Kelly Murphy, founder of Warrington-based Shameless Soles, managed to beat her opioid addiction with the help of art, writes Alyana Gomez for 6abc.

“I paint to keep me out of my head,” said Murphy.

A self-taught custom shoe painter, Murphy did not know she could draw until she first put pen to paper during her time in recovery from opioid addiction.

“I spent 14 years in and out of addiction and treatment centers,” she said. “I couldn’t get clean.”

A friend suggested taking up painting as a hobby, and once she did, she could not stop. Art turned into a healthy addiction that slowly morphed into her business, Shameless Soles.

“I just wanted more for myself, that was it,” said Murphy. “I didn’t even know what that meant but it was either that or I was gonna die.”

She does all her artwork by hand, first drawing on canvas or sneakers and then using acrylic paint to color in the intricate details. The process takes five days on average to complete.

“I put my heart and soul into every pair,” said Murphy.

A pair of custom kicks costs around $275, which includes the purchase of the shoes.

Read more about Kelly Murphy overcoming addiction with art at 6abc.

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