Mosaic project with Cafe Leep in Leeds, working with learning disabled adults to make a large outdoor mosaic and mosaic coasters for their cafe
Inter-generational project (ages 8 - 81) in Burley in Leeds to make a paving mosaic for a small local park
I have worked several times with The Anchor Project in Bradford. This was working with recently arrived refugees to make mosaics for a community garden
This lovely mosaic was made working with users of Bradford Deaf Centre and includes some sign language
I worked on this project with The Eden Project, making stepping stone mosaic with local people to go in a park in Birkenhead
Mosaic is a wonderful form of art for community projects because groups can be involved from everything from the design right through to the actual making of a mosaic, which might end up in a community centre or a local park.
I have worked all over the north of England with many different community groups to produce great mosaics. Projects can include outdoor concrete mosaics, 3-D mosaic sculptures or seating, and indoor wall-mounted mosaics.
I work with a diverse range of groups and people from different backgrounds, and I like the challenge of persuading people that art is not something intimidating, but something that is inspiring to be involved in and that mosaic can be done by everyone. I believe that this sort of project is good for general well-being and social cohesion, because by working together on a project like this, people increase their social skills, confidence, self-esteem and motivation. The finished mosaic produces a sense of pride and ownership. Part of the process is building new networks of friends and support, and helps communities and individuals thrive. In a very practical sense the workshops and new networks can provide informal opportunities to engage in new activities, or access advice and support, which may be in the short, medium or long term.
In the past 20 years I have worked with many community groups including with offenders, allotment projects, Bradford Deaf Group, homeless hostels, refugee groups, former mining communities, disabled and learning disabled, Together Women, The Anchor Project (environmental group), LEEP1 (Leeds), Groundworks, Artworks Creative Communities (Bradford), Skippko (Leeds), Creative Scene (Dewsbury), Thurnscoe Big Local, The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Stonewater Housing, Leeds City Council, Otley Town Council and The Eden Project.
All of these projects produced an end product community mosaic.
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I have run projects with a wide age range, and with inter-generational groups, teenage girls at risk, mental health and learning disabled groups, young people, older people and also groups of different cultures and faiths.
I have worked in care homes for adults with physical and learning disabilities to produce mosaics for the residents to sell, and helped to set up a social enterprise in order to do this.
I regularly run one off sessions for other community groups such as Women's Institute groups.
I am used to producing risk assessments, documenting projects, attending meetings and working to strict budgets and timetables. I have full DBS certificates and Public Liability Insurance
Leep1 - Cafe Leep mosaic workshops in Leeds
A series of wildlife mosaic stepping stones made with local children in Low Moor, Bradford, with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
A project with Artworks Creative Communities working with a storyteller and families in Holmewood, Bradford to make mosaics for a small story-telling garden at the local library
The Otley Heritage Mosaic was made with local community groups and primary schools to celebrate the town, and also the Tour de France! It's in a small park in Otley.
From 2016 - 2019 I worked regularly in 4 residential care homes catering for disabled and learning disabled adults, in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford. We made large outdoor mosaic signs for each of the entrances and residents also made small mosaics for themselves and as gifts for family and friends. I worked with staff and management develop ways of selling the small mosaics to provide income for residents and I trained key staff so that they could continue to make mosaics with residents.
Artworks Creative Communities and the Eden Project, working in West Bolling, Bradford, with homeless hostels to make mosaics for an allotment to get residents growing food and cooking. This mosaic was displayed at the Eden Project "Places of Change" garden at the Chelsea Flower Show
This lovely outdoor wall mosaic was made with service users and staff at Bradford Refugee Centre
Project working with Hindu elders in Bradford
Detail from Holmewood Library story-telling garden
Grouting Eden Project stepping stone mosaics in Birkenhead