Art Exhibition Showcases Poetry Readings

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Art Exhibition Showcases Poetry Readings

Published in The Plymouth Herald, Saturday 9th May

Plymouth women’s art exhibition celebrates a year of creativity and recovery

Free opening night at Stonehouse venue promises music, poetry and personal stories

A Plymouth social enterprise is set to open a landmark art exhibition this May, celebrating a year of mindful creativity with women on the road to recovery from mental health challenges and substance misuse.

Mindful Art Club CIC, funded by the Livewell Foundation, has spent the past twelve months delivering weekly art sessions in partnership with Greenspace Community Hub, Gifted Women, Sunflower Women’s Centre and Leadworks Projects CIC. The resulting exhibition, featuring work created entirely by participants, opens at Leadworks in Stonehouse on Friday, May 15th and runs until May 20th.

The free opening night on Friday, May 15th, from 7pm, promises an evening of entertainment including 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 art has helped them through adversity.

Peggy Melmoth, co-founder and director of Mindful Art Club CIC, said: “This exhibition is the culmination of something really special. When we began these sessions a year ago, we hoped art might open a few doors for the women who came along. What we’ve seen has gone far beyond that: courage, honesty, and some genuinely beautiful work. We can’t wait to share it with Plymouth.”

Ellen Wilton, who attended the weekly sessions, said: “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: judgment. My life has improved in so many ways because of mindful art.”

The opening night is free to attend, with doors opening at 7 pm and performances beginning at 7.30 pm. Visitors are invited to browse the exhibition, meet the artists and hear directly from the women whose work is on display.

Donations on the night will go towards supporting more people in Plymouth through Mindful Art Club’s ongoing programme.

Don’t miss our next event: Follow us on Eventbrite.

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

She Read This Poem, and it Just Went Quiet

We first met Zoe Reilly when we were on a year-long Real Ideas business start-up programme. Zoe is an advocate for women and a campaigner for ending Violence Against Women and Girls. She was a Green Party candidate for Plympton Chaddlewood in the recent local elections. So she seemed like the perfect person to invite to speak at our launch party for our Women’s Art Exhibition at Leadworks.

Zoe took to the stage and delivered something that made the room go quiet, and listen. This poem is for every woman who’s been told to sit down, speak up, be quiet, stand up, and still got back up anyway. You are not broken. You are not behind. You are a phoenix, lying in wait.

Our women’s group meets weekly in Plymouth, at Greenspace, 30 Mutley Plain; a safe space for peer support, creativity, and connection. No pressure. No performance. Just real women, showing up for each other.

Follow Mindful Art Club on Eventbrite to find out when and where our next sessions are happening near you.

Survival to Sovereignty – Zoe Reilly

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

It’s Time to Party! (But in a Mindful, Creative Way.)

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.


https://www.leadworksprojects.com

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.

Reserve your free place on Eventbrite →

It’s free. Donations on the night are welcome and go directly to supporting people in Plymouth on their journey toward recovery.

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

A Year in the Making: Our Art Exhibition Opens This May

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.

We cannot wait to see you there.

Peggy and Emma

You can also be a part of this project by coming along to our women’s group on Fridays at 1.00pm at Greenspace, 30 Mutley Plain.

April 20, 2026April 15, 2026

Mindful Paint and Sip Tickets Now on Sale

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.

Get Tickets

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

April 13, 2026April 15, 2026

Plymouth’s First MINDFUL Paint and Sip is Coming.

So, yeah, this isn’t your average paint night.

Alongside the painting and sipping of something, 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 permission to just slow down and enjoy the process.

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 felt like the perfect subject for a first gathering: something local, recognisable, and a little bit iconic.

About Mindful Art Club

Since 2019, hundreds of people have nervously arrived at Mindful Art Club and left feeling calmer, more connected and happier. We’ve built something we’re genuinely proud of – the friendships, the sense of belonging, the magic of making art together. This is the evening version of that experience.

Why “Founding Member”?

Join us for this first event and we’ll guarantee you a founding member price for every session we run at Olive and Twist in the next twelve months. You’ll also get priority booking before we open to anyone else. This is Version 1.0 – we think it’s going to grow into something really special. We’ll be asking for feedback on this first event, so that we can improve what we offer.

Spaces are Limited

If this sounds like your kind of evening, grab a spot today. And if for any reason the event doesn’t go ahead, you’ll receive a full refund – no quibbles.

The reduced price Founding Member ticket sales end on April 22nd 2026.

Get Tickets

Stay in the Loop

March 5, 2026March 5, 2026

Learn How to Calm Your Mind: Anytime, Anywhere.

Click here to join Mindful Art Club on WhatsApp, and we’ll send you the latest updates directly to your phone. We treat our members to special offers, promotions, wellbeing tips and colouring printables.

If you don’t like what you see there’s no pressure to stay: but if you’re curious about creativity and mental health you won’t want to miss a thing!

You could also grab your free Mindful Morning Starter Kit today, and enjoy a calmer, more creative tomorrow! ☀️

Stop Anxiety Now!

December 18, 2025December 18, 2025

From Isolation to Belonging: Reflections on Emma’s Talk at the University of Plymouth

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.

December 1, 2025December 15, 2025

Just for Fun: 24 Days of Art & Mindfulness

And so the countdown begins! C’mon and peek behind each little door! Inside you’ll find bite-sized creative surprises – quirky YouTube shorts, mini mindful moments, and original artwork by Peggy and Emma. Think of it as your daily December excuse to pause, doodle, breathe, or just smile a little. No rules, no pressure, just a cheerful sprinkle of art and calm to brighten the festive countdown.

If you like Emma’s art check out her website. https://emmasprawson.co.uk/

If you like Peggy’s art check out her website. https://peggypegworth.com/

If you want to kick-start your day with creative calm grab the free Mindful Mornings Starter Kit.

Go on… open today’s door and see what fun is waiting for you.

November 24, 2025November 17, 2025

Finding Your Flow State

In the latest YouTube video, Peggy returns to Wembury Beach, next to the village where she grew up. Surrounded by sea air and childhood memories, she reflects on how her early love of drawing may have been the start of a lifelong relationship with mindfulness and creativity.

Peggy shares that she lived in Wembury from birth until she was around eight years old — and with her usual humour, she jokes that, of course, by the age of eight she had already begun her career as an art and mindfulness facilitator. Her chosen materials? Wax crayon on sugar paper!

It’s a light-hearted memory, but it carries something deeper. Even as a child, Peggy found herself completely absorbed in her art — losing track of time, tuning out the noise around her, and drifting into her own world. She laughs that her teachers might have described this in her school reports as being ‘unable to pay attention’, but looking back, she realises she was actually experiencing what’s now known as a flow state.

What Is a Flow State?

A flow state is a very focused and productive mental state, sometimes called being in the zone. It’s that feeling when you’re so completely immersed in what you’re doing that time seems to disappear — you forget your surroundings, your to-do list fades away, and you feel calm, creative, and fully present.

Psychologists describe the flow state as a place where happiness, creativity, and focus meet. It’s often associated with artists, musicians, and athletes, but anyone can experience it — whether through painting, cooking, gardening, or even tidying a space mindfully.

When we’re in flow, our mind becomes quiet, our stress levels drop, and we feel a sense of deep satisfaction. It’s a natural form of mindfulness, where awareness and action become one.

Returning to Calm Through Creativity

Peggy’s gentle reflections on Wembury Beach remind us that mindfulness isn’t always about sitting still or meditating, it can also be found in those moments of joyful focus, when we’re doing something creative that makes time stand still.

At Mindful Art Club, we celebrate exactly that: the connection between creativity, calm, and emotional wellbeing. Whether you’re colouring with crayons or experimenting with paint, the process of creating can bring a sense of grounding, peace, and joy – just like Peggy felt all those years ago on the Devon coast.

Watch Peggy’s video here: Finding Flow at Wembury Beach on YouTube

Be sure to like and subscribe to our new YouTube channel and find more great videos 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.