Vicky H — Space Artist / Astrophotographer

Have you ever actually thought how many ‘firsts’ you’ve ever had? First steps, first words, first day at school, first job, first love… I could go on and on. A lot of these things we have no control over; society dictates that we follow the ‘set path’.

I’ve come to realise that the really special firsts are the ones we choose for ourselves. The first time I enjoyed creating (2019), using oil paints (August 2021), painting and selling a collection (August 2022), buying my first telescope (January 2023).
 
My astro journey didn’t start off with looking into space. It started when I was little and my Dad told me that lost loved ones were the brightest stars in the night sky. That has stayed with me for over 20 years. I’ve always been fascinated with space, but it was never something I pursued until lockdown during the Covid pandemic, when we were all bored out of our minds. My paintings became more prevalent in my life and I had the time to really explore and try something for me. Acrylics just were not cooperating and giving me the results that I wanted and so, after following a tutorial from Cathrin Machin, I found oils and the rest is history.


I spent SO many hours of my life looking at the incredible images of space that amazing astrophotographers had taken. I wanted to see space myself, to experience those incredible photons hitting my eyeballs. I’ve always been completely obsessed with the Moon; I mean she’s SO beautiful, and an easy object to identify and see, even without a scope. I also find she’s the object that makes us wonder what else is out there.

So naturally when Scopey arrived, the Moon was my ‘first sight’. I will never be able to put into words how absolutely incredible it was seeing actual craters up close with my own eyes. I’d been painting them for so long and using genuine Moondust in my work, but just seeing her myself was nothing short of phenomenal and so, SO moving.

I know most astro photographers don’t like her because she’s bright, but she reminds us everything is a phase, and I love her haha.
 
That wasn’t it though, I wanted to see as much as I could! I’ll admit there was a lot of trial and error and I needed to get new eyepieces to be able to view new deep space objects. It was definitely worth the effort! Saturn is such a recognisable object, but to actually see the rings yourself, heckkkk! Cloud bands on Jupiter, from my back garden, what? Actual moons of ANOTHER planet, just wow. I don’t think the dictionary contains enough adjectives to explain it all.
 
Then there was that magical night we all shared under the same sky, from different locations, seeing that incredible Aurora display. It was breathtaking and something I will treasure forever.
There are so many firsts we can talk about, they will all be unique to us as individuals, but I am so thankful that this astro community shares their work. It’s nothing short of inspiring, and an absolute pleasure to be a part of. My photos have all been taken on my phone, I am by no means an expert at this, but the unbridled joy I get from seeing space will always make the effort of trying worthwhile to me.


I would just love to leave you with this final thought though, there is one fundamental ‘first’ we all share with space. Your atoms were created within a star, so just remember that we’re all made of stardust, and the universe lives within us as we’re busy staring up at its beauty.
 
Editor Note: Vicky is a space artist from England with a passion for painting her spacer art and also taking images of deep space and particular the moon. Her passion for all things space comes through not only her art but for her love of the moon.