Held Within

14 × 18 inches (35.56 × 45.72 cm) | Original oil and gold leaf on deep-edge canvas Part of the Abreast collection, exploring women’s journeys through change, the scars we carry, and the strength we discover along the way. The gathered pose in Held Within draws your attention towards a quieter part of a woman’s journey. You may recognise a moment of taking stock: of needing time, holding memories close, or allowing yourself to rest while life changes around you. Gold leaf moves across the figure and the surrounding space, offering a kintsugi-inspired reflection on scars and continuity. There is strength in this stillness. The painting leaves room for growth that happens inwardly, through small shifts in understanding and a developing tenderness towards the body. In your home, Held Within can offer a place for your gaze to settle. You may connect it with a private chapter of your own life, or value the compassion it brings to the way you see others. Part of Her Light, the Abreast trilogy alongside Unseen and Shining Through, it honours the experiences a woman holds within her. Original painting by Roberta Heslop Oil and gold leaf on deep-edge canvas 14 × 18 inches (35.56 × 45.72 cm) 2026 Framed This is an original painting. There is only one.