This is your final reminder that we are hosting a poetry gig and art exhibition opening party tonight Friday 15th May at Leadworks, 170 Rendle Street, Stonehouse. It’s from 7pm until 9pm, and it’s free! I’ve written a new poem for the occasion, and I’ll be singing a few songs with Abi Bee. Here’s a sneak preview:
Tonight is the Night!
Arrive from 7.00pm for drinks and mingling
Performances begin at 7.30pm
Exclusive first viewing of the exhibition
Music, poetry, comedy and live performance
A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere; no dress code, no formality
The evening features poet and Mindful Art Club co-founder Peggy Melmoth; therapist and Greenspace community hub leader Fiona Spicer; VAWG campaigner and poet Zoe Reilly; and local songwriter Abi Bee performing acoustic guitar and vocals.
There will also be original poetry read by the women who created it, a My Story segment; Plymouth women sharing their journeys of healing through mindful art – handmade pin badges by Yvette Moran, and information about local women’s services. Of course, you don’t have to be a woman to come along, so please invite your work colleagues, friends and family!
The exhibition runs from 15th–20th May. But the opening night is the night. This is the one.
A Year in the Making: Our Art Exhibition Opens This May
A year ago, a group of women walked through the doors of The Sunflower Women’s Centre not knowing quite what to expect. Some were on waiting lists for therapy. Some were navigating recovery. Some just needed somewhere to be.
What happened next is about to go on the walls.
The Exhibition
We are so proud to announce that our art exhibition opens at Leadworks in Stonehouse, Plymouth, on Friday, 15th May and runs until 20th May. Every piece on display was created by a Mindful Art Club participant, as part of a twelve-month project funded by the Livewell Foundation, in partnership with Greenspace Community Hub, Gifted Women, Sunflower Women’s Centre and Leadworks Projects CIC.
This is not just an art exhibition. It is proof of what happens when women feel safe enough to create.
Come to the Opening Night
We would love you to join us for a very special free opening night on Friday, 15th May. Doors open at 7 pm, with performances beginning at 7.30 pm.
The evening includes live acoustic music from local songwriter Abi Bee, poetry from established female poets and newcomers to the scene, and personal stories from Plymouth women about how mindful art has helped them through some of life’s hardest chapters.
There will be plenty of time to mingle, browse the exhibition and meet the artists themselves.
In Their Own Words
Ellen Wilton, who attended our weekly sessions, put it better than we ever could:
“I’ve been fighting for therapy for years. Some things in life are only meant to be said to a professional, like a therapist. So while I was on a waiting list, I showed up at Mindful Art Club. I cried. I identified with people. I got the warmest welcome from Emma and Peggy. I left having not felt the one thing I thought I would encounter: judgement. My life has improved in so many ways because of mindful art.”
How to Come Along
The opening night is free. If you would like to come, please register via Eventbrite so we know to expect you. Any donations on Eventbrite, or on the night, go directly towards supporting more people in Plymouth through our ongoing programme.
Leadworks, 170 Rendle Street, Stonehouse, PL1 1TP. Doors open 7 pm, performances from 7.30pm.
A Mindful Paint and Sip evening is coming to Olive & Twist, 9 Old Town Street, Plymouth, and this isn’t your average paint night.
Alongside the painting and sipping there’ll be a check-in and a moment of mindfulness – the extra elements that give Mindful Art Club its unusually warm, supportive atmosphere. Think less artistry, more community. For our first session, we’ll be painting Smeaton’s Tower – an iconic symbol of our seaside home. Visit Eventbrite now for a limited number of reduced price tickets.
What We’re Painting
For our first session, we’ll be painting Smeaton’s Tower – the much-loved landmark on Plymouth Hoe, and a symbol of the city that many of us call home. It feels like the perfect subject for a first gathering: something local, recognisable, and a little bit iconic.
Spaces are Limited
If this sounds like your kind of evening, reserve your place today.
The reduced price Founding Member ticket sales end on April 22nd 2026.
We also have a WhatsApp group for our Paint and Sip – it’s not a busy group giving notifications all the time, just a way for us to let you know when the next painting evening is happening. Join us here: Mindful Art Evenings
Recently, our co-founder Emma had the honour of speaking at the Goodness of Plymouth event at the University of Plymouth. It was a powerful opportunity to reflect on her own journey and to share the heart of what Mindful Art Club is really about: connection, creativity, and community as antidotes to loneliness and despair.
Emma’s talk centred on a simple but urgent truth, that loneliness is a public health emergency. In a world increasingly shaped by division, technology, and disconnection, many of us are quietly struggling. But, as Emma reminded us, the solution does not have to be complicated.
“The solution to this is simple: connection.”
Voice, Identity, and Community
Emma spoke openly about arriving at a treatment centre in Plymouth in 1999, a turning point that marked the beginning of profound change. After years of struggling with feelings of not being “good enough,” Emma thought she had found belonging for the first time in spaces where people came together through music, movement, and drug use. But, what initially felt like freedom, however, eventually led into a ten-year nightmare of addiction, isolation, and despair.
Yet this story is not one of defeat, it is one of rediscovering voice and identity through community.
Through recovery, Emma found herself drawn to working alongside others, supporting addicts to get clean and rebuild their lives. That journey eventually led to the creation of Mindful Art Club, co-founded with Peggy, rooted in the belief that healing happens best when we do it together.
Why Openness Is Strength
A central theme of Emma’s talk was the importance of honesty and vulnerability. Too often, we are taught to hide the parts of ourselves that feel messy, painful, or shameful. But Emma challenged this idea directly.
“Being open about what is going on for us shows strength and creates solidarity.”
The more open we are, the less we hide — and the more space we create for trust, compassion, and real connection. When people talk, listen, and are truly heard, something shifts. Shame loosens its grip. Isolation softens. Belonging becomes possible.
A Message of Hope
Emma closed her talk with a message that felt both grounded and hopeful. Not only is it possible to overcome challenges such as addiction, loneliness, and poor mental health, the process can be fun and fulfilling.
The power of what we do lies in its simplicity. When people are invited to share how they feel, to create together, and to be met without judgement, something remarkable happens. People relax. Smiles appear. Burdens lift.
“We were less locked, less burdened. And it was utterly remarkable.”
At Mindful Art Club, we believe deeply in this work. Art can bring communities together. Conversation can change lives. And connection – real, human connection, can help us move from isolation to belonging.
Be sure to like and subscribe to our new YouTube channel and check out our recent videos for more like this! Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and get ready to enjoy our fun tips and tools for managing anxiety with mindful art.
Are you ready to immerse yourself in a unique Halloween experience that promises not only fun but also relaxation and mindfulness? Introducing our seasonal digital download: a replay of a vintage, Halloween-themed mindful art session. This special session is designed to help you reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, all while enjoying some banter and creativity.
What’s Inside?
Mindful Art Session: Engage in a creative process that encourages mindfulness and serenity. Our session is crafted to provide a calming, grounding experience.
Printable Colouring Page: Dive into the theme “Things I Want to Manifest” with our exclusive colouring page, perfect for setting your intentions and manifesting your desires.
Five-Star Reviews: Don’t just take our word for it! Our session has received glowing reviews, with participants describing it as “an opportunity to experience peace, calm, and grounding,” “helpful, calming, welcoming, warm, and inviting,” and it’s “like a virtual group hug.”
Why You Should Get It
This isn’t just a video, it’s a complete experience designed to bring peace and creativity into your life. For only £5.00, you’ll receive a digital download that includes printable activity sheets, guided mindfulness, and a live session video replay. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself or a loved one this Halloween.
Don’t Miss Out!
The clock is ticking—literally! Our video-short (below) ends with a ticking clock, reminding you that “It’s time.” Time to invest in yourself, time to embrace creativity, and time to experience the magic of mindfulness.
Get Your Digital Download Today!
Head over to the Mindful Art Club shop, and secure your digital download before this Halloween. Transform the dark night of All Hallows Eve, into a celebration of creativity and calmness.
Spooky Music & Visuals: Get in the mood with our eerie yet enchanting video-short below, featuring the mysterious Emily the Zen Cat.
Watch now, and subscribe to our YouTube channel:
Make sure to grab this offer before it disappears like a ghost in the night!
Have you ever wanted to create art without pressure—just for the joy of it? That’s exactly what happened in our recent Mindful Masterpieces online session, where we combined calming meditation with a playful dive into the world of Pablo Picasso.
Hosted by Mindful Art Club founders Peggy and Emma, this unique workshop invited participants to relax, reconnect, and get creative in a safe, supportive space.
First, We Breathed
The session began with a gentle mindfulness meditation led by Emma. With eyes closed and shoulders dropped, we took a few moments to breathe deeply, notice how we were feeling, and settle into the present moment. It’s amazing how a short pause like this can quiet the mind and open the door to creativity.
Then, We Met Picasso
Peggy shared a short, engaging talk about Pablo Picasso—his early genius, his bold experimentation, and how he broke all the artistic rules with Cubism. We learned about his Blue and Rose periods, and how he expressed deep emotion and personal transformation through art.
From The Old Guitarist to Guernica, Picasso showed us that art doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be honest.
Finally, We Made Our Own Cubist Portraits
With this inspiration, we each created a Cubist-style self-portrait, embracing the quirky and abstract. Wonky noses? Misplaced eyes? Multiple angles in one face? Perfect!
This wasn’t about getting it “right”—it was about letting go, expressing ourselves, and having fun with lines, shapes, and colour. Some of us laughed at our strange masterpieces, others felt quietly proud. But all of us felt lighter.
What Participants Said
“I haven’t drawn since I was a kid, and this felt so freeing.” “I never thought I could enjoy Picasso so much.” “The meditation helped me stop overthinking—so I just played with the art!”
Missed the Class? You Can Still Join In!
We recorded the full session—including the relaxing meditation, art history talk, and guided Cubist drawing activity—and it’s now available to purchase.
Treat yourself to an hour of mindful creativity—no experience needed!
Mindful Art Club is to present an art exhibition at Leadworks, Plymouth, on display 21st – 27th February 2025. This event is free to attend and includes an opening night with entertainment and music on Friday 21st February, 7.00pm – 9.00pm. The artwork on display is a collection of pieces created by Mindful Art Club participants and is a culmination of an 18 month addiction recovery group project. It’s funded by the Peoples Health Trust.
A former drug dealer from Devonport, who took up mindful art while on probation, is to be featured in a Plymouth art exhibition, at Leadworks, supported by People’s Health Trust, writes the Plymouth Chronicle.
The retreat takes place in the picturesque village of Plympton St Maurice, near Plymouth, in South Devon. Outdoor activities are held in public green spaces; lunch is served in the local Guildhall. Most of the event is outdoors but can be moved to our indoor venue in the case of rain.
Includes coffees, teas and lunch of crusty bread, homemade cakes and a selection of cheeses, houmous, olives and fruit.
Did you miss The Storytelling Collective launch gig on Good Friday? We’ll be doing another one in three months time, and in between we will be offering workshops and creative activities to boost mental health and reduce social isolation. Watch our Facebook page for more news, or sign up to our mailing list.
Mindful Art Club, WonderZoo, Omnium Radio and Marbles Lost and Found are working together to create an opening gig, creative workshops and a closing exhibition over three months in 2023. The collaboration is funded by Plymouth Octopus Project. These events will feature a research element, where participants will be asked to talk about what they need to help improve their lives within the changing social and political climate. An independent evaluator will collate the findings in a report, and this will be presented at the exhibition. This will be a pilot research project, hopefully leading to a longer collaboration.
Improving Wellbeing
This is a collaborative pilot project between four groups that aims to tackle social isolation and improve wellbeing. At the heart of the project is fun, laughter and putting a smile on people’s faces, within group settings that foster empathy, trust and acceptance. The project will take place over three months (April-June 2023) with research conducted with the participants that will feed into a report written by an independent evaluator. The ideas gathered from the research will inform a plan to create a two year collaboration between the four groups, with further funding sought from National Lottery or other larger funding bodies. This pilot project will be a testing ground for different ideas using existing expertise and community connections.
The four groups all currently work with diverse individuals, providing opportunities for creativity, skill and knowledge sharing, social interaction and mental health support. The organisations will offer their tried and tested workshop formats, but with the additional offer of letting the participants have a voice that will feed into the research aspect. Participants of the project will be able to express their views and offer ideas for how their current difficulties can be supported better within the community. This will hopefully lead on to create a longer program that is evidence-based and tailored to people’s present experiences, rather than using past models, which may not be suited to current issues.
Good Friday was a collaborative performance event – an opportunity for one representative of The Storytelling Collective to give a short talk about the project, its philosophy, aims and activities. This was followed by several artists who performed comedy, music and spoken word.
There will be three workshops run by each group during April to June 2023, with feedback forms for research. During the sessions, casual conversations will be had with participants that aim to bring out honest perspectives and potential ideas, with notes taken for keywords and phrases. There will be 12 workshops in total, at different locations in Plymouth including Omnium Radio HQ, Union Corner, Oasis Project and The Plot.
The three month project will culminate in an evening showcasing the work that was done during the workshops and the results of the research and evaluation report. It will be an opportunity for participants to get together and hear how their ideas and perspectives have been heard and will feed into a larger project. If this pilot project is successful, with the groups able to work alongside and support one another, there is the possibility of creating a new network within Plymouth that is geared towards tackling social isolation using creative practices.
Working Together
Our four different groups have known of each other as friends for several years, with some of us working together already on various projects. We felt that working together as a collective would allow each of us to gain further knowledge, experience and skills, which will make us more resilient as organisations, leading to greater long term sustainability and positive impact on our community.
Our groups have similar values and aims, as we all work towards tackling social isolation, supporting mental health, giving people a sense of fun and purpose, and providing opportunities to develop friendships. We felt that we’d be able to work together successfully as we all offer unique creative approaches and perspectives, such as performance, radio, visual art, and talks, which can enable mutual support and growth. We hope that this pilot project can lead to longer term collaborations.
A collaboration brought to you by Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing and the Mindful Art Club, this wellness day will provide sessions to assist you on your journey to wellness. A retreat-style day for anyone wanting to try new practices to help them on their healing path.
Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing are a local organisation offering practical advice on ways to improve wellbeing.
Lauren from PWW says, “There are many things we can do to improve our mental and physical health that sit outside of the main stream and we understand that these things can often be out of reach for many. Mental health issues can affect anyone, but there are so many things we can do to bring a sense of relief at difficult times. The activities throughout the day have been carefully selected to provide a nourishing and restful experience, with practitioners who are highly experienced in their fields. This event will include sessions in yoga, qigong, sound healing, breathwork, meditation and a talk about the importance of good nutrition. Come along, meet new people, try something new and enjoy a day of wellbeing-focused activities.”
This event by Pillars of Wellness & Wellbeing CIC and Mindful Art Club CIC is at Devonport Guildhall, Ker St, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4EL
To book your place follow this link, scroll down to ‘Free Ticket +Contribution’ (write a price) and input your contribution as zero (unless you want to donate). Although the top line says free tickets are sold out, please be reassured this is not the case.
