Winter Wellness Art at The Shipley Art Gallery

The winter chill is setting in and cosy nights are upon us.

The festive season is in full swing, but if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of getting everything ready after a strange year, The Shipley Art Gallery has just the thing.

Five artists, including myself, have once again being brought together to create art packs to help you relax and get creative.

Relax and realise your creative potential

There are two art packs available – one for adults and one for families – and they’re available to download from the Shipley Art Gallery website now.

Hundreds of them have been sent out into the community, complete with materials, thanks to the support of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Each pack contains several activities to help people de-stress and realise their creative potential, taking inspiration from the Shipley Art Gallery collection.

As well as myself, there’s mixed media textile artist Deb Cooper, artist Jayamini de Silva, artist Marian Hernandez Villada and papercutting designer Keely Pearce.

As we’re unable to run workshops in the gallery at the moment, this is the next best thing!

Kerry Cook, arts participation/project co-ordinator at the Shipley Art Gallery, said: “Winter is such a beautiful time of year. Nature is changing all around us.

“One of the most satisfying activities in life is making something from scratch with your own hands. The activities in this book have been chosen to allow you to make items as gifts or to decorate your own home.”

Art activities for adults and families

In the adult art pack, aimed at those aged 16 and above, you can try uncial script with me, Redwork embroidery with Deb, origami with Jayamini, painting a winter landscape with Marian and making a winter wreath with Keely.

In the families pack, you can create Italic Capitals in pencil with me, tassels with Deb, an origami family with Jayamini, doodles with Marian and a winter hanging decoration with Keely.

Both packs encourage people to try ‘slow looking’.

Kerry added: “Slow looking is about you and the artwork; allowing yourself time to make your own findings and form a more personal connection with it.

“Give yourself time to look around and really absorb your surroundings. Stay connected to the outdoors too this winter – wrap up warm and head outside.”

The art packs are available from the gallery’s website here.

You can also search the gallery’s collections online here.