Workshops

With my background as Artist, Counsellor and Lecturer, combined with my work with children, young people and adults (cutting across barriers of age, language, race, culture and ability in Urban and rural areas), I have become increasingly aware, along the way, of what formal organisations and institutions are often unable to provide.

My personal awareness of the value and importance of Art in my own life inspires me to share this and do my best to inspire and empower others. Psychologists speak of the healing power of play. Paul Klee speaks of “taking the pen for a walk”. I truly believe we are all creative but sometimes, somewhere along the line, we may have been discouraged and it has led to feeling “no good” in a specific, or in many areas. I believe that by providing the right environment everyone can discover their own creativity. Children paint and draw instinctively. Gombridge says “There is no such thing as art, only artists”.  I believe in making art accessible and I also use Art to unlock the joy of learning, using it to teach other, sometimes less palatable subjects ,with people who do not find structures and systems easy.

Creative Empowering Workshops

At times in our lives there are points where our direction and focus change. By creating art we sometimes unblock feeling stuck. Our unconscious selves know where we want to go but we may have become reticent or deaf to our inner voice. I run Creative Empowering Workshops providing a wide range of stimulating resources to allow experimentation and guided learning of uses of materials and techniques that often release ideas. These are inclusive, respectful spaces of choice for everyone who is interested regardless of ability, to discover or explore the creativity that may have got lost or is hiding. These workshops are for everyone, giving the opportunity to work at their own pace and level, yet creating Art and discovering new ways to see and use materials.

Mixed Media Workshops

I run a variety of Mixed Media Workshops. I have a range of exciting materials (collage,   textiles, paints, drawing materials pastels etc). I sometimes include the use of models for life drawing sessions when I am running a series of workshops to make a course (6 weeks approx). These guided workshops are inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Art for Meditation Workshops

Much of my own work is for me, a form of prayer and meditation. Throughout my life Art has been one of the quiet passages to a truthful deepening of my spiritual journey. By being open to meandering into our own creativity we discover where and who we are. It is part of self awareness, contemplation and mindfulness, holding us in the still moment of now as we did as children. I enjoy sharing this in Art for Meditation Workshops. I run these independently or affiliated to spiritual retreat centres.

Life Drawing Workshops

Through my own experience of Life Drawing lessons, I learnt the habit of seeing with the eye rather than the mind, learning valuable skills and techniques that over years have become part of all that I create. I enjoy passing this experience on to others by running Life Drawing Workshops. These also are accessible to all.

Communication and Writing Workshops

I have witnessed repeatedly the experience of those who feel let down, abandoned and disempowered by their educational experiences and have, for a variety of reasons slipped through the net.  Identifying this has been for me the inspiration and motivation to try to help address these issues by creating and delivering workshops that teach English (written and verbal) by the use of art and visual/kinaesthetic methods and resources. These are inclusive and accessible to all.

Health with Art Workshops

I have seen children and adults from all walks of life, transform out of negative mindsets and ill health by using art materials. I am passionate and convinced that Art is good for your health (physical, emotional, psychological and social) and that Art should be accessible to all. I run also workshops for various agencies on request for specific client groups. E.g. Health and Art, Workshops to Support Dementia, Workshops for Travelling Communities, Prisoner’s Families, Workshops for Adults with Mental Health Issues.  Art brings people together to share, communicate and make beautiful and interesting things. I have linked Art Workshops with Cultural Kitchen Projects combining growing, cooking, eating sharing communicating and making Art together as groups.

I am happy to visit organisations, Care Homes, Schools and Colleges for any workshops or termly sessions and /or undertake presentations or demonstrations on request.