Painting as a Distraction for a Busy Mind

“Stillness doesn’t always come easily to the overactive creative mind. Ideas in full joyful flow might be gratefully received, but taming them to sit within meaningful boundaries can be overwhelming. The inclination to remain in self-perpetuating stagnation, sucked into the ever-present distractions of 21st-century life, is tempting.”

– writes Alice Elgie in her article about painting by numbers in issue 84 of Breathe Magazine.

Breathe Magazine

‘Emma and I were working in a residential addiction treatment centre when it unexpectedly closed down, and all the staff were made redundant,’ says Peggy. ‘In the centre Emma had offered guided mindfulness sessions and art lessons, so we decided to combine this with peer support and take our skills out into the community.’

Read more about using art to quiet your mind in this month’s Breathe Magazine

Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

We Are on a Break!

There are no mindful art groups from 10th to 23rd August 2026.

When We Are Back

Monday 24th 10.00am — Greenbank Community Centre, open to all

Wednesday 26th 1.30pm — Harbour Centre, addiction recovery group

Thursday 27th, 1.00pm — Plymouth Central Library, (upstairs) addiction recovery group

Friday 28th 00pm — Greenspace, 30 Mutley Plain, women’s group

All these groups are free to attend, thanks to our funders, The Mutley Greenbank Trust, The National Lottery, and Devon Community Foundation.  

[Book your free place on Eventbrite]

While We’re Away

There are now 76 videos on our YouTube channel – most of them are less than three minutes long. So if you want a quick antidote to doom-scrolling subscribe to our channel, and enjoy mindful recordings, radio and TV interviews, clips of mindful art sessions, tips to manage anxiety, and videos of Emily the Zen Cat. Grab a pen and paper, get doodling, and enjoy the Mindful Art Club vibes in the comfort of your own home! Search: MindfulArtClubUK

Date For Your Diary

Our next Mindful Paint and Sip evening is pencilled in for 1st October, at Steel Brew, Royal William Yard.

We Made a Film – But We Need Your Thoughts

Did you see this short documentary about Mindful Art Club, the story of how it started, and what it’s meant to the people who come along each week? A few regular members shared their own stories in it, and it was kind of emotional.

The documentary was made by the wonderfully talented Drew, at The Hundred Hands, who’s now asking us a question we can’t answer alone: What was the response? Did it move you, resonate with you, make you think differently about art, community, or mental health?

If you have a minute, comment below and tell us:

  • What stood out to you most
  • How it made you feel
  • Whether you’d share it with someone else… and who

We will pass it on to Drew, and it genuinely helps us to know if we’re telling this story right. His team crafts films and campaigns that move people. They believe honest, cinematic storytelling has the power to connect communities, inspire audiences, and help organisations, artists, and brands make a lasting impact.

Check out the film now, and leave us a comment below.

A Quick Antidote to Doom-Scrolling

There are now 76 videos on our YouTube channel – most of them are less than three minutes long. So if you want a quick antidote to doom-scrolling subscribe to our channel, and enjoy mindful recordings, BBC radio and TV interviews, clips of mindful art sessions, tips to manage anxiety, and short videos of Emily the Zen Cat. Grab a pen and paper, get doodling, and enjoy those relaxing Mindful Art Club vibes in the comfort of your own home! Search: MindfulArtClubUK

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