Cwmbran Life stories come from all sorts of places. This one came from the lovelist of WhatsApp message from a footballer about one of her teammates.
A message from Laura Kiff, from Cwmbran Celtic’s Walking Football section, popped up on my phone: “One of the girls from our team is a very talented artist. She’s a beautiful and talented person.”
Before we get to talking about Kimmi Draws Things , those words from Laura show why sport is just the best.
You make friends who cheer you on the pitch, but the best bit is how they shout about you off the pitch as well.
I spoke to Kimmi Dallimore on Monday morning. She has a great story about how life is well, life, but things can get back on track.
Kimmi said: “I’ve always drawn and always wanted to be an artist. I did illustration at Swansea Uni but then fell into hospitality and got lost in that industry for ten years. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2017 and had to leave my hospitality job because of this.
Etsy shop
“I then started doing art again for something to do, and then during lockdown, which seems a bit like a cliché now, set up my Etsy shop selling prints and started doing commissions, and haven’t looked back since.”
Her work has been bought by hundreds of customers, including customers in America and a domestic abuse charity.
She said: “I never ever thought I’d be making money from art, things have fallen into place and it’s quite good.”
It’s fascinating to hear where creative people first got inspired. Kimmi’s answer is brilliant and for those of us of a certain age, gives warming flashbacks.
Helen Daniels from Neighbours, and Penny Crayon (the cartoon about an artistic schoolgirl who can bring her drawings to life with a magic crayon) helped her decide she wanted to be an artist.
Her Etsy shop, ‘Kimmi Draws Things’, started when she literally started drawing ‘things’- with items like apples, cheese, dogs and cat, all being created.
Pets are still popular, but she also receives commission for portraits.
Cwmbran Celtic Walking Football Club
The 40-year-old lives in Cross Keys and joined Cwmbran Celtic last year. She remembers being one of only two girls in her school who played football, with the other girl being her sister.
She said Celtic’s growth in the sport is a “testament” to the club’s volunteers who’ve attracted over 100 people of all ages back to football since forming in 2024. The weekly training and regular matches have also helped with her health issues.