Stories in Motion
From immersive exhibitions to artist interviews and magazine features, Stella Robinson Lightheart’s work has been celebrated across both local and international platforms.
Recent highlights include exhibiting her animated originals at RAW Los Angeles (2025), a two-page feature in InCheshire Magazine, a Prestbury Living front cover, and interviews with Canvas Rebel and Voyage LA.
These stories illuminate the threads behind her work - the intersection of memory, myth, and motion - and invite audiences deeper into her evolving creative world.
“I believe that art can heal – I believe that art can act as a bridge between our pain and our light.
That belief isn’t just an idea; it is a lived experience.
Art was how I began to stitch myself back together, to transmute what I’d endured into something beautiful and luminous.”
— VoyageLA Magazine, September 2025
Good morning Stella, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
Hmmm. Not sure if my “normals” are normal, but…
As of late, my days feel like they’re draped in light.
I’ve just moved into a new residence in in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles and it’s already transforming the way I work and see the World.
My space literally has the most incredible natural light from dusk to dawn – from soft golds, glowing corals, to inspiring lavender in the evening.
My painting desk has an iconic view of the Griffith Observatory, with sunlight streaming directly onto my rolls of paper and inks.
So, a ‘normal’ day starts with tea and a quiet moment watching the light shift, then I leap into painting or editing while the Sun keeps me company.
Even at night, there’s a feeling of magic, the Observatory glowing like a watchful star.
This new space feels like an extension of my art – a wee little observatory of my own, full of brightness and possibility.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Stella Robinson Lightheart – an artist and Emmy-winning editor: a Dreamer working at the intersection of fine art and animation.
My journey has taken me from the quiet English countryside to the sets of ‘The Hobbit’ in New Zealand onto the pressure-filled Hollywood editing rooms for the likes of Titmouse Animation, Warner Brothers, Universal and Netflix.
Earlier this year, as an Animatic Editor for Storybots, our Team won an Outstanding Editing Emmy for a Preschool Animated Program, which felt like a surreal full-circle moment after years of honing my craft and my ‘day job’.
But even as my editing career continues to blossom, my heart keeps calling me back to my art.
In fact, as of yesterday, one of my space-themed works just sold at Santa Clarita’s ‘In Orbit’ exhibit.
My ongoing ‘Find Your Glow’ series combines painting and animation into an interactive experience that invites people to reconnect with their own inner light and discover which ‘Glow’ best reflects themselves and their own personal space.
(Curious? See the collection at https://www.stellalightheart.com/find-your-glow !)
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve been lucky to have a few incredible mentors.
First and foremost, I’ve learned so much from my Dad – as a Nuclear Engineer, he has shown me how creativity and technicality are two sides of the same coin.
Moreover, he taught me the value of staying organised, being meticulous and thinking things through: lessons that have shaped both my daily art and my editing.
Also formative in my approach to work was the legendary Jack Enyart – or as I called him, Uncle Jack.
Jack was an American writer, story editor, cartoonist, artist and voice actor who worked with Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and Marvel Productions. We met when I first moved to the Los Angeles area, where he immediately became my art mentor.
Jack taught me that work needs a balanced approach: keep your creative well filled by wandering museums, soaking up inspiration, but also know when you’re “too full” and to empty yourself out on the page.
Jack encouraged me to treat the work with both reverence and lightness, which still guides me today.
“The Talented Mister Jack” passed away in 2019, but his wisdom and humour live on, just like his art.
I’m also sincerely lucky to know Jack’s wife, Kay, who remains a friend and mentor – an incredible “Stitch Queen” with an impeccable sense of wisdom and fashion.
Presently, Kay teaches at ArtCentre and gives popular weekend sewing classes at Remainders in Pasadena.
Between these three influences, I’ve been shown how to honour both the dream and the meticulous discipline in the work.
It’s my job to carry their wisdom forward…
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
That shift came when I shared what I call The Tale of the Two Red Dresses earlier this year for World Storytelling Day.
The first red dress I ever wore was at The Hobbit premiere.
The Producers had kindly gifted me a ticket to the Los Angeles event as I was moving to the city – taking the giant leap across ‘Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa’, the Pacific Ocean, from windy Wellington, New Zealand.
I was a young second assistant editor then: quiet, trying not to be noticed, still moving under the name I’d grown up with.
My second red dress moment came a decade later at the 2025 Emmys, as an Animatic Editor on Storybots for Netflix, this time with a tiny Storybot character (Boop!) pinned to the fabric, standing alongside my team as we graciously accepted our award.
… Between those two moments was a long journey of reclaiming myself and transmuting pain.
Those two red dresses are more than outfits – they are my markers of resilience and transformation.
To anyone else navigating their own journey of identity, healing, or change: You Are Not Alone.
Keep going.
Stand in your truth and stand within your art.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe that art can heal – I believe that art can act as a bridge between our pain and our light.
That belief isn’t just an idea; it is a lived experience.
Art was how I began to stitch myself back together, to transmute what I’d endured into something beautiful and luminous.
Everything I create comes from that place – whether it’s my ‘Find Your Glow’ series, which invites people to reconnect with their inner light, or my vision for immersive, interactive spaces where others can step into their own transformation.
Even my wearable designs, that I’m presently working on, carries that intention: the idea that art can travel with you, remind you of who you are, and quietly reflect your own story back to you, even in the middle of a typical ‘normal’ day.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that I helped my audience remember and embrace their own story.
I pray that my work shows Everyone that it is possible to reclaim yourself, no matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve lived through.
I hope that my work reminds all of us to embrace their own light and gives one the permission to shine, once again.
You’re welcome to follow my journey at @stella_lightheart on Instagram or at www.stellalightheart.com.
After all, this is just the beginning: and I’d be honoured to have you come along for this journey of mutual discovery.
‘In Orbit’
A New Exhibition at the Santa Clarita Newhall Community Center
Stella Robinson Lightheart invites viewers to contemplate the beauty, mystery, and infinite possibilities of space.
Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street)
July 15th through Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Showing at RAW Los Angeles
“My journey into the world of art was not guided by a strategic plan or carefully mapped out a career path. Instead, it was a voyage led by intuition, a deep inner calling that urged me to create.”
We recently connected with Stella Lightheart and have shared our conversation below.
Stella, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.
If I were to start over today as an artist building my business, there are several strategies I would adopt, lessons I would apply, and mistakes I would avoid. With the advantage of hindsight, here are the key insights that I wish would have shaped my artistic journey.
1. Treating It Like a Business
For a long time, I undervalued myself and my work. I didn’t consider the time or expense it took to create a piece; I didn’t look at profit margins when selling work; I didn’t invest in marketing; I didn’t set goals for what I wanted to create in a year or have a business plan. Maintaining artistic integrity is important, but I’d suggest that having a vision of how your work will be received by the world and creating sustainably is just as important. It wasn’t until I started looking at business models, planning collections based on a fiscal calendar, and tracking expenses to create an effective pricing model that I started to feel more official and become more official. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a girl with a dream, I was a girl with a plan – and the confidence to say, ‘Yes, my work is valuable’. My work is now a fun balance between following the muse and making sound business decisions!
2. Network and Collaborate
When I began building relationships within the art community, doors opened, providing exhibition opportunities and valuable feedback. While it’s a romantic concept, being a lone-wolf artist, the power of community does lift you forward – and benefits your mental health! I would advise anyone starting to participate in local art shows, galleries, events, online communities, and forums.
3. Diversify Revenue Streams
Considering diverse revenue streams is important. Looking at who is attracted to your work and creating variations of your work to fit all budgets is important. Sure – if you’re going for the ‘exclusive fine art’ path, cater to the upper market with those stunning and lavish originals – but my approach is to make beauty accessible to all. Selling prints, licensing designs, and creating smaller original works expands your supporters.
Stella, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello, my name is Stella, and I’m an artist passionate about self-expression. The canvas is my stage; I communicate emotions and perspectives through it. My work is not just about creating beautiful paintings; it’s about imbuing spaces with whimsy, magic, and brightness.
My journey into the world of art was not guided by a strategic plan or carefully mapped out a career path. Instead, it was a voyage led by intuition, a deep inner calling that urged me to create.
I’ve always had a creative streak, but I truly embraced this path when I began to trust my intuition. One day, I walked past an art supplies store (shout-out to Blue Rooster in Los Feliz!) and got a hunch to pop in. As I perused the vibrant aisle of acrylics, I couldn’t help but feel mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of colours on display, momentarily forgetting my former teenage goth phase. A friend was moving to pursue her MFA in Creative Writing, and I was so excited for her. I wanted to convey that excitement in a way that transcended the conventional greeting card and hug. Staring at the wall of acrylics, I decided I’d paint the feeling on a small canvas that she could take with her. She loved it, so I began painting other gifts for my friends. I then started tinkering with turning the designs into wallpaper and bags – and took more time to develop my style.
So, this leap of faith took me from a conventional career path to the art world. I still supplement my income with a day job – I work as an Editor, and the last show I worked on was recently nominated for a ‘Best Editing’ Emmy!
What sets my artwork apart is the unique blend of whimsy, magic, and brightness. I strive to capture the extraordinary in the ordinary, transforming everyday scenes into something mystical and captivating. My style is characterised by bold colours and a sense of wonder that invites viewers to explore their imagination. In every brushstroke, you’ll find a piece of my soul, a whisper of my dreams, and a testament to the journey I’ve embarked on.
One of the achievements I am most proud of is setting up my art shop online. This step was about more than just selling paintings; it was about sharing a piece of myself with the world. Prints, originals, and products are available to purchase – along with getting a sense of who I am and what inspires me as an artist.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The Melrose Trading Post, a local market in Los Angeles, has been a goldmine for me in sourcing new clients. This bustling marketplace, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and eclectic mix of vendors, has provided an excellent platform for showcasing my artwork to a diverse audience.
Unlike online platforms, where interactions are often impersonal, selling at the Melrose Trading Post allows for face-to-face conversations with potential clients. They can see my work up close, ask questions, and even get a glimpse into my creative process.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
A newsletter is a powerful tool in any artist’s arsenal, and for me, it has been instrumental in maintaining a strong connection with my clients and fostering brand loyalty. Here’s how:
• Regular Updates
My newsletter serves as a regular touchpoint, keeping subscribers updated about my latest creations, upcoming exhibitions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into my creative process.
• Exclusive Content
Subscribers to my newsletter receive exclusive content not available elsewhere. This includes early access to new pieces, special discounts, and insider information about my artistic journey. These exclusive perks make my clients feel valued and appreciated, fostering a sense of loyalty towards my brand.
• Personal Connection
Newsletters allow for a more personal connection with my clients. I often share stories about the inspiration behind my work or the challenges I’ve overcome, making my clients feel more connected to me as an artist. This personal connection can translate into higher engagement and loyalty.
• Two-Way Communication
Finally, my newsletter encourages two-way communication. I ask for feedback and suggestions or invite readers to share their thoughts. This interaction makes my clients feel heard and involved, strengthening their connection with my brand.
“...My paintings started getting attention in England and were featured in the local press and two local galleries. At that time, I didn’t reveal why I was painting – I kept it light in the articles as I sorted out my life. Baring all is new – and a relief.”
Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Lightheart.
Hi Stella, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Kia Ora to All!
I come from a little place called Transatlanticpacifica. That means that I was born in a tiny village in the United Kingdom, and then about halfway through my childhood, I got tugged to the opposite side of the world, New Zealand.
I eventually worked in NZ’s growing film industry, primarily as part of the editorial team on Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. Working two jobs simultaneously, I spent my days with the Tolkien team and nights with the Flight of the Conchords folk making ‘What We do in the Shadows’.
From there, I traveled to San Francisco to work at Industrial Light and Magic.
Now, I divide my time between running my Los Angeles art business and working with Netflix Animation, which I genuinely love. I enjoy working on Storybots – a cute preschool show about the robots that live inside your computer.
One of my escapes from being a part of a nationally broadcast show is losing myself in my painting universe. It is the therapy of working in inks, pastels, and paints, where I transport myself to another world – or create one from scratch.
Every time I sit down with my inks, I enter a state of flow where all worries vanish, and I become one with my art. For me, painting is a form of meditation, channeling the feeling of a place or state. Whether it’s the energy of spring or the peace of a still forest, I strive to capture the subject’s essence in my work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I must be honest here because it’s integral to why and how I started painting. While New Zealand is a beautiful place, I found living there tough. I’d left most of my family in England, and while no one’s childhood is idyllic, mine was particularly icky.
I started painting as a form of therapy. I couldn’t truly express myself growing up – so it was through art that I could find some stable footing. There was a point where I’d become detached from the people I loved – art was the bridge that bought us all back together.
The paintings began as striped lines – then, as I relaxed, they evolved. From there, my art changed into abstract pieces, allowing me to go beyond words and express everything I was processing and integrating. Painting and reconnecting with family spurred so much growth. I was uncovering the real me and shedding old remnants of my less-than-idyllic childhood.
My paintings started getting attention in England and were featured in the local press and two local galleries. At that time, I didn’t reveal why I was painting – I kept it light in the articles as I sorted out my life. Baring all is new – and a relief.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Now that I’m back in California, feeding the neighbourhood squirrels daily, I’m focusing on adding structure to my work while keeping the Storybots train rolling.
One of my new series I’m excited about is a ‘Transformational Dance’ collection with figures bursting through my swirls of expressive abstract paint. I’m happy as this figural element takes my pieces to the next level.
My previous series of paintings focused on Celtic Goddesses. I’m intrigued that myths have existed since the dawn of time to help us make sense of our lives. I want all women to know that Goddesses are powerful; and that each of us woman have our inner Goddess! This set of paintings is for anyone who needs that energy to help and assist them on that journey of self-empowerment. It’s that empowerment that gives me a sense of pride.
If you ask me what sets my work apart from others, I hope and pray that it’s the energy behind each piece.
When something is made with love, it shows. I like to infuse as many good vibes into my pieces as possible. Not only that, but I truly believe there is some whispered magic behind All Art! It’s a whole other language that, somehow, we all know how to speak. Art therapy uses colour to explain the unexplainable in words, musicians use rhythms to communicate sensations, and poets juxtapose a language’s structure on the page for additional meaning. If it’s made with love, it shows…
Come the New Year, I’ll need to focus on the business side of my endeavours, figuring out how to better position myself within the Los Angeles art-heavy market (and the World)!
What matters most to you?
Bringing joy to others matters the most to me. If I can create a piece of art that makes a medical clinic feel just a little bit more tranquil, or if I can design a piece for an office that empowers, or if I can design a background for your phone that inspires you, as they say in New Zealand, I’m a happy camper.
I’m on a mission to sprinkle magic into everyday life — with art as my magic wand!
“I want my art to move people. To resonate with them and bring them joy.” This is the bold mission statement of Prestbury artist Stella Lightheart, a talented abstract expressionist painter with a love for all things quirky, writes our art critic Malcolm Storer.”
Her brightly-coloured canvases, like mini universes, swirl and coalesce into a multitude of rhythms and forms. Some are painted as a series, others are large stand-alone works, their intense acid colours akin to the palette of Russian avant-garde artist Marc Chagall. I went to visit Stella in her studio to find out more.
Over a cup of tea I ask her how she comes up with her ideas. "I generally start with a theme. A lot of galaxies come through in my work. A lot of where I am as a person comes through. Cheshire is incredibly inspiring. I don't want to sound airy-fairy, but there's a magic in the air here, what with Merlin and Alderley Edge."
So spirituality, legend and myth are major inspirations then?
"Absolutely! I'm working on a spring collection and a Celtic Legend Collection at the moment to bring that magnificent energy and mythic cornerstone of psyche into your home, including a series of works based on Celtic goddesses."
"Twenty two pieces make up each collection, with a limited edition print run of each painting - only 111 printed to collect worldwide, alongside the originals."
As well as her paintings, what's intriguing about Stella is her unusual accent - a mixture of down-home New Zealand and laid-back Californian drawl, a consequence of her career as a globetrotting film editor, working with director Sir Peter Jackson on the The Hobbit and spending a number of years in Hollywood.
"Though I don't sound like it, I was born in Macclesfield. The amount of comments I get like 'you're not from here, are you?' are quite amusing. I've ping-ponged around the world a bit - editing other's voices in the film industry and collecting up pieces and parts of myself - but it was just time to come home and use my own voice. I'm so excited about the path that is unfolding."
"I am to live in 'Transatlantica' - dividing my time between Cheshire and California. Cheshire for the magic and Hollywood to take that magic global."
I ask Stella how she started painting. "It's very spooky. I never considered being a painter. I've always been artistic, but it's only in the past couple of years that I decided, OK, I can do this. It's been really helpful having that Hollywood editorial background because you know wheat's needed to package up a message; to get it out clean and clear to the masses."
"The strange thing is, a lot of my first works were compositionally the same as a doodle I did on a blackboard on Guy Fawkes Night when I was 18 months old. It has lots of upward swooshes - like a firework burst - but I like to think it's a message of encouragement from my old self saying to keep going."
Stella gets up and shows me the very blackboard. Its freewheeling style is reminiscent of American Abstract Expressionist Cy Twombly. Not bad for an eighteen month old child! On the subject of famous artists, Stella counts Salvador Dali and William de Kooning as major influences.
I finish by asking Stella how her career as an artist is progressing.
"I paint every day and I'd be happy to chat about custom commissions for your space. A few have been coming in recently which has been wonderful and really fun - people show me a photo of their room, tell me the colours they'd like, size and theme, and off I go. I'll send progress pictures and incorporate feedback to create a bespoke original. I'd love to expand and collaborate with interior designers."
"I currently have two art exhibitions running in Macclesfield - one at Sarturday Gallery in Brunswick Mill and the other at Amy's Cafe and Gallery in Chestergade. I pop-up at the Maker's Market (in Wilmslow and other locales) with prints as well as the 'No Place Like Home' gift shop in Macclesfield.'
'Originals are always available through my website. Long term, as well as climbing the gallery ladder, I see my art as a home decor and giftware line - giving beauty to this world in an affordable and creative way. I have a few print-on-demand product options available on my site - cushions, mugs, phone-cases - and have just secured my first worldwide licensing deal with Caseable, a technology accessory company, so I'm on the way!"
Photos by Ailsa Bee Photography.
Prestbury Living, June 2019
To Prestbury via Hollywood
A Prestbury artist, Stella Lightheart, is exhibiting her work at Saturday Gallery in Brunswick Mill in Macclesfield.
Stella grew up in a place she calls 'Transatlanticpacifica', moving between England, New Zealand, and California.
She worked in Hollywood for a time with knighted individuals and Grammy Award winners like Sir Peter Jackson & Jemaine Clement.
After editing other's voices, she's now using her own voice and paints back here, in her Cheshire roots.
Her work is inspired by the magic found in the Cheshire countryside.
She loves working with ink as it's ethereal and allows her to slip into the 'other world' and to wave to the Wizard at Alderley Edge.
"I'm so happy to be back at home using my own voice to paint at my Cheshire roots.
My work is inspired by the magic found in the countryside here.
I'm thrilled to be with Saturday Gallery as art classes are also held there to grow the artistic community in Macclesfield."