There’s something powerful about hearing someone speak honestly about what it means to move through life with gratitude, perspective and a renewed appreciation for what their body can do.
In this edition of Friends of FINDRA, we meet Krissy Stewart; visual artist, art psychotherapist and passionate outdoor adventurer, who also featured as part of our “On Our Terms” film. From gravel biking adventures and wild swims to paddle boarding, hill walks and coffee-fuelled cycling trips across Europe, being outdoors plays a huge role in Krissy’s mental well-being and sense of joy.
After navigating her own experience with breast cancer, Krissy’s outlook on life has shifted profoundly. Her message is simple but deeply moving: if you can, do the things you love now. Celebrate what your body is capable of, ignore the voice that says you’re not fit enough, fast enough or the “right” shape, and get outside anyway.
Hi, please tell everyone where you are based and what you do!
I’m Krissy, a visual artist with an MSc in Art Psychotherapy, based in Edinburgh. Having navigated my own journey with breast cancer, I now specialise in supporting other women through theirs using art psychotherapy. I’m proud to work closely with the Edinburgh charity The House of Hope, and I feel truly honored to help women explore and process their cancer experiences through the power of art.
What’s your favorite way to spend time outdoors?
Most of my favourite moments happen outdoors and it’s always with my partner, Nics, and wherever we take our van next. I’m happiest during long days on our gravel bikes, walks along the Pentland hills, paddle boarding with our dog Scout, horse riding whenever I get the chance, and the kind of wild swimming with friends that leaves me freezing, laughing, screaming, and feeling completely alive.
Can you share your favourite, memorable outdoor adventure or experience?
This is an impossible question to answer! I immediately think of paddle boarding at Sanna Beach in Kilchoan, floating over crystal clear water and being totally fascinated by the sea life under my board.
My favourite adventure was the bike ride Nicola and I did from Munich to Salzburg with a night on Lake Königssee. Whether it was riding for 40 miles on a very loud, bent brake disc or dealing with a flat before we’d even left the airport, the chaos started early. After landing, we found ourselves tucked away in the airport’s children' s play area, drenched in sweat, having to listen to ‘It’s a Small World’ play on repeat while we (more Nics than me) reassembled our bikes. None of this dampened the perfect week on two-wheels.
Our next cycling adventure will be our honeymoon in June. We’ll be taking our bikes on the train and Eurostar to Antwerp and cycling to the Netherlands and France, hitting all the hot coffee and cake spots along the way!
How do you manage to find a balance between being active and life’s other responsibilities i.e. work and family?
Being outdoors is a normal part of my life so I don’t feel like I need to ‘fit’ it into my schedule. Saying that, it’s much easier to have that walk or ride in the evenings after work in the summer when the days are long. But I’m also happy to put my headtorch on and go out in the dark on bike or foot in the winter, looking for short-eared owls and bats around Harlaw Reservoir. Having a dog also makes it easier to be active. Scout needs to get out so I go with him, even when I’m not feeling motivated.
Is there anyone in particular that inspired your love of the outdoors?
Growing up on a ranch in Southern California instilled a deep love of the outdoors so I would say that person would be my mom. From a young age, I was most comfortable on the back of a horse, exploring the hills with her. I was lucky enough to grow up with no social media or mobile phones to distract me!
What role does nature play in your mental well-being?
This is non-negotiable. If I don’t get out, my mental health deteriorates. It’s so important for me to get out, even when I’m not motivated. Once I’m out, there is always something brilliant to see.
Yesterday Nics and I spotted two hares, two roe deer, our local alpacas that had just been sheared (they look ridiculous with their long, skinny necks!) lambs with the zoomies running mad in a field, a swan and several birds.
Nics and I agree that it’s never not worth going out. You will always find joy in nature.
What’s the one piece of gear or clothing you never leave home without on an outdoor trip?
A FINDRA base layer (seriously, I’m not being paid to say that) and my Salewa hiking boots (can I add lip balm as well?).
When did you discover FINDRA?
I have been a FINDRA fan since the very beginning in 2014 and I am a firm believer in FINDRA's ethos that the outdoors is for every shape and size of body.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Comparison is the thief of joy. There’s absolutely zero point in measuring yourself against someone else. Their size, their success, or their skills just don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Everyone is on their own path, and nobody actually has it all figured out, no matter how perfect it looks from the outside.
Also, “If your dog is fat, you’re not getting out enough”.
On writing this blog, what do you feel is the key motivational or inspirational message you would like to highlight to our followers that would inspire them to get outdoors more.
Going through cancer treatment has changed my outlook on life, though I’ll admit I still slip back into my old mindset on the bad days. Having a healthy body that has recovered from chemo and coming out the other side is a constant reminder to ‘do all the things.’ I remember so clearly the time when I couldn’t do anything at all because I was too unwell and it helps me to appreciate and enjoy exactly what my body can do right now. I ignore the pre-cancer voice in my head that tries to tell me I’m not the right body shape or fit enough to do what I want to do and I just do it.
To be healthy with a body that enables you to take on outdoor adventures is a privilege that many folk are denied.
As a breast cancer survivor, I am dedicated to promoting art psychotherapy as a core part of the recovery journey. From processing medical trauma and surgery-related body image changes, scanxiety, to navigating life after the all-clear, art therapy provides the essential emotional bridge many people with cancer need. It is a game-changer for mental health that helps patients reclaim their sense of self.
Information on my practice can be found at:
https://papercranearttherapy.co.uk/
For breast cancer-related support in Edinburgh:
About art therapy:
Sunday Inspiration
Favourite Place
When I finished my treatment, the places that made me feel most alive and normal again were mountain biking in Innerleithen and Glentress. I could forget everything I had been through and just focus on the trails ahead of me. Riding my bike made me feel human again, and not someone defined by cancer. I was just a person riding a bike in the hills and that was everything to me.
Favourite Poem
Just because I love bats.
Favourite Song
Ends of the Earth by Lord Huron
Nics introduced me to the song when we first met and it’s fitting as our relationship has always been rooted in adventures. I would never say no to going anywhere with her.
