Last year, our world shifted when I had a stroke. Inspired by my 10-year-old daughter Daisy’s love and creativity, fear and uncertainty were soon replaced with laughter, hope, and more than a little bit of paint.
With Daisy, her brother Oscar, and my wife Ella by my side, I found calm, joy and recovery in the most magical place.
With close to a million social views, ‘A Stroke of Luck’ became our way of turning challenge into colour, humour, and connection — a reminder that even in hard times, life can still be good. Maybe…even better.
Come see our story for yourself at The Pie Factory — surfboards, canvases, and a little ray of positivity, all by the sea.
A whirlwind of colour, this abstract bursts with neons, bright reds, yellows, greens and blues. Every stroke celebrates energy and the unpredictable rhythm of life – a moment post recovery when I was seeking some joy amongst the uncertainty. (Crazy Days, Sam d’Amato, 2025, Acrylic on Canvas )One that quickly became a favourite, this painting captures the calm and energy of the sea from above. Waves, light and movement together, reflecting hours spent in the sea – a painting that reminds us why we keep returning to the ocean. (Ocean View, Sam d’Amato, 2025, Acrylic on canvas)A joyful explosion of colour. When I asked Daisy, what she sees when she looks at it, she simply replied “I see fun”. And that she “wanted it to show that there is always some brightness in the world”. (The Splat of Luck, Daisy d’Amato, 2025, Acrylic on canvas)Looking from above, this painting reflects different ocenas colliding – much like my life felt over the last year, following the stroke. (Seas of Change, Sam d’Amato, 2026, Acrylic on Canvas)Inspired by my sister, brother-in-law and their three boys who travelled round Morocco recently, I love the rich pink of the walls, next to the clear blue sky. The texture of this one makes you want to touch it too. Go on, you are allowed! (Moroccan Pink, Sam d’Amato, 2025, Acrylic on Canvas)500 sweetie cups, carefully curated over years and brought to life with a touch of magic. This abstract piece celebrates creativity, playfulness, and the joy of turning everyday things into something extraordinary. (The Sweetie Wall, The whole d’Amato family, 2025, Sweetie Cups)
