity, even hoping to arrange for a Samaritans representative to collect a donation on the exhibition’s final day.
This isn’t the first time Kim has given her art to others. She has already donated four pieces to the Adult Mental Health Department on Westmoreland Road in Douglas, where they are expected to go on display in the near future.
A Personal Milestone
Kim’s debut gallery is not only an artistic milestone but also a personal one. At home in the Isle of Man, she lives with her partner of 12 years, now also her carer, alongside her 18-year-old son and their beloved chihuahua, Loki. Their support has been invaluable in helping her navigate both illness and creativity.
For Kim, art is more than framed works in a gallery. It is resilience. It is healing. And through her first-ever exhibition, it has also become a way to give back.
Visitors to the Castletown Square Art Vault can expect to see work that is as heartfelt as it is colourful, a celebration of creativity born from adversity, and an artist determined to transform her struggles into hope for others.
