“Everyone is an artist!” Richmond peer support art groups celebrate their first exhibition
The Women’s Artistic Expression Group and the Men’s Expressive Art Group are safe and welcoming spaces for people living with mental ill health to connect with others, share experiences and use art as a tool for expression and recovery.
Run by Age UK Richmond and funded by our Trust, the groups meet weekly to experiment and work with a range of different art styles, materials and themes. It’s also a chance to learn about different artists and explore how being creative can be positive for your mental health and wellbeing.
In celebration of the group’s progress, they held their first public exhibition at Livingston House, inviting friends, family and Trust staff to view their brilliant work. The exhibition featured a huge range of mediums – from ink and line drawings, to pastels, and oil painting, as well as sculpture and collage.
While some group members experimented freely, drawing on inspiration from their own life, others used famous artworks as a starting point to create something new or practice specific artistic skills. Many of the pieces were also created collaboratively, such as the women’s group take on Matisse’s Blue Lady.
Talking about how the process of making art can be as powerful as the finished piece, Senior Peer Support Worker Mia Haskurti said: “These groups give people a safe space to express themselves without judgement. Art becomes a way to process feelings, reduce isolation, and build confidence. It’s not about perfection, it’s about freedom. There are no limits, just the joy of creating, sharing and peer-to-peer connection, which is what today’s exhibition has brilliantly shown.”
Find out more
The Women’s Artistic Expression Group meets at Barnes Green Centre every Monday, 10am – 12pm. The Men’s Expressive Art Group meets at Livingston House, every Friday, 11am – 1pm.
For more information, contact Mia Haskurti, Peer Support Worker at Age UK Richmond by emailing mia.haskurti@ageukrichmond.org.uk.
