Italy’s Lasting Legacy

A spirited, nothing-phases-me type woman in her mid-fifties, boards a flight from New Zealand to Italy filled with dreams of a life steeped in art, beauty, and effortless creativity. Instead, Italy had other plans.

"Italy's Lasting Legacy" is the sequel to "Creating a Life of Art in Italy".

It dives into the unexpected changes that unfold in a medieval Italian village. Far from the romanticised vision of la dolce vita, here was a community shaped by generations of hardship and resilience. In the quiet simplicity of village life, she found herself enlightened, challenged, softened and changed in ways she never anticipated.

Through these years, Italy didn't just inspire her art; it reshaped her entire outlook. With candid reflections and stories, this sequel explores the lessons learned from the land, the people, and the culture that quietly but powerfully left a lasting legacy on her identity.

Italy gave her far more than a life of art-it gave her a new way of seeing the world, and herself.

This is a story of personal transformation-about how chasing a dream led to finding much more than art in Italy: she learned the art of patience, humility, adapting to life's unpredictability, and the art of living itself.

From the Author:

But my life wasn't always like this. Before my move to Italy I was drowning in the chaos of a life that was missing a clear purpose. I had spent the better part of my career as a self-employed businesswoman, working long hours and filling my home with all the symbols of what's conventionally seen as a 'successful life.' Then, one day, an email arrived presenting me with a choice: continue on the same path, or dive headfirst into a new life as an artist.