About Us

Connection Fuels Wellbeing

“We’re a mental health organisation that does art, not an art organisation that does mental health.”

What distinguishes us from other organisations is our mental health background. Emma and Peggy are both mental health professionals, and Peggy is a BACP registered counsellor. We help our participants manage their own mental health and improve their quality of life.

Our Mission

Mindful Art Club® improves mental health and reduces social isolation using creativity and conversation. We empower people to make positive changes in their lives.

We meet in various community services and venues around Plympton and Plymouth in Devon, UK.

If you are an individual interested in our products, check out our one-day Retreats, our drop-in groups or our online groups.

If you are a professional in a community support service, your clients will love our community groups.

If you are an employer looking to improve staff mental health, check out our staff well-being sessions.

Our groups give people the opportunity to share their feelings, practice mindfulness, create art, relax and chat. Mindful Art Club:

  • Improves mental health.
  • Improves social connection.
  • Teaches new skills (mindfulness and art for self-care).

Read: The Real Reason Our Logo is an Egg

How We Started Offering Immediate Mental Health Support Without Any Waiting Lists

No talent?

No experience?

No problem!

Mindful Art Club® is fun and relaxing. Do you remember when you enjoyed art as a child without judging your ability or results? In Mindful Art Club®, no one is judged for what they create. These easy-going art sessions are purely to help you to deal with anxiety, stress and daily worries.

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to experiences happening in the present moment, without judgement.

Artists Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson both have BA(Hons) degrees in art and were part of the support team at Broadreach House Addiction Treatment Centre, Plymouth, offering a number of activities to the resident clients, including arts and craft workshops. When Broadreach House closed, due to a lack of funding, in July 2019, Emma and Peggy decided to bring their combined skills into the community to offer mindful art as a way to manage anxiety and stress.

Through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment.

Peggy and Emma both have up-to-date DBS certificates and have had training in safeguarding vulnerable adults. They have extensive experience working with vulnerable people, specifically those who have experienced substance misuse, mental health issues, time in prison, homelessness, and domestic abuse.

Emma is trained in mindfulness, acupuncture and Indian head massage and is a practising artist offering unique, multi-media artworks and personalised commissions. Her prints and greeting cards are available to buy at The Box, Plymouth. She also has a teaching qualification.

Peggy has a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy. She is also a practising artist offering bright watercolour paintings and personalised cartoon portraits.

Peggy's art work

Get instant access to mindful colouring pages: Sign up for our monthly scribbles.

Want to know more? Listen to Peggy and Emma’s interview on BBC Radio Devon.

What do the clients say? Listen to Kerry on BBC Radio 2.

Find out: What Happens at the Club?