Mental Health Friends, Partnership Discussions: Art for Wellbeing

A great inter-agency discussion about Creative Change workshops and the benefits of art for wellbeing.  (Filmed before the drastic hair change!)

We have a 5 mins film with some sound distortion but… on the plus side;

• the picture is good

• the setting is good

• I think we’ve managed to include key topics that we talked about together on the day

• It encompasses our passion and heart for bringing about future projects

  (That we want/need to fund)

We’re three real people in a real place talking together… and perhaps, as with art, the recording doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful…#kintsugi philosophy and auto-captioning!

Team work makes the dream work. Multi-agency conversations bringing about positive change through community action. Simon King, Peter Richards and Hannah Ari...

News Worthy

Ipswich Star have written a fabulous article about our #Between Spaces Project. Check it out!

Portraits for NHS Heroes

I am not known for doing portraits but this movement is one close to my heart: The instagram #portraitsforNHSheroes inspired me to do these oil pastel pictures of my mum. She is a Staff Nurse at Ipswich Hospital and a front-line worker. I have included some process pictures so you can see the journey. Art from the heart!

Latest Commission 'Freedom' Oil Pastels

Here are some ‘work in progress’ pics of my latest commission. Having just watched the Grayson Perry Art Club on Channel 4, I can relate to the idea of portraiture not being just about capturing a likeness but about presenting the emotions of special moments with deep, meaningful connections resonating from the work. These impressionist style oil pastel pieces are based on photographs. In a time of lock-down these moments of joy are to be cherished. Commissions open.

Covid 19 Online Antics: @Ipswichherdcommunity

Not Herd Immunity! Herd Community!

Art challenge for all. Create and share your elephants to join our virtual herd. Use what you have and give it a go. we can't wait to see what you create. Join the movement! https://www.facebook.com/IpswichHerdCommunity/

Listen Up: Podcast Time

It’s a beautiful bank holiday weekend. Time relax and listen to our interesting discussions about creative practice and equal access in the arts! Click the image below and get tuned in. Happy Easter Everyone!

Curve Balls and Plot Twists

2020 has been bloody biblical! I keep referring to it as ‘the apocalypse’ or a scene from The Walking Dead. I don’t mean to make light of the Covid 19 situation but am still in a state of shock. I recently shared a post saying ‘buy art now so you can look at something other than toilet roll’. Light humour is one of may greatest coping mechanisms but the reality of what is going on is no joke. I have been in isolation for the last week and have family working on the front line of NHS. I have been amazed by the community spirit of facebook groups offering to provide for people in isolation and going out of their way to help strangers. Faith in humanity restored!

Unsurprisingly I will be cancelling many of my up and coming exhibitions but the creativity output will continue! I am still taking commissions and able to use couriers to deliver orders. I have received some fantastic feedback lately in the form of testimonials which I had to share.